South Australia is a state located in the south of Australia renowned for its boutique wine regions, dramatic outback and stunning coasting scenery. 

I visited in November, and after landing in the state’s capital city of Adelaide, an easy 20 minute drive took me to Adelaide Hills, a beautiful wine region which overlooks the city. I stayed at the amazing Sequoia Lodge, an adults only lodge, sitting atop Mount Lofty with panoramic views over the Picadilly Valley. This destination is a must for anyone visiting South Australia who is looking for a luxurious escape outside of the city. 

The lodge offers a variety of complimentary activities that encapsulate the local area, so I opted for a cheese and wine tasting class with locally sourced ingredients, an immersive bee keeping experience, a mixology class and a guided nature walk through Cleland National Park.

I continued my road trip through the world-class wine region of McLaren Vale with a stop at the compelling d’Arenberg Cube, an optical illusion Rubik’s cube winery that overlooks the vines before catching the ferry to Kangaroo Island, the go-to place in Australia for authentic wildlife encounters. Known as the Galápagos of Australia and a zoo without fences, I was lucky enough to see kangaroos, koalas, seals and sea lions in their natural habitat. The landscapes are spectacular too, predominantly Flinders Chase National Park, home to the striking Admirals Arch and the Remarkable Rocks, as well as the stunning beaches of Stokes Bay and Emu Bay. No visit to Kangaroo Island is complete without sampling the local produce. My recommendations include a tasting session at Kangaroo Island Gins and a scoop of the lavender ice cream at Emu Bay Lavendar Farm.

My time in South Australia concluded with some time in Adelaide, a beautiful boutique city that bursting with creativity, surrounded by lush parklands. Adelaide is home to a vibrant food and arts scene, including the Adelaide Fringe, the second largest Fringe Festival outside of Edinburgh.

South Australia truly encompasses everything I love about Australia. Whilst the state is home to some of the world’s best wine regions and incredible, native wildlife, you can’t forget the amazing beaches in Adelaide, such as Glenelg and Henley and along the coastline of the Fleurieu Peninsula, as well as its accessibility to the outback of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, only a 5 hour drive from Adelaide. This ancient national park has recently been awarded in Lonely Planet’s top 10 destinations to visit in 2026, so there’s no better time than now to visit this incredible pocket of Australia.

My highlight from South Australia my time on Kangaroo Island. It’s only a 45 minute ferry from Cape Jervis on the mainland, or a short 30 minute flight from Adelaide to Kingscote Airport, yet feels like another world away. 

Think pristine beaches and secret coves, turquoise waters and an abundance of native wildlife. Without having to look too hard, you’ll see koalas snoozing in the treetops and kangaroos & wallabies hopping along as you’re exploring the island. My favourite wildlife sighting was the colony of rare Australian sea lions sunning and playing on the beach at Seal Bay. You can walk along the boardwalk to the viewing platform for the chance to get up close and personal to these friendly, playful animals. 

There’s a wide variety of accommodation available on Kangaroo Island for every traveller, such as glamping tents located in the town of Penneshaw and a Luxury Lodge of Australia located near Flinders Chase National Park - Southern Ocean Lodge. I stayed at CABN X, a self-contained cabin located in Cape Willoughby close to the coastline. My favourite moment here was the time I spent sat on the outside deck watching kangaroos hopping along the grass – the authentic wildlife sightings were truly magical to experience.

If time permits, don’t rush your time in South Australia. If you are short on time, there is so much to see on Adelaide’s doorstep, such as the boutique wine regions of Barossa and Adelaide Hills, and Adelaide’s stunning beaches. However, to see beneath the surface of South Australia, give plenty of time to destinations such as Kangaroo Island and Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park as they really deserve 2-3 days to discover in depth. Kangaroo Island is twice the size of Mauritius!

I had a taste of what South Australia has to offer and I can’t wait to return in the future!

For more inspiration, take a look at our South Australia Holidays pages.