South Australia is perhaps best known for being the wine capitol of Australia, home to the famous Flinders Chase National Park and the Barossa Valley wine country. South Australia offers extraordinary wildlife including platypus and little penguins and the chance to swim with dolphins, sea lions or even great white sharks.

Adelaide is the capitol of South Australia. This vibrant city sits between the Adelaide Hills and the Gulf St. Vincent. It is adorned with pristine beaches, numerous water sports and activities, national parks and is surrounded by parkland; a perfect place to relax and enjoy the day.

Here are some of the most popular features of Adelaide:

o Glenelg is an historic and very popular beachside community. It offers many restaurants, cafes and shopping.

o South Australian Museum was founded in 1856. It is home to the largest collection of indigenous Australian artifacts in the world. Open daily and entry is free!

o National Wine Center of Australia promotes awareness of over 10,000 Australian wines. There is an extensive list of wines available for tasting, and one can brush up on their wine knowledge by chatting with a hologram of famous Australian winemakers. Open year round, except for national holidays.

o Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife reserve approximately 25 miles outside of Adelaide. It was created as a reserve for endangered Australian wildlife in 1969. Today it is home to over 100 species of native birds and mammals. It is a great place to visit for an opportunity to get up close with Australian wildlife in a protected environment. Open daily with free admission!

Some other noteworthy attractions in Adelaide include the Art Gallery of South Australia (renowned for the extensive collection of Australian art), the Adelaide Zoo, Adelaide Botanic Gardens and the seaside suburb of West Beach.

Kangaroo Island is located 13km off the coast of South Australia and is a must for any wilderness destination traveler. With the mix of small towns and wilderness, an abundance of wildlife thrives on the island. One can find koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, platypus’, seals, sea lions, penguins and about 250 species of birds.

A third of Kangaroo Island is protected by National Parks. The largest of the parks is Flinders Chase National Park, covering 17 percent of the island. In addition to the variety of wildlife, it offers the attractions of Weir’s Cove, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. For visitors there are picnic tables and campsites making this a great family destination.

Barossa Valley is Australia’s most famous wine region. Located just one hour from Adelaide, it makes a great long day trip or if you wish to stay longer, there are many lodging options available for all levels of comfort. The Valley has been producing wine for over 160 years and today there are more than 100 wineries crushing grapes and many of them offer guided tours and tastings year round. In addition to wine, a variety of specialty foods are produced in Barossa Valley including award winning cheeses, dried fruit and delicious pate and can be found at some of the many country markets in the area.

Eyre Peninsula is a great place to visit if you enjoy beach vacations without the crowds. This area offers over 2,000km of coastline, great fishing, and diving; you can even dive with great white sharks! There is a variety of beachfront accommodations and spectacular seafood to satisfy your big appetite after a day at the beach or out to sea.

Look for our series of articles on the five other states of Australia including Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland and Western Australia, and its mainland territory, Northern Territory.

Contact a Professional Travel Agent today to book your dream vacation to Australia!