South Australia takes up the bottom centre part of Australia, bordered to the west by Western Australia, the north by the Northern Territory and to the east by Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria and to the south by the South Pacific Ocean.
The capital of South Australia is Adelaide, the fifth-largest in the country and while the state may not be as famous as the others, we loved exploring it.
We're currently living full-time in our campervan, a 2018 Mercedes Sprinter, and exploring Australia, with a plan of "driving the lap" (completing the entire perimeter of the country). I first visited Australia in 2019, following the classic backpacker route, mostly visiting big cities, staying in hostels and traveling by public transport. This time, with the freedom of our campervan, we're trying to hit the lesser known spots and go slower.
Australia is the perfect place to undertake van life; the country is very well set up for it. Along the way, true to our promise to ourselves of visiting some of those lesser-visited places, we've driven through some adorable towns across the country. Here are our favourites in the state of South Australia, ones we have loved exploring, discovering their histories, browsing their shops and local businesses and enjoying their quiet, slow pace of life.
Every single spot (and more) that I mention in all my blog posts about Australia can be found in my Australia | Ultimate Map!
This is a digital map featuring hundreds of my favourite restaurants, campgrounds, accommodations, shops, photo spots, museums, beaches, lakes, animal spots, bridges, viewpoints, hikes and SO much more in Australia, including its three external territories.
Each pin includes exact locations, images, detailed information, the ability to open and save the spot in your Google Maps and a link to my relevant blog post to read more.
COMING SOON → Buy the Australia | Ultimate Map!
Below is some useful information for preparing for your trip to South Australia. In all cases, please be sure to check with the relevant local authorities for the latest and accurate information.
Language: The official language of Australia is English. In South Australia, there are over 30 Aboriginal language groups, each with their own beliefs, cultural practices and languages.
→ Learn more about the Aboriginal people of South Australia.
Currency: The currency used in Australia is the Australian dollar, denoted as AUD $. I use a Wise account when I travel which allows me to have a single, free account with multiple currencies. I only have to pay once to convert my money in the app and then I can pay in AUD $!
→ Check the latest currency conversion between AUD $ and your local currency.
Data: Before you arrive, I recommend purchasing an eSim on your phone so that you can access data the moment you land. eSims are much more convenient as it means you don't have to put a separate physical Sim into your phone. AirAlo offers great deals for eSims of various data sizes and time lengths with Optus.
→ Load an international eSim on your phone with AirAlo.
If you are visiting Australia long term, you might wish to put a physical Sim in your phone as AirAlo is geared more towards short term visitors on holiday. This way you can access a local phone plan. There are three main mobile phone network providers in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Telstra has the best coverage across the country whereas Optus and Vodafone are good within cities. I recommend Telstra as it means you have the best coverage while you travel around the country, especially in rural areas.
We travel with a Starlink in our campervan which enables us to have unlimited WiFi wherever we are, even in places without coverage.
Visa: All passport holders except New Zealand require a visa to visit Australia. All arrivals must fill out an Australian arrival card before landing.
→ Check which visa you need for Australia.
Time of year to visit: Australia can be visited all year-round. South Australia, in the centre of Australia, can get hot and busy in the summer, especially around school holidays, and quite wet and cool in the winter months. I recommend visiting in spring (September-November) or autumn (March-May) for pleasant, sunny days.
Length of stay: We spent one or two days in each of the towns below, as well as time in Adelaide and on the Eyre Peninsula. Two weeks would probably be a sufficient amount of time to properly explore the main highlights of South Australia.
By flight: The main international airport in South Australia is in Adelaide, the state's capital.
→ Check out my complete guide to visiting Adelaide!
By car: The easiest way to explore South Adelaide is with your own wheels. The most popular way of exploring Australia is by camping - whether with a motorhome, campervan, caravan or a roof tent on top of a car. This gives you the ultimate freedom of going as fast or as slow as you like.
→ If you don't have your own car, you can rent one in Adelaide.
You might want to start in Adelaide as your base for renting a campervan to explore Australia.
→ Rent a campervan in Adelaide with Apollo, Camplify, Indie or Juicy.
By public transport: Depending on where in South Australia you're headed, you might be able to get there by bus or train, although this is limited.
By guided tour: There are many guided tours around South Australia, often departing from Adelaide, a great option if you don't have a car or simply want to go the guided route. I have included specific guided tour recommendations per town below, where relevant.
Australia is the perfect place to undertake van life; the country is very well set up for it. Along the way, true to our promise to ourselves of visiting some of those lesser-visited places, we've driven through some adorable towns across the country.
Here are our favourites in the state of South Australia, ones we have loved exploring, discovering their histories, browsing their shops and local businesses and enjoying their quiet, slow pace of life. I've written them in order geographically from east to west.
Waikerie
Waikerie is a cute town just across the border from Victoria. Take in the views from the Waikerie Rotary Cliff Top Walk along the Murray River the have brunch at Illangi Gourmet Foods next to the Waikerie Silos, a fantastic spot to have a mouthwatering artisan brunch as well as browse their provedore with local goods and zero waste products. Grab a coffee from Cafe On McCoy, a cute spot right in town.
→ Check out my complete guide to roadtripping from Sydney to Port Augusta.
Camping: You can camp for free at the pretty Waikerie Silos right next to the Murray River.
Waikerie Rotary Cliff Top Walk
Illalangi Gourmet Foods
Cafe On McCoy
Waikerie Silos Free Camp
Burra
Burra is a small historic town directly north of Adelaide. Take a stroll through the cute streets and check out the history in the Town Square. Grab cozy, homemade food at St Just Cafe, including delicious pastries, baked goods (with legendary scones) and smoothies. It's a local favourite and always busy. There is also a cute gift shop attached.
On the way out of town, visit the Midnight Oil House, an abandoned farmhouse famous for being on the cover of Midnight Oil's 'Diesel and Dust' album.
→ Check out my complete guide to roadtripping from Sydney to Port Augusta.
St Just Cafe
Midnight Oil House
Laura
Laura is a small town we drove through from Adelaide on our way to Mount Remarkable National Park. Snap a photo of the Union Bank of Australia, opened in 1922 and painted a delightful pastel pink. I called it "a bank for the girlies" although it is no longer in operation. Then, grab coffee and ice cream from Meryle's, home to a big antique / retro gift shop on one side with some cool vintage Australia road signs on display, and a cafe with delicious Golden North ice cream on the other.
→ Check out my complete guide to roadtripping from Sydney to Port Augusta.
Kimba
Kimba is at the top of the Eyre Peninsula, between Port Augusta and Ceduna. It marks the halfway point across the country, where you can snap a photo. After, make sure to stop at the roadhouse for a photo with a giant statue of a big galah, a pink and grey parrot, one of Australia's best birds. There is also a cafe and restaurant here if you're in need of a pick-me-up on the long drive.
Halfway Across Australia
The Big Galah
Ceduna
Ceduna marks the eastern end of the Nullarbor, a legendary drive across southern Australia. There isn't that much to do in the town, but it's a good place to fill up on gas before you hit the Nullarbor. Also, I don't eat seafood, but my partner says that the Ceduna Oyster Barn had delicious oysters.
→ Check out my complete guide to roadtripping the Nullarbor.
Camping: We stayed at Thick Trees Camp, a free campground which doesn't have much but it's quiet, located right next to Ceduna so you're rested before or after your big adventure and has amazing sunsets.
Ceduna Oyster Barn
Thick Trees Camp
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
