Australia immediately conjures images of the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, big-wave surfing, miles of Outback and a rather strange, and endearing, assortment of animals. While the country’s main cities offer charm, glamour, unique festivals, a well-preserved historical heritage, fabulous beaches and fun events, it’s also a land of immense contrast and captivating nature. The nation offers something for just about everyone – from water lovers, desert wanderers and canyon climbers, to arts and culture buffs, historians, and foodies. The country’s vast size makes it almost impossible to take it all in during a single visit, but you can pick and choose a perfect holiday according to your personal preferences.
The fertile, welcoming Barossa Valley may be a perfect day excursion from Adelaide, but you’ll probably think twice about leaving once you’re there, many a visitor is seduced by the views and multitude of epicurean delights on offer. The cool summers and rainy winters are suited for the infamous red-wine production the area is well known for, so enjoy your samplings of Shiraz or a rich-flavoured Cabernet. While you’re there pop into Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop, and grab a bite at Hentley Farm Restaurant.
Stretching from Port Pirie to Lake Callebonna, the ancient mountain range known as the Flinders Ranges (or simply the Flinders) is the largest in South Australia and is known as an iconic Australian environment. Made up of a number of mountain ranges – the ABC, the Elder, the Chace and the Gammon in the far north - the rugged landscape is characterised by rolling hills, deep gorges, ridges and razorbacks and wide plains. The area is perhaps best known for the improbable rock formation, Wilpena Pound, but also includes a number of wonderful national parks, the historic outback town of Quorn, the Clare Valley for wine tasting as well as numerous ancient Aboriginal art sites. Visitors to the Flinders are likely to encounter a wide range of local wildlife including Kangaroos, Emus, Wedge Tailed Eagles and the rare Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby.
Once known as the ‘City of Churches’, today Adelaide is better recognised for its sophistication, charm and cosmopolitan feel. South Australia’s capital is a hub of festivals and art galleries; it enjoys a vibrant nightlife and live-music scene; plus there is plenty of shopping, including gorgeous opals, to be done; and gastronomic delights to be enjoyed. Pop into the Art Gallery of South Australia to view indigenous art, or the South Australian Museum devoted to natural history; take an amble in the Adelaide Botanic Garden; or if you’re up for a hike, find out about the trails on the Mount Lofty Ranges.
Buffeted by the waves of the Southern Ocean, Kangaroo Island boasts some of Australia’s most spectacular coastline and a wildlife population protected from the predations of introduced species. As such, Australia’s third largest island, offers some of the best wildlife viewing in the country. Its diverse environment provides habitat for koalas, platypus, bandicoots, goannas, possums, echidnas and Tammar Wallabies (pictured right), now almost extinct on the mainland. The shy Sooty Dunnart is endemic to Kangaroo Island. Larger mammals include Western Grey Kangaroos, seals, sea-lions, dolphins and at times southern Right Whales that calve in the sheltered bays. Birdlife is plentiful with 250 species recorded; from Cape Barren Geese, to Lorikeets, Honeyeaters, Superb Fairy Wrens, fairy Penguins, sea eagles and a rare colony of Glossy Black Cockatoos, each occupying a niche in the variety of island habitats.
Since Aboriginal occupation 10,000 years ago, and a French claim to it in 1804, the island has developed a variety of ‘boutique’ agricultural industries, including eucalyptus oil production, dairy products, bee keeping, marron farming and viticulture.
