Bound for South Australia!

[Warks]

I mentioned earlier we were planning a trip to NZ for later in the year but it was killed off by QF fuel surcharges and my procrastination. In any case we've decided to take the family to South Australia in September. Some may pooh-pooh Adelaide and surrounds but I've been there many times for work and have almost always enjoyed myself. Some amazing places there so it's a change from the Gold Coast to take the kids but why not? I've not ventured out more than an hour or so from Adelaide so I'm looking for points of interest in the rest of the state. We've got two weeks but I don't want to be driving huge distances each day so the great desert north and west is out. Still that leaves plenty.

Would like to get to:
Kangaroo Island
Mt Gambier area
Flinders Ranges (Wilpena Pound area)
Plus I'm interested in the various peninsulas but I don't know much about them. Port Augusta? Port Lincoln? Naracoorte caves? Whyalla? Not interested in wine or wineries unless there is something spectacular about them so Barossa is only of interest for history/beauty. Yes "for shame!"

Got two young teens so not tiny kids. They are not the "bored with everything" types (yet) so some history and natural beauty is still appreciated as long as there's ice cream along the way I guess.

Thanks for your assistance. Will have to do a trip report.

 

[medhead]

A few ideas off the top of my head on a quiet afternoon at work:

Port Lincoln is well worth visiting. Coffin Bay, the National Park and beyond. Fairly stunning scenery. But is a bit of a drive, for example Woomera (rockets/planes and such) is closer to Port Augusta than Port Lincoln. There is a car ferry from Wallaroo to near Cowell that cuts about 3 to 4 hours of the drive, at a cost.

Port Augusta has a pretty full on afghan cameleers history. With a museum and also the standpipe to stay at which does a pretty good Indian curry. Beltana (abandoned town) also has a lot of afghan history - the railway line is named after them.

PA and whyalla are pretty sparse and desert like areas, not gibber plain like is around woomera, but low sparse vegetation/red sand etc.

I used to drive regularly out past Leigh Creek to Arkaroola and beyond. I won't suggest that per se, but Arkaroola is pretty good for natural history and amazing views for star gazing. But Blinman is a pretty good little town out that way, interesting history for an hour or 2 (school kid who used to ride his pushbike to Adelaide for school) and it has a bit of character for a night. The pub at parachilna used to do a damn good lunch - it's been a few years since I've been there. Only mentioning these areas because they show the flinder's ranges in full glory without going too far out.

Getting down towards Wilpena Pound (I've driven past numerous times but never visited) that is well worth visiting, I hear. There is Hawker and Quorn both pretty interesting towns. You can also do the Pichi Richi steam train from PA out to Quorn and maybe beyond if its running.

I always enjoyed the drive down through Wilmington, Melrose and the Clare Valley. A bit more interesting than the coast road.

I should plug the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens in Port Augusta. Family member was involved with starting it.

The copper coast, wallaroos/kadina/moonta, has a lot of history on the Yorke Peninsula. As does Burra much further inland. I've had a day on a friends farm near Maitland but I don't know the Yorke Penisula beyond that.

What else? Mannum on the Murray river. Then there is heaps down south. Victor Harbour, Murray mouth etc. I don't know that area too well. Besides a little hole in the ground that I think might have been Australia's first uranium mine.

 

[opusman]

Clare Valley is nice, prettier than the Barossa and has good walks/bike trails etc.

KI is definitely worth a visit - at least 3-4 nights if you can. It's great for wildlife spotting.

 

[VPS]

Glad to see someone appreciates good old SA - Flinders Ranges definitely worth a visit and go into Wilpena Pound - if you go to the Barossa go to Mengler's Hill lookout - you could then head up to the Clare Valley and there are some good scenic drives and a few good restaurants - Auburn is a nice spot with a good pub

Kangaroo is great but if you have time would recommend it - head to the South Coast - Seal Bay, the Raptor Display is excellent, Flinders Chase, Cape du Couedic and Admirals Arch - just be aware that if you're away from the main towns on KI there aren't a lot of shops and most of the take aways close by 6pm.

If you decide to head down south you can go the Coorong and then onto Robe which is really pretty and Mt Gambier to see the Blue Lake - Penola is a nice small town to base yourself - and then you can try a glass or two of the great Coonawarra reds -

Hope you enjoy - feel free to ask for clarification on anything

 

[Shelf]

You could catch the ferry over to Cowell. Spend a day or so at Pt Lincoln/Coffin Bay (seafood anyone?). Then you could head to Pt Augusta, from memory there is quite a decent Aboriginal art/history museum in town (I wouldn't spend more than half a day in town). You could Spend a night at Quorn/Wilpena Pound. I agree with Medhead, regarding Melrose being worthy of a drive through.

Heading back to Adelaide via the Clare Valley and Barossa would be on my to do list.

Around Adelaide you could consider the following:
Mt Lofty lookout.
Have a lunch or dinner at Windy Point (great views of the metro area).
Cleland wildlife park.
Hahndorf for the German experience.
Victor Harbor/Goolwa are popular with the locals.

Several days on Kangaroo Island won't be regretted. There are many things to keep you busy. For something a little different consider 'the little sahara' (sandboarding, rolling down large sandhills etc). As previously mentioned shops on the Island close early. IIRC petrol is about 15c per litre more expensive than Adelaide, so fill up before you jump on the ferry.

Mt Gambier and Naracoorte may be worth a look aswell. If you're down that way you should consider a side trip to Robe or Beachport. Both are cute coastal towns.

 

[jmphoto]

Hey - I grew up in the South East of SA, like all kids was in a mad rush to get away, but now that I'm older and wiser I appreciate how magic it is. Penola is a great bustling country town to base yourself, lots of restaurants, cafes, art - and wineries. Even if you're not too concerned about finding a good bottle of red, the cellar door's often put great events on with food, music wine. Only an hour across to Robe, stunning little coastal town, and Beachport is just down the road from Robe. If you do head to that part of the world PM me and I can put you in touch with some good food/wine/accommodation/events options.

 

[Buzzard]

If you are going to KI make sure you book the Sealink ferry beforehand. I think it is cheaper to book on line and that way you are certain to get on. If you go to KI you must go to Seal Bay. Also be aware it can get quite cold on KI. Certainly there is plenty to do and see there.
Drive carefully, ADL is a killer place for cameras.
I agree with Shelf about "Around Adelaide". Braidwood is also woth a visit for the Motor Museum. From there you could take the back roads to Hahndorf which unfortunately is becoming less German. If you go to Hahndorf the leather shop is a must see.
At Victor Harbour there is a horse drawn tram to Granite Island or you can walk. Also in Victor (as the Adelaideans call it) you can go on the coughle Train to Goolwa. An old steam train, it runs on weekends but maybe not every weekend. If you are going to Victor I think it worthwhile to go via the McLaren Vale. No need to go to the wineries, it makes for a pleasant drive especially in Autumn. But why not stop for a break in the Vale, visit the Almond Train, go to the olive grove & taste some local produce, the chocolate factory. Things to do here without going to a winery.
In the Wilpena area, a lot of movies were filmed around Quorn & Hawker. Look out for roos (Red Roo might be there!), Mrs Buzzard and I wiped one out just after 10am, not a time I would have expected them; just outside Quorn heading to Hawker.
If you are spending a day or so in Adelaide itself, Rundle Street and Gouger Street are the eat streets with plenty to choose from. The Museum on North Terrace is renowned for its Aboriginal exhibitions.
Post again if you have more questions. Hopefully some more Adelaideans respond.

 

[medhead]

Just wanted to add a link for the Ferry from Wallaroo to the Eyre Penisula Sea SA car & passenger ferry

I've never been able to justify the expense, but it is an option. Perhaps better if going one way. I also must recommend Pop Kipling's Bakery at Port Wakefield, just so you can say you've been there. Having said that I also stop at Pop Kipling's for a pie and ice coffee brunch.

 

[Buzzard]

Just wanted to add a link for the Ferry from Wallaroo to the Eyre Penisula Sea SA car & passenger ferry

I also must recommend Pop Kipling's Bakery at Port Wakefield, just so you can say you've been there. Having said that I also stop at Pop Kipling's for a pie and ice coffee brunch.

I like this thread because even as a local you can learn stuff, eg Pop Kiplings.
Many a year ago on the way to Melrose I stopped at The Stone Hut - a bekery in the middle of nowhere. The best pies!

 

[knightman7]

Took my wife and her cousin to Port Lincoln at Christmas time for the shark cage diving. Really amazing day out! http://www.sharkcagediving.com.au/

 

[Warks]

Thanks to everyone for the information. This is brilliant. I have to get a good map and spread it out on the table putting pins in it shortly!
Glad to hear plenty of people have so many positive things to say. I'm half expecting people around here to ask "what would you wanna go THERE for???". The sort of people who have probably been out of Sydney only to go to the Gold Coast and the snow. [ouch!]

Keep 'em coming.

 

[Shelf]

Tbh I find Sydney very *meh*

 

[Warks]

Tbh I find Sydney very *meh*

I grew up here but spent years away. I must say when I left when young I certainly couldn't see the appeal. It's actually only in recent years I have discovered the more out of the way hidden gems that I have come to appreciate it more. As for the CBD once away from the water it's a big 'meh' from me for sure!

A lot of people seem to slag off Adelaide. I have spent a lot of time there for work and I have never had a problem - always enjoyed it greatly so I don't know what people are talking about. Some of the outer suburbs especially to the north are a bit eewww but you could say that about any city.

 

[Warks]

Sorry to see this moved to the "Destination Guide" forum. Obviously nothing like as much traffic here. I rarely look at it. In fact I don't recall ever looking at it in ten years on this site. How long has it been around?

 

[Warks]

Just an update since this thread was consigned to Silicon Hell as evidenced by the lack of traffic since its move. We are off tomorrow spending a few days in Adelaide then to KI via the overpriced Cape Jarvis ferry (there was another thread on this). A few nights there then back to Victor Harbor and down to Port MacDonnell near Mt Gambier. We are real cave fans so the Fossil Cave at Naracoorte is a must-see but there are plenty of other caves in SA too. From there we head all the way up to Clare for a few days using that as a base to explore north of there. We aren't going to get to the various peninsulas unfortunately but we are saving west of Port Augusta for another visit.

Looking forward to it!

 

[markis10]

Sounds like a lot of fun!

 

[Buzzard]

<snip> then to KI via the overpriced Cape Jarvis ferry......

Thats not the only thing overpriced when you mention KI. Any mention of the word island = high prices.
One small tip - fill up with fuel before you cross over if you can.
I am sure that you will enjoy your visit to SA regardless. Safe travels..... Buzz

 

[Pushka]

And nice weather on the way too.

 

[Warks]

Back at work now after the SA odyssey - will try and put together some sort of trip report. A great time was had!