Taking a Break in Broken Hill
March 12, 2020
Need a long weekend getaway in regional NSW? Explore what Broken Hill has to offer.
Read MoreDreaming of a South Australian adventure?
This incredible state has so much to offer! With twelve regions to explore - including the otherworldly Flinders Range & Outback region, to the leafy green Adelaide Hills - there’s a whole lot of Instagram fodder to be found. Experience striking Outback vistas, lush bushland and pristine coastline, taste internationally acclaimed food and wine, find indoor and outdoor attractions galore, and discover an extraordinary town where people live in “dugout” homes inside of caves! No matter your tastes, you’re bound to find South Australia to be an incredible destination.
Alligator Gorge, Flinders Ranges - Image by Renae Schulz
At the time of writing, regional travel is permitted within South Australia and borders are open to travellers from NT, QLD, TAS and WA without restrictions. Whether you’re a South Australian looking to explore your own backyard, or you’re interstate and ready to start travel planning your next socially-distanced #holidayherethisyear, you’ll find South Australia to be a real treat.
With so much to see and do, we’ve only scratched the surface of this amazing state – head to southaustralia.com for even more. Don’t forget: when you’re ready to book, get in touch with an ATAS-accredited travel agent!
Want to know more? This is the third entry in our destination-focused series on exploring our Great Southern Land – check out our recent spotlights on Perth and Hobart for more Aussie travel tips!
South Australia’s state capital Adelaide was ranked the tenth most liveable city in the world by The Economist and for good reason. Check out the City of Adelaide’s Instagram for some serious gems. Bayside suburb Glenelg is a gem in its own right, beloved for its gorgeous beach, picturesque heritage buildings, iconic trams and laid-back lifestyle, and foodies won’t want to miss the Adelaide Central Market, which has been a beloved hub of food culture for South Australia for almost 150 years. With over 70 traders, it’s a perfect place to pick up picnic goodies to enjoy in the Adelaide Botanic Garden, a 51-hectare relaxing oasis at the north-east corner of the Adelaide city centre.
Glenelg Beach, Adelaide - Image by South Australian Tourism Commission
Rundle Mall is fantastic for a spot of boutique shopping and a selfie with the iconic Mall’s Balls; while Chinatown with its iconic red gates is an absolute taste sensation. The South Australia Museum and Adelaide Zoo (with its adorable pandas!) are both entertaining and educational, and the Adelaide Gaol is like a trip through time into a dark, but fascinating past.
If you’re looking for a completely different view of Adelaide, there’s more than a few interesting options: the city vistas from the 2KW bar and restaurant are quite extraordinary, but for a bit of adventure there’s the Adelaide Oval Roofclimb, and for a LOT of adventure there’s rather a surprising number of skydiving operators – take your pick!
2K.W. Bar and Restaurant, Adelaide - Image by Jonathan Van de Knapp
Finally, for both convenience and local expertise that can’t be beat, the eye-catching Ecocaddy rickshaw-like hybrid pedicabs are a common sight, having delivered over 250,000 rides! Enjoy the sights of Adelaide with these zero-emission people-powered guided tour services, ranging from 60 to 150 minutes long. From the coffee cruise to historic Adelaide, street art to the kids' cruise, every exciting Adelaide experience is made even better by the passion and knowledge of your guides. Hop on board!
The verdant Adelaide Hills are a delight for the senses, with plenty for foodies, wine-lovers, nature-lovers and lovers more generally – it’s a very romantic spot! Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens are a must-see at any time of the year; the cute little village of Hahndorf is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, still visible in its streetscape (and German pubs and bakeries) that will make you feel like you’ve stepped off a plane in Europe; and you’ll find incredible wine and gourmet fare at the Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard. Finally, if you’re a fan of Fromage, don’t miss the award-winning artisan cheeses of Woodside Cheese Wrights – a perfect accompaniment to that bottle of wine that you picked up!
Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard, a 40minute drive outside Adelaide - Image by South Australian Tourism Commission
Finally, South Australia is internationally renowned for the Barossa Valley region, less than an hour from Adelaide. This is one of the world’s great wine-growing regions – and with over 80 cellar doors, you could easily spend a week wining, dining and enjoying the romance in the air, with picturesque wineries like Hentley Farm offering a treat for all your senses. We’re hungry just thinking about everything there is for foodies in the Barossa!
But that’s not the only reason to love this amazing region: heritage and music buffs will love the 1877 Hill & Son Organ Experience Tour, take to the sky and cross one off your bucket list with Barossa Valley Ballooning or Barossa Balloon Adventures, and try your hand at making DIY beauty products full of natural goodness at Vasse Virgin. Make sure you have a few days of your SA holiday dedicated to exploring the Barossa – you’ll leave with a satisfied appetite and joyful heart.
Hentley Farm - Image by Barossa Grape & Wine Association
Like we keep saying, you’re really spoiled for choice in South Australia but this is really only the tip of the iceberg. Once you’ve got a taste of everything SA has to offer, you’ll find yourself in a travel-planning rabbit hole! That said, here are some of our favourite spots to whet your appetite for this amazing state.
The second most populated city in SA is located in the heart of the Limestone Coast, and you’ll find Instagrammable views of the magical colour-changing Blue Lake, as well as underground waterways and sinkholes, beautifully lush and striking gardens, and literally, hundreds of caves – one of which (Naracoorte) is UNESCO World Heritage-listed and an absolute must for budding palaeontologists. Mount Gambier is mother nature at its finest!
Located in the Eyre Peninsula, this gorgeous beachside town is home to the Coffin Bay Oyster – yum! From sandboarding down otherworldly sand dunes, meandering down the coastline or trying your hand at watersports, Coffin Bay makes for a perfect family-friendly holiday getaway.
A guide to SA would be remiss not to mention the Flinders Ranges and Outback SA, a true-blue Aussie treasure. As Tourism WA puts it, "Driving through the Flinders Ranges and Outback, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were navigating the unexplored face of Mars.”
The Flinders Ranges National Park is considered some of Australia’s most fantastic and iconic landscapes in all its rugged splendour, and taking a dip in the natural spa at the desert oasis of Coward Springs is a perfect way to relax mid-walkabout. The unique dugouts of Coober Pedy are a definite must-see, and the aptly-named Painted Desert in its colourful glory makes for the outback experience of your dreams.
Flinders Bush Retreats in the Flinders Ranges - Image by Brooke Saward
Want to know more? You’ll find ideas galore and sample itineraries at the Tourism SA website. Get in touch with an ATAS-accredited travel agent to make your dream South Australia holiday a reality: fuss-free, fun and just perfect for you.
Looking for more travel tips and insight from ATAS? Check out our traveller’s guide to SA and Adelaide, cross the SA-NSW border and take a break in Broken Hill, and get philosophical with 4 reasons why we love to travel.
Unit 6, Quality Centre
93 Mawson Place
MAWSON , ACT
Shop 117 Brookside S/Centre
159 Osborne Road
MITCHELTON , QLD
Suite 50 574 Plummer Street
PORT MELBOURNE , VIC
2 Orana Avenue
KIAMA , NSW
Level 1, 35 Grafton Street
BONDI JUNCTION , NSW
Suite 1, Ground Floor
Endeavour House 3-5 Stapleton Avenue
SUTHERLAND , NSW
Rivers of Yarrambat Health Center Room 4
28 Kurrak Road
YARRAMBAT , VIC
Rouse Hill Village Centre
Shop 2c, 18-24 Adelphi Street
ROUSE HILL , NSW
Shop 33 Newcomb Central
71 Bellarine Highway
Newcomb
GEELONG , VIC
Bayside Village Shopping Centre
Cnr Jetty and Brighton Road
GLENELG , SA
Level 10
303 Coronation Drive
MILTON , QLD
Shop 25, Alice Springs Shopping Centre
45 Railway Tce
Alice Springs , NT
Level 7, 117 York Street
SYDNEY , NSW
Shop TD.01B
Hope Island Market Place
99-103 Broadwater Ave
HOPE ISLAND , QLD
Shop 14, Centro Armidale
225 Beardy Street
ARMIDALE , NSW
Shop 8a
478 The Esplanade
WARNERS BAY , NSW
Shop T104a
35 Kings Road
HYDE PARK , QLD
Shop 49
The Marketplace
Baylis Street
WAGGA WAGGA , NSW
Shop 4, Ocean Village Shopping Centre
Kilpa Court
CITY BEACH , WA
Weston Arcade
Brierly Street
WESTON , ACT
10-12 / 46-52 Ocean Street
VICTOR HARBOR , SA
Shop 5 Southgate Shopping Centre
Corner Princess Hwy & Port Hacking Rd
SYLVANIA , NSW
Shop 6
2 Burwood Highway
EAST BURWOOD , VIC
70 Glen Osmond Rd
PARKSIDE , SA
Shop 87, Figtree Grove Shopping Centre
FIGTREE , NSW
Shop 24
Lake Haven Centre
43 Lake Have Drive
LAKE HAVEN , NSW
1/79-81 Boat Harbour Drive
PIALBA , QLD
Riddells Creek
RIDDELLS CREEK , VIC
Level 7, Suite 1
82 Elizabeth Street
SYDNEY , NSW
118 Edinburgh Road
CASTLECRAG , NSW
Shop 1037 Australia Fair Shopping Centre
42 Marine Parade
SOUTHPORT , QLD
230 Como Parade West
PARKDALE , VIC
22/17 Eramosa Road West
SOMERVILLE , VIC
Shop 13, 274 Great Eastern Highway, Midland Gate Shopping Ce
MIDLAND , WA
6 Pioneer Place
KATOOMBA , NSW
Shop 147
Elizabeth Shopping Centre
ELIZABETH , SA
Suite 3
186 Byrnes Street
Mareeba , QLD
Shop 7 , 77 Camelia Avenue
EVERTON HILLS , QLD
Suite 3 Level 1 694 Pacific Highway
KILLARA , NSW
Shop 1
Wellington Centre
60 Liverpool St
HOBART , TAS
Maroondah Village
401 Maroondah Highway
NORTH CROYDON , VIC
32/54 32/54, Minjungbal Drive
TWEED HEADS SOUTH , NSW
Shop 1, 101-107 Murray Street
GAWLER , SA
18 Macedon Road
LOWER TEMPLESTOWE , VIC
Shop 55/400 Stafford Road
STAFFORD , QLD
Suite 8, 311 Glen Osmond Road
GLENUNGA , SA
Shop 57, Waverley Gardens S/C
WAVERLEY GARDENS , VIC
Shop 2042 Westfield Marion
297 Diagonal Road
OAKLANDS PARK , SA
Shop 33, Deepwater Plaza
WOY WOY , NSW
95 Little Lake Crescent
WARILLA , NSW
Shop 3B Burpengary Plaza
Station Rd
BURPENGARY , QLD
Shop 218
Carlingford Court Shopping Centre
CARLINGFORD , NSW
159 Burgundy Street
HEILDELBERG , VIC
3/12 Sutton Street
MANDURAH , WA
Shops 5 and 6 Nowra Mall
20 Kinghorne Street
NOWRA , NSW
Shop 2004, Westfield
297 Diagonal Rd
OAKLANDS PARK , SA
T301, Level 3
506 Miller Street
CAMMERAY , NSW
Shop 14, Kiama Village
Shopping Centre
Terralong Street
KIAMA , NSW
67 Astor Terrace
SPRING HILL , QLD
Shop 50A, Vermont South Shopping Centre
495 Burwood Highway
VERMONT SOUTH , VIC
Global Travel Specialists- Mobile
GILEAD CAMPBELLTOWN , NSW
75 Franklin Street
TRARALGON , VIC
Imperial Shopping Centre
171 Mann Street
GOSFORD , NSW
10B 24-28 Corporation Circuit,
TWEED HEADS SOUTH , NSW
Level 5
309 Kent Street
SYDNEY , NSW
Suite 42, Servcorp, Level 5, Nexus Building
4 Columbia Court
NORWEST , NSW
1 Garrawantara Street
BLACKSMITHS , NSW
62 Little Malop St
GEELONG , VIC
Riverside Centre
Shop 2, 4 Maple Street
MALENY , QLD
2615/101 Bathurst Street
Sydney , NSW
Shop 1013, Westpoint Shopping Centre
BLACKTOWN , NSW
Shop 4 Dandenong Arcade
236 Lonsdale Street
DANDENONG , VIC
Suite 6
53 Coppin Street
RICHMOND , VIC
180 Bellair Street
KENSINGTON , VIC
301a Foggo Road
MCLAREN VALE , SA
433 Elizabeth Avenue
KIPPA RING , QLD
12 Pirie Street
ADELAIDE , SA
Suite 110, Level 1
410 Elizabeth Street
SURRY HILLS , NSW
10/3-5 Illuka Street
CURRAJONG , QLD
PO BOX 402
ASCOT VALE , VIC
24 Bougainville St
Manuka
CANBERRA , ACT
22 Kenthurst Rd
ROUND CORNER , NSW
182 Barker Street
CASTLEMAINE , VIC
Ground Floor
215 Newcastle Street
EAST MAITLAND , NSW
11 Joadja St
MITTAGONG , NSW
1st Floor
4-6 Howitt Street
SOUTH YARRA , VIC
Shop 44
Thuringowa Drive
KIRWAN , QLD
Waldorf Building
Suite 6, 155 Fitzroy Street
ST KILDA , VIC
Shop 2123 Westfield Fountain Gate
352 Princes Highway
NARRE WARREN , VIC
54 Brisbane Street
LAUNCESTON , TAS
Cnr Bolsover & Denham Street
ROCKHAMPTON , QLD
Shop 9, 240 Pakington Street
GEELONG WEST , VIC
Shop 31, Westfield Shopping Centre
WEST LAKES , SA
Level 14, 22 Market Street
SYDNEY , NSW
D3.0
63-85 Turner Street
PORT MELBOURNE , VIC
Units 9 & 10 Dennis Court
8 Dennis Road
Springwood , QLD
Shop 2, 25 John St
WARNERS BAY , NSW
Level 1
25/43-45 Burns Bay Road
LANE COVE , NSW
109b Conyngham Street
FREWVILLE , SA
40 McAdam Square
Plymouth Road
CROYDON HILLS , VIC
Shop 5 Arcadia Walk 14 Sunshine Beach Road
Noosa Heads , QLD
6 Middlemiss Street
LAVENDER BAY , NSW
Shop 20a, Booval Fair Shopping Centre
Brisbane Road
BOOVAL , QLD
Suite 110, Level 1
410 Elizabeth Street
SURRY HILLS , NSW
Level 3, 35 Grafton Street
BONDI JUNCTION , NSW
Shop 9ABC
1020 North East Road
MODBURY , SA
20 Wynnum Road
NORMAN PARK , QLD
Suite 9002, Level 9, 619 Doncaster Rd
Westfield Office Tower
Doncaster , VIC
Shop 6 / 8 Gilbert St
TORQUAY , VIC
33, Ballina Crescent
PORT MACQUARIE , NSW
Suite 1 (Rear Entrance)
10-12 Chapel Street
BLACKBURN , VIC
The Gap Village
Shop 12/1000 Waterworks Road
THE GAP , QLD
Mt Pleasant Shopping Centre
Phillip Street
MACKAY , QLD
231 Lower Heidelberg Road
IVANHOE EAST , VIC
Shop 10 Seven Hills Plaza
224 Prospect Highway
SEVEN HILLS , NSW
Thrift Park Shopping Centre
171 Nepean Highway
MENTONE , VIC
R068 Corner Boneo Road & McCombe Street
ROSEBUD , VIC
5/220 Varsity Parade
VARSITY LAKES , QLD
By Appointment Only
219 Sunnydene Road
CHANDLER , QLD
953 Nepean Highway
BENTLEIGH , VIC
T05a, 222 Fischer Street
TORQUAY , VIC
PO BOX 475
BELGIAN GARDENS , QLD
60 Kuran Street
Chermside
Queensland , QLD
Level 2, Bayside Shopping Village
Cnrs Jetty and Brighton Roads
GLENELG , SA
3/75 King Street
CABOOLTURE , QLD
shop 13 2-20 Kingston Downs Dve
OCEAN GROVE , VIC
Level 24, 3 International Towers
300 Barangaroo Avenue
SYDNEY , NSW
Shop 4
Worongary Shopping Village
1 Mudgeeraba Road
WORONGARY , QLD
Suite 2, 4th Floor
828 Pacific Hwy
GORDON , NSW
Suite 701/22 Market Street
Sydney , NSW
1st Floor, 333 Clarendon Street
SOUTH MELBOURNE , VIC
Shop 9 Salamander Shopping Centre
SALAMANDER BAY , NSW
Shop 26 - Coorparoo Square
300 Old Cleveland Road
Corner Cavendish Road & Holdsworth Street
COORPAROO , QLD
Shop 41 Mountain Gate S/C
FERNTREE GULLY , VIC
66 Doncaster Road
BALWYN NORTH , VIC
Shop 91A The Pines S/C
DONCASTER EAST , VIC
Click on the map to search by state
Looking for tips and advice on what to do before you depart on your holiday?
Read MoreRegister your travel plans with Smartraveller before you depart Australia
READ MOREJoin our newsletter to receive the latest travel tips from our ATAS travel experts.