South Australia - The Beautiful State

Adelaide is built on the Torrens River and is the only city in Australia entirely surrounded by parklands. This contrasts starkly with the rugged desert terrain which is not that far away. Only a few kilometres to the west of the city are a strip of white sandy beaches and the seas of Gulf St Vincent.

Adelaide is perhaps most well known for its fine dining, wine (as the Barossa Valley is nearby), festivals, theatres and boutique shopping. The city also has a strong sense of history portrayed in its well preserved 'low rise' heritage buildings, churches and Edwardian mansions, some of which have been converted into tourist accommodation .

 Day Tours..

 City to City - Interstate Tours..

For thousands of years Aboriginal people walked across this area. Because of the desert environment, these people were nomadic hunters and gatherers who travelled constantly in search of food and water supplies as well as to attend traditional ceremonies.

In January 1915, the New Colorado Prospecting Syndicate, consisting of Jim Hutchison and his 14 year old son William, PJ Winch and M McKenzie had unsuccessfully been searching for gold south of Coober Pedy. The men had set up camp and were searching for water when young Willie found pieces of opal on the surface of the ground. This was on the 1st February 1915 and 8 days later the first opal claim was pegged.

Coober Pedy was originally known as the Stuart Range Opal Field, named after John McDouall Stuart, who in 1858 was the first European explorer in the area. In 1920 it was re-named Coober Pedy, an anglicised version of Aboriginal words “kupa piti”, commonly assumed to mean “white man in a hole”.

 2 Days or more..

Separated from the Australian mainland about 9000 years ago, Kangaroo Island remains one of the most unspoilt natural wonders of the world. You'll find seals basking on quiet beaches; koalas munching on gum trees right beside the road; echidnas wandering in search of insects; and kangaroos, goannas, wallabies, penguins and birds at just about every turn.

One third of the island is protected as conservation and national parks, and half the island has never been cleared of native vegetation. You can walk among huge weather-sculptured granite boulders at Remarkable Rocks and roll down the snowy-white sand dunes of Little Sahara. Dodge the wildlife as you hike through dense bushland. Stretch out in your own secret spot along the island's 480 kilometres of coastline. And retire to your very own lighthouse keeper's cottage for the night.

Kangaroo Island is just a 30-minute flight south from Adelaide, or less than two-and-a-half hours by car and ferry. Kangaroo Island Sealink runs ferries between Cape Jervis (90 minutes' drive south of Adelaide) and Penneshaw. Kangaroo Island Ferries runs services between Marina St Vincent, Wirrina Cove (one hour south of Adelaide) and Kingscote or American River.

At 150 kilometres long and 55 kilometres wide, the island is Australia's third largest, after Tasmania and Melville Island. It has four town centres: Kingscote, Penneshaw, Parndana and American River. A coach service runs twice daily between Kingscote, American River and Penneshaw to connect with ferry services (but bookings are necessary). There's now a major sealed road right around the island, but many smaller roads are narrow, unsealed and edged with scrub. Driving by day or night, take it easy and allow for slower speeds when calculating travel times.

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Wine is one of South Australia's principle exports. The wine regions of the Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and Coonawarra, to name but three of the many wine regions in South Australia, produce some of the best wines in the World. It is unsurprising then that wine tourism is becoming increasingly popular. Many wine regions are well set up with resorts and accommodation to cater for visitors and can assure visitors of a memorable and enjoyable time.

 Day Tours..

In the 1970's The South Australian Government implemented a 'Restaurants Policy' as an attempt to improve the standard of cuisine, and Adelaide was made its focus. The policy was an undoubted success and today the city is justifiably regarded as the 'Birthplace of Modern Australian Cuisine' and Australian food is recognised throughout the world for its inventiveness and fusion of flavours and cultures. Adelaide has always maintained its position at the for-front of this cooking revolution. Quality restaurants and eateries are everywhere in the city. You can find everything from small crowded places serving great food at a fast pace to more traditional restaurants in heritage settings. The common denominator is that the food is usually of a very high standard.

The famous Gouger Street is located off The Central Markets and is a must if you visit Adelaide. There are over thirty restaurants and eateries featuring food from all over the World. Whether you are looking for a quick snack or a long leisurely lunch or dinner, you will find it here.