Come back for a day trip that’s anything but average
Whether you’re craving something different or seeking a budget-friendly break, a day trip in South Australia promises memorable experiences by the carload.
From a concert in a candlebark forest to classic car runs and festivals where you can join in like a local – getting out of the city and into the regions offers a change of scenery in every way.
South Australia has day trips for memory making, showing off the state to visiting friends and making the most of daylight savings and mild autumn weather.
So, why not explore these destinations waiting on your doorstep?
BAROSSA
Barossa Valley Ballooning. Photo credit: South Australian Tourism Commission
Fino at Seppeltsfield. Photo credit: Frame
Barossa feels like one welcoming community sharing breathtaking landscapes and their love of food and wine with everyone who visits.
Less than an hour’s drive from Adelaide, the townships of Tanunda, Angaston and Nuriootpa and charming villages beckon for a day trip rich in experiences.
Go on a Saturday and start at the Barossa Farmers’ Market in Angaston, then spice things up with Colombian-inspired breakfast at El Estanco. If Friday kicks off your weekend, join the long lunch at Hart of the Barossa and finish at Friday Nights at SRD.
For an Insta-worthy experience visit a wine chateau or the Lyndoch Lavender Farm, blooming bright in the warmer months. Or take Seppeltsfield Road to the Avenue of Palms, with award-winning restaurants, wineries and the JamFactory artist studios all close by.
Prefer an active day and connecting with others? Walk Local takes groups of 8-10 likeminded travellers on whole day walks through gorgeous landscapes, while enjoying fabulous regional food and wine and unique local culture. Or join Bike About for an e-bike tour.
You can also download the Barossa Heritage Trail app (on Google Play or Apple) for self-guided walks and a driving route.
Floating above the Barossa in a hot air balloon or helicopter is a must if you’re chasing that feeling of awe.
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While back on the ground, scores of Barossa food and drink experiences are calling. Note: You’ll want to pack an esky to bring back your haul!
More reasons to return – Visit this April for the biennial celebration of the Barossa Vintage Festival, with 75 epic events dotted throughout the region.
Make a stay of it… Stay in walking distance from cellar doors in an environmentally sensitive villa among gum trees. Unwind in a private suite in a luxury lodge overlooking fields and vines, and enjoy world-class seasonal dining. Pack the kids and dog into the car for a holiday park adventure you’ll all love. Camp in a fragrant forest of pine trees in one of Australia’s best campgrounds. See even more ideas here.
MURRAY RIVER, LAKES & COORONG
Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park. Photo credit: South Australian Tourism Commission
Monarto Safari Park. Photo credit: Zoos SA / Geoff Brooks
Bill’s Boathouse. Photo credit: David Sievers
One day spent near water is like a salve for a world-weary soul.
Visit the Ngaut Ngaut Aboriginal Site on a cliffside guided tour with traditional owners and experience Aboriginal culture in the ancestral home of the Nganguraku People.
Then linger indoors at the Murray Bridge Regional Art Gallery. It’s one of the state’s leading regional galleries and offers a packed calendar of cultural events.
Need more awe? There’s a canopy of stars overhead at the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve.
The natural paradise of the Lower Lakes and Coorong teems with migratory birds and pelicans and Ngarrindjeri and settler history.
Road tripping from Adelaide, takes in the eco-vineyards and wineries of Langhorne Creek and the mighty Lake Alexandrina. Stop in the laidback town of Meningie for a picnic or swim before experiencing the serenity of The Coorong.
The surrounds of this coastal lagoon were once the most densely populated areas of the continent before European settlement.
Seeing it from the water is even more breathtaking. Consider making the historic port town of Goolwa your first port of call, before a memorable small boat tour of the area.
More reasons to return – Get your fix of arts, culture and comedy at River Fringe until March 23. Early April brings fast cars galore at Riverbend Nationals 2025 and Swan Reach Classic Auto River Run, while later that month Goolwa hosts the SA Wooden Boat Festival.
Make a stay of it: Escape the hustle, cherish the wild beauty of the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people and wakeup to a Coorong water view. Stay trackside at the Bend Motorsport Park motor racing circuit. Find your inner bliss in a sustainable tiny house moored permanently on the river. See even more ideas here.
McLAREN VALE
Lost Phoenix Farm. Photo credit: South Australian Tourism Commission
Naiko Retreat near McLaren Vale. Photo credit: Hayley Conolly
In McLaren Vale, you’ll find more than 550 vineyards just across the hill from the sea, a thriving foodie culture, laidback vibes and festivals, 90 cellar doors and distilleries aplenty.
The region is known for its Shiraz and Grenache but settle in for some wine tasting and find a new favourite drop, like Fiano or Vermentino. Or try a gin and liqueur tasting at McLaren Vale Distillery.
Choosing just one restaurant to try is always a challenge – but also a reason to keep coming back. Maybe start with lunch at The Salopian Inn or The Kitchen at Bec Hardy.
Red Poles Café and Restaurant should also be on your list, with its blend of food, wine, art and cocktails. And if you haven’t been already, stop into D’Arenberg Cube for the views from the top floor tasting room.
The Fleurieu Peninsula is dotted with art galleries, many just a short drive from McLaren Vale. In some, like Magpie Springs, it’s a gallery and cellar door in one. You could burn off lunch with a stroll along the Flat to Vale Trail, which connects to the longer, Shiraz-loving Coast to Vines Trail.
Then take the coast road home to Adelaide, stopping for a beach walk, swim or ice cream.
More reasons to return – Visit in May for chamber music at the Coriole Music Festival, in June for the nearby Winter Whale Festival, in July for the Willunga Almond Blossom Festival and next February for the Fleurieu Film Festival.
Make a stay of it: Find a balance between low impact and luxury with an off-grid stay. Get away with the kids to a mid-century home overlooking vineyards. Unwind with friends, whatever the season, in a luxury retreat set in a working vineyard. Sleep under a blanket of stars in a spacious, self-contained geodesic dome. See even more ideas here.
ADELAIDE HILLS
Adelaide Private Tours. Photo credit: Tourism Australia / South Australian Tourism Commission
CABN Hahndorf. Photo credit: CABN
With twenty-four towns making up the Adelaide Hills, there’s always something happening.
Start your day trip with a stroll around the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden, alive with colour in autumn and spring. Nearby is the Mount Lofty Summit offering an unparalleled view over Adelaide.
In the summer months, head for Stirling Laneways, exploring the market stalls that spill into the streets.
Take a leisurely drive on the roads less travelled between Stirling, Bridgewater and Hahndorf. Stop for lunch in the main street before touring the studios and home of artist Hans Heysen.
If the time is right, you could go fruit picking in the Adelaide Hills. Otherwise, try the fruits of someone else’s labour – artisanal cider at Lenswood Cider Co. and food stuffs at Lobethal Fodder Store.
If there are car enthusiasts among you, a stop at the National Motor Museum is a must. If not, round out the day by following the road to Applewood Distillery in Gumeracha. This outfit, making gins and limoncello, is also a sister to one of the state’s many sustainable wineries.
More reasons to return – March brings foodie celebrations in A Taste of the Hills Festival, and Mylor goes magical and mythical in May with The English Ale.
Make a stay of it: Sleep like a king or queen in an award-winning luxury hotel decked out in opulent antiques and hand-loomed tapestries. Recharge at a luxurious, adults-only wellness retreat nestled on a 12-acre organic farm. Gather your besties together and pop the cork on a weekend stay in a vineyard. See even more ideas here.
Murray River Walk. Photo credit: Murray River Walk
More time to meander?
Our Epicurean Way Road Trip links up our world-famous wine regions with food aplenty, while our Might Murray Way Road Trip offers a deep dive into the winding river, with red cliffs, water sports, roadside fruit stalls and wineries, too. Or pull together a food adventure from Tasting Australia’s regional program, coming this May.
Find experiences worthy of a day trip. See southaustralia.com
