10 great South Australian road trip ideas

Recently I found myself returning to Adelaide for the first time in eight years. The last time I was there was for my university graduation, but this time I was able to make the most of some of South Australia’s beautiful road trips.

Now that domestic borders are open, planning a great South Australian escape is way more doable. Whether you want to venture far and wide or stay closer to Adelaide, there’s something for everyone.

There’s no shortage of amazing South Australian wineries to choose from during your visit, but if you’re staying in the Adelaide CBD and want something a little closer to the city, McLaren Vale is your best option!

Only a 45-minute drive from the city, the region is home to over 60 wineries (so you’ll definitely be spoilt for choice!) but is also a local hub for art, and food, and isn’t far from the beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Down the Rabbit Hole is a favourite among many for its quaint, modern farm-style house, and in the vineyard, guests can enjoy a wine tasting in an old, blue double-decker bus.

McLaren Vale is an easy drive down the Southern Expressway (M2) or via the M13 – just head down Main South Road through Morphett Vale and the foothill of the Onkaparinga Hills.

This world-renowned wine region is North-East of Adelaide, and it’s perfect for a long weekend road trip.

Once again, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to the array of high-profile wineries all of which offer tours and cellar-door tastings and given Shiraz is the local speciality, you’ll be able to pick up some to remember your road trip by!

There’s no shortage of places to trip around to while in the Barossa and be sure to check out the towns of Tanunda, Angaston, and Nuriootpa, before heading to Seppeltsfield Winery, Jacob's Creek Winery, Kapunda, and Lyndoch. There are also a lot of historical sites to check out and learn about too, with the stone cottages and Lutheran churches throughout the region first established by the 19th-century wave of German settlers. 

This epic road trip will take you from Melbourne all the way to Mount Gambier and is a great option if you’re keen to do a bit more travelling, as it’s roughly a five-hour trip.

If you’re up for a couple of extra hours to the drive time, taking the Great Ocean Road route will add one of Australia’s most scenic drives to your road trip too! And what’s a seven-hour road trip when you have nothing but time and a couple of friends to share the driving?

Once you get to Mount Gambier you won’t be stuck for things to do either. This small border-town is known for its limestone and freshwater sinkholes, as well as a number of worldwide known lakes that are perfect for snorkelling and diving.

Head via the Western Freeway through Ballarat, the Hamilton Highway, or the Great Ocean Road when leaving from Melbourne.

Another option if you’re looking to get out of the city and get in touch with nature. It’s a 2.5-hour drive (plus a 45-minute ferry trip) from Adelaide and as the name might suggest, you’re bound to see some of Australia’s beautiful native wildlife while on the island, like sea lions, koalas, assorted bird species and of course, kangaroos.

Once you’re on the island there are three main roads that will take you to the epic locations!

Playford Highway cuts straight through the middle and takes you to places like Cygnet River, Kingscote, and Parndana, while the South Coast Road is the most popular route and takes you down to Vivonne Bay, Flinders Chase National Park & Seal Bay.

Meanwhile, the North Coast Road is shorter than the other roads and unsealed, so this route is best for those 4WD adventures so you can get to the hidden beach of Stokes Bay on the other side. Cape Du Couedic Road is one of South Australia’s most scenic drives and takes you through Flinders Chase National Park towards Admirals Arch and Remarkable Rocks.

Port Noarlunga is just a 45-minute drive from Adelaide and a great option for those beachy and surf road trips!

This bohemian suburb by the sea is also home to an offshore reef that offers some of the best snorkelling and diving in South Australia, with more than 60 different species of fish!

If you’re looking for an Instagram-worthy road trip, look no further than the Pink Lake.

When driving between Tailem Bend and Meningie you will drive past this beauty. On the shores of Lake Albert, its stunning pink colour is the result of millions of tiny microorganisms that produce betacarotene, turning it pink when they thrive.

The drive to the lake is roughly 90-minutes from Adelaide, which makes it a perfect day trip, or if you’re keen to stay out on the road longer, hit up some of the smaller towns this part of South Australia has to offer!

This is definitely a road trip everyone should have on their bucket lists! To the left is Antarctica, but to the right is the harsh Australian outback. Talk about contrasts!

The sandstone cliffs hug the coastline of the Great Australian Bight and look as though someone has taken a ‘Bight’ out of it from an aerial view. No South Australian road trip adventure is complete without venturing into this part of the world and along the Nullarbor Plain.

Fun fact: it’s the only way to drive across from South Australia into Western Australia!

The area also attracts hundreds of Southern Right Whales each year to mate and give birth. The whale viewing area is about a four-hour drive from Ceduna, so be sure to check that out too!

This is the PERFECT day trip for those shorter holiday adventures, or if you’re travelling with kids, because Mount Lofty is only 15km from Adelaide.

Nestled in the Adelaide Hills region, there are heaps of little towns to drop in on and explore, as well as checking out the beautiful Botanic Gardens and the Mount Lofty Ranges Vineyard (just make sure you have a designated driver!)

If you’re ready for an outback road trip adventure, this is the one for you.

The five-hour drive from Adelaide will deliver you magical sunrise and sunset in the Aussie Outback and when making Arkaba Station your destination, you’ll be experiencing it in some of the best ways possible.

The homestead has been nicknamed “one of the most exclusive stays in Australia” and only accommodates 10 guests at a time, so you will have more than enough space while visiting but also to explore more than 24,000ha of private wildlife conservancy.

You’ll find Port Lincoln National Park on South Australia’s westernmost peninsula and is gateway to the most famous road trip in SA. The town of Port Lincoln is known as the premium destination for cage diving with Great White Sharks and is the largest coastal town on the Eyre Peninsula.

But if you’re looking to stay on dry land, heading to the Port Lincoln National Park is a great option. Due to the sandy tracks, this is best a 4WD adventure, however, another great spot in the region is the Fisherman’s point campground.

This campsite is perfect for a rest or an overnight stay, and if you manage to find a spot close enough to the water you might even spot a pod of passing dolphins or seals early in the morning.

It’s also an easy drive from Point Lincoln, just make sure you take the exit towards Lincoln National Park on Donnington Road. From there you will reach Spalding Cove and find Fisherman’s point campground in the northeast.

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