South Australia pairs a relaxed, walkable capital with some of the country's best-known wine regions and an island where sea lions sleep on the beach. Here is what to see in Adelaide, which wine region to pick, how to reach Kangaroo Island and how to fit it all into five days.
What are the best things to do in Adelaide?
Start with the Central Market, the North Terrace galleries and a tram to the beach at Glenelg. Adelaide is flat, compact and easy to see in two days, and it sits on Kaurna Country: the Kaurna people's lands stretch across the Adelaide Plains from Port Broughton to Cape Jervis.
- Adelaide Central Market: established in 1869, with more than 70 traders under one roof. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays and open until 9pm on Fridays.
- North Terrace: the Art Gallery of South Australia (open daily, 10am to 5pm) sits beside the South Australian Museum and the State Library, so you can walk between them in minutes. The Botanic Garden is at the eastern end.
- Tarntanyangga: the Kaurna name for Victoria Square, the city's central square. The City of Adelaide translates it as "red kangaroo dreaming", and the River Torrens also carries its Kaurna name, Karrawirra Parri.
- Adelaide Oval: the city's cricket and football ground runs RoofClimb tours over its stadium roof, with views to the hills and the sea.
- Glenelg: the tram runs from the city to the jetty and beach at Glenelg. Trams are free in the city section between South Terrace and the Botanic Gardens stop.
- Haigh's Chocolates: Australia's oldest family-owned chocolate maker, founded in 1915, runs a free guided chocolate experience at its Parkside visitor centre. Bookings are essential.
Many First Nations communities prefer "the Dreaming" or terms in their own language to the older English word "Dreamtime". Our guide to visiting Australia respectfully explains why.
When are the Adelaide Fringe, Festival and Tarnanthi?
The Adelaide Fringe 2027 runs from 19 February to 21 March, and tickets go on sale on 4 December 2026. In 2026 more than 8,000 artists performed across more than 500 venues in the state. The Adelaide Festival, the curated arts festival, runs for about two weeks in March, so late February to mid-March is the city's busiest and most fun time. Book beds early.
Tarnanthi is the Art Gallery of South Australia's platform for contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. The name is a Kaurna word meaning to come forth or appear, like the sun. A major festival is held every two years, and the next one runs from 22 October 2027 to 16 January 2028. For background before you go, read our guide to Aboriginal art.
Which wine region near Adelaide should you visit?
Pick McLaren Vale if you have half a day, the Barossa for a full day, and the Adelaide Hills if you want cooler-climate wine and a historic village. All four main regions are within two hours of the city.
| Region | From Adelaide | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| McLaren Vale | Just over 30 minutes south | Shiraz, Mediterranean varieties, 80+ cellar doors |
| Adelaide Hills | About 30 minutes south-east | Cool hills, Hahndorf, gin distillers |
| Barossa Valley | About an hour north-east | Old-vine shiraz and grenache, 80 cellar doors |
| Clare Valley | About two hours north | Riesling, the Riesling Trail, 30+ wineries |
In McLaren Vale, the d'Arenberg Cube is the region's most talked-about building: a tasting room on top and an art museum on the ground floor. It opens daily from 10:30am to 4:30pm, entry is A$20 and wine flights start from A$20. The Barossa has some of the world's oldest continuously producing shiraz, grenache and mataro vines.
Book a tour or a designated driver; our guide to driving in Australia covers the drink-driving rules.
Is Hahndorf worth visiting?
Yes, if you are heading into the Adelaide Hills anyway. Hahndorf was founded in 1839 by Prussian settlers and is Australia's oldest surviving German settlement, now a State Heritage Area about half an hour from the city. The main street has more than 100 shops, pubs and a brewery. Nearby, The Cedars was the home and studio of landscape painter Sir Hans Heysen. Go on a weekday morning, as weekends get busy.
How do you get to Kangaroo Island?
Take the SeaLink car ferry from Cape Jervis or fly from Adelaide to Kingscote. The ferry crosses Backstairs Passage to Penneshaw in 45 minutes, with up to 12 sailings each way a day in peak periods. On the fare table valid to 31 March 2026, adults were from A$49 one way and a car up to 5 m from A$99, with a temporary fuel surcharge on new bookings in October 2026. Check current fares when you book.
- New ferries: two new vessels, Wanggami and Ruwi, are due to enter service from about November 2026. Services were paused from 20 to 22 October 2026 for port works and resumed on a limited timetable, so check SeaLink's alerts before you go.
- Without a car: LinkSA runs a public coach from Adelaide that connects with the ferry at Cape Jervis.
- Flights: Qantas flies from Adelaide to Kingscote, with a daily morning departure and extra afternoon flights on Mondays and Fridays.
The island is large and has little public transport, so most visitors take a car across or join a tour.
What is there to see in Flinders Chase National Park?
The two big sights are Remarkable Rocks, golden-orange granite formations on a rock platform above the sea, and Admirals Arch at Cape du Couedic, where long-nosed fur seals rest on the rocks below. Entry is A$22.40 per person and must be paid before you enter.
The 2019–20 bushfires burned about 96% of Flinders Chase and the adjoining wilderness area, and almost half of Kangaroo Island. The park has regrown substantially. A new A$19.5 million visitor centre opened in 2024, and the Remarkable Rocks boardwalk, the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail and 22 km of park roads have been rebuilt. Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch can close in severe storms.
Where can you see wildlife and beaches on Kangaroo Island?
Seal Bay is the highlight, and kangaroos are often seen grazing at dusk. Drive slowly at dawn and dusk, when animals are on the roads.
- Seal Bay Conservation Park: walk the boardwalk above a colony of endangered Australian sea lions. The self-guided boardwalk costs A$20.70 for adults, with no booking needed and last entry at 4pm. In October 2026 guided beach access was temporarily paused, with a roaming guide on the boardwalk instead.
- Kangaroo Island kangaroos: a darker, chocolate-brown subspecies of the western grey kangaroo, found only here.
- Koalas: they are not native. Koalas were brought from Victoria in the 1920s and are now managed to protect the island's trees. Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, between Kelly Hill Caves and Flinders Chase, runs koala walks; call ahead to confirm times.
If you are visiting several parks, Parks SA's Kangaroo Island Tour Pass (A$95 for adults) includes the Seal Bay guided tour. For other spots on the mainland, see where to see koalas in Australia.
Away from the wildlife, Little Sahara, a field of white sand dunes inland from the south coast, makes a fun stop, and sandboards are for hire on site. Nearby Vivonne Bay is a long, curving beach that makes a good lunch stop between Seal Bay and Flinders Chase. Check conditions before swimming, as South Coast beaches face the open Southern Ocean.
What is a good 5-day Adelaide and Kangaroo Island itinerary?
Spend two days around Adelaide and three on the island, staying at least two nights there. Travel on the first ferry to make the most of day three.
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Central Market, North Terrace galleries and Botanic Garden; tram to Glenelg for sunset |
| Day 2 | Barossa or McLaren Vale on a tour; Hahndorf on the way back if you chose the Hills route |
| Day 3 | Drive to Cape Jervis, ferry to Penneshaw; Seal Bay, Little Sahara and Vivonne Bay |
| Day 4 | Full day in Flinders Chase: Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch, kangaroos at dusk |
| Day 5 | Morning on the north coast or a koala walk; ferry or flight back to Adelaide |
With more time, link Adelaide to Melbourne along the coast. Our guide to the Great Ocean Road covers the Victorian end, and the best road trips in Australia has other routes.
When is the best time to visit Adelaide and Kangaroo Island?
Spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) are the most comfortable, with mild days for walking and wine touring. Late February and March bring the Fringe and Festival, with the liveliest city but the highest prices. Summer is hot and is also bushfire season, so check alerts on the island. Winter is cool and wet, but quieter, and the ferry still runs. Our month-by-month guide compares the regions.
Facts checked October 2026. Ferry fares, timetables and park access on Kangaroo Island were changing in late 2026; confirm with SeaLink and National Parks and Wildlife Service SA before you travel.
- Kaurna heritage (City of Adelaide)
- Trains, trams and buses (City of Adelaide)
- Our Market: history and opening hours (Adelaide Central Market)
- Adelaide Fringe opens 2027 venue registrations (Adelaide Fringe)
- Tarnanthi 2027 (Art Gallery of South Australia)
- The d'Arenberg Cube experience (d'Arenberg)
- Hahndorf (South Australian Tourism Commission)
- Kangaroo Island ferry fares (SeaLink)
- Qantas adds extra flights during Kangaroo Island ferry closure (South Australian Tourism Commission)
- Flinders Chase National Park (National Parks and Wildlife Service SA)
- The 2019–20 Kangaroo Island bushfires (National Parks and Wildlife Service SA)
- Seal Bay tour prices and times (National Parks and Wildlife Service SA)
- Kangaroo Island kangaroo (Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park)
- Keeping Kangaroo Island's koalas under control (Landscape South Australia)
