South Australia holidays

Hailed as ‘The Festival City’, Adelaide has stunning architecture surrounded by sweeping gardens and green belts. This perfect tour takes in Victoria Square, the city’s beating heart; the Terraces that separate the city from the green belt; glorious cityscapes from Colonel Light’s Lookout on Montefiore Hill; and the splendour of Torrens River. Walking Jetty Road’s shops in seaside Glenelg is a treat and even more so is the complimentary chocolate from Haighs!

Temptation is a 58-foot sailing catamaran working out of Glenelg, and the first in South Australia to have a dolphin swim license. There are over 1000 dolphins in these waters but one, called Jade, has ‘taken to’ humans and will actually bring other dolphins to the boat. On Temptation, the animals aren’t chased or hand fed. They behave naturally, curious about you in the water and disappearing in their own time. But there’s always another pod to come and play . . .

Temptation is a 58-foot sailing catamaran working out of Glenelg, and the first in South Australia to have a dolphin swim license. There are over 1000 dolphins in these waters but one, called Jade, has ‘taken to’ humans and will actually bring other dolphins to the boat. On Temptation, the animals aren’t chased or hand fed. They behave naturally, curious about you in the water and disappearing in their own time. But there’s always another pod to come and play . . .

The road through the spectacular Torrens Gorge takes you for refreshments at Lyndoch Bakery and wine tasting at the famous Wolf Blass winery. Make sure there’s room for lunch – and maybe more tasting – at Kaesler Winery, and then tour the rolling Adelaide Hills dotted with quaint villages. Lastly, visit Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest German settlement which is rich in its heritage, and explore the main street.

Kangaroo Island is a unique experience for small groups and a thriving haven for native wildlife. Walk among Australian sea lions at Seal Bay – a truly unforgettable experience. Enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch with wine before exploring the interior, spotting koalas and echidnas. See spectacular north coast beaches and look for tammar wallabies in their natural habitat. Later on, see kangaroos leaving the bush to graze in open pastures.

Travel by luxury coach through Verdun and the green Adelaide Hills to the Mallee Outback and Mannum, the home of the River Murray Paddle Steamers. Enjoy a traditional cream tea on board and see how the mighty Murray brought life to a thirsty land; now prospering with vineyards, citrus orchards and thriving rural communities. This day-long scenic tour includes lunch at Mannum’s Pretoria Hotel.

The magnificent Southern Flinders Ranges are famous for rugged scenery, with ever-changing light creating strange patterns in canyons and gorges. Over the tour, which has refreshments and lunch included, you’ll visit a winery in beautiful Clare Valley and continue into the Ranges to historic Melrose and the sight of Mt Remarkable. See valleys and riverbeds lined with massive Red Gums, teeming with native wildlife. After Pichi Pichi Pass, Spencer Gulf is alongside as you return past historic ports to Adelaide.

McLaren Vale on the Fleurieu Peninsula is celebrated for fine wine and food. In Clarendon’s Coriole winery, you’ll taste wines, olives, olive oils and cheeses. After tasting award-winning Kalamata olives, it’s lunch at Market 190, for modern, regionally inspired food. Afterwards, sample almonds at the Almond Train and visit Medlows for chocolates. The last tasting is at the world famous d’Arenberg cellar door, where many of the vines planted in 1912 still bear fruit today.

The Fleurieu Peninsula is an extraordinary mixture of experiences. From the seaside resort playground of Victor Harbour with surfing, diving, shipwrecks and wildlife, to the vineyards, olive and almond groves of McLaren Vale, you’ll see it all and want to taste more! You’ll visit the old paddle steamer port of Goolwa where the Murray meets the ocean, and pretty, historic Strathalbyn on the Angas River, with its thriving arts community.