21 December 2023
Grab your flippers and snorkel and head to Port Noarlunga on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
- Snorkel our own “barrier reef” – The Port Noarlunga Reef Sanctuary Zone is actually the remains of an ancient river bank. Today, though, it’s home to a huge range of fish, invertebrates and marine plants, and it even has underwater signs to guide you during your snorkel or dive. The best bet is that it’s easily accessible from the purpose-built platform at the end of Port Noarlunga Jetty.
- Ride like an eagle – Developed by the South Australian Government with the valuable assistance of local councils, cycling organisations, mountain bike clubs, vegetation management groups and volunteers, Eagle Mountain Bike Park is the perfect place to test your riding skills. With more than 20km of cross-country trails, a challenging downhill trail, a skills development park, a jumps park and a trials area there really is something for everyone. Other great spots to ride in SA include Cleland Conservation Park and Fox Creek Bike Park.
- Hike the Heysen – Covering 1200km from the Flinders Ranges to the South Coast, the Heysen Trail passes through some of South Australia’s most diverse and breathtaking landscapes, traversing coastal areas, native bushland, rugged gorges, pine forests and vineyards, as well as rich farmland and historic towns. While much of the northern section of the trail is closed during summer due to bushfire risks, the spectacular southern reaches are open all year round and offer wonderful coastal hikes.
- Catch a pipi – Catch might not be the most appropriate word, given that this ocean delicacy doesn’t move very quickly, but they are perhaps the easiest seafood dinner going around. Goolwa beach, south of Adelaide, is one of the best places in the state to collect pipis, also known as cockles, and it’s as easy digging your fingers or toes into the sand until you have enough for a meal. Remember to familiarise yourself with the size and bag limits before you go.
- See a sea lion – The Australian sea lion is the only pinniped found only in Australia. This iconic species is on the endangered list, but South Australians are lucky to be able to see them at a number of coastal locations. One of the best places to see the incredible creatures is Seal Bay, on Kangaroo Island, where visitors can take a guided tour into the heart of the colony.
- Kayak in a ship graveyard – Yes, you read that correctly – there’s an incredible ship graveyard at Port Adelaide and it’s a paddler’s paradise. There are 26 wrecks at the Garden Island location, from sailing ships and steamers to ferries and barges, each offering a unique insight into our seafaring past. Guided tours are available, and the best bit is that it’s within the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, so keep your eyes peeled.
- Dive with a great white shark – In the Neptune Islands Conservation Park, south of Port Lincoln, you can get up close and personal with one of the planet’s true apex predators. Thankfully, there are bars between you and the great whites that call this part of South Australia home. There are two commercial operators working in the area, one that specialises in day trips and another that focuses on multi-day journeys. No scuba ticket is required for the surface cages.
- Take a break at the Breakaways – There’s nothing like a desert sunrise, and one of the best desert sunrises in South Australia is in the Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park. The Breakaways are a collection of colourful hills and mounds that rise from the plains of the Great Victoria Desert, just north of Coober Pedy. They come to life during sunrise and sunset with rich reds, oranges and whites. Not only are the structures visually spectacular, they also hold deep meaning for the region's First Nations people.
- Get closer to heaven – The River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve is Australia's first, and It joins an elite group of remarkable dark places around the world. Just 90 minutes from Adelaide, the Reserve covers more than 3200sq km in a region known for its dry climate and cloudless skies. Measurements have shown exceptional darkness right across the region, and SQM (sky quality meter) readings of 21.9 are common. What does that mean? It means you’ll feel like you can almost reach out and touch the Milky Way.
- Take a trip back in time – For more than half a million years the cave system at Naracoorte has acted like a pitfall trap collecting the bones of an amazing array of animals, many of which are now extinct. Marsupial lions, thylacines, even the giant diprotodon, have all been found in the caves, which are South Australia’s only World Heritage site. A fascinating glimpse into our past.
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