South Australia

Though often overlooked in favour of the northern territories and New South Wales, South Australia is certainly worth visiting, especially if you enjoy good wine or are a wildlife enthusiast.

Adelaide is an attractive port city with colonial-era architecture, a bustling Central Market and the world's largest collection of Aboriginal artefacts in the form of the Aboriginal Cultures Gallery.

Kangaroo Island is well known for its wildlife, scenery and delicious locally-grown produce. Here you can meet kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, penguins, echidnas and sea lions in the wild; the scenery is breath-taking too. Don’t miss the Remarkable Rocks, a collection of limestone and granite rock formations in the most unusual shapes.

On the Eyre Peninsula it’s possible to swim with sea lions or, if you’re feeling fearless, try cage diving with Great White sharks close to Port Lincoln. During the months May – October it’s possible to see Southern Right whales in the Great Australian Bight.

South Australia’s world famous vineyards are some of the oldest in Australia, so do take the time to visit the historic wineries and micro-breweries and enjoy a tasting session. Southern Australia is almost as famous for its arts and crafts as its wines, and a wine tour goes well with a tour of the region’s many private studios, where you can watch local artists at work.

North of Adelaide, in the unusual town of Coober Pedy, you can fossick for an opal then stay in an underground hotel. For those who love the bygone era of travelling by train, why not board the Ghan in Adelaide, travel through the desert to the Red Centre and onwards to the city of Darwin.