Great southern adventure

South Australia thrills and tantalises with road trips that unearth plenty of treasures.

YOU get the best of both worlds in South Australia, where gorgeous beaches meet the great outback. And let’s not forget about its three stunning peninsulas – Fleurieu, Yorke and Eyre – that offer spectacular views of the ocean. Then there’s the neat-casual vibe of its capital, Adelaide.

When in South Australia, the best thing to do is go on a road trip. Follow us as we bring you on a journey along wonderful waves, fantastic food, winning wines and natural wonders.

Coastal drive

No visit to South Australia is complete without experiencing the Southern Ocean Drive. The journey packs famous wineries, extinct volcanoes, world heritage wetlands and rugged coastlines, to nameafew.

Stop by Umpherston Sinkhole, a former cave, to immerse in a fairy tale setting amid a meticulously landscaped sunken garden.

Another cave to check out is Naracoorte, where you can opt for a full-on caving adventure or a self-guided walk.

Rather stay above water? Then visit the Blue Lake, an astonishing water-filled extinct volcanic crater. Or cruise the Coorong, a vast wetland ecosystem.

Over at Fleurieu Peninsula, be transported to the 19th century as you journey on the world’s only daily horse-drawn tram service. ere, indul e in a seafood

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Next, you can take a ferry ride to Kangaroo Island to meet wild “locals” such as kangaroos, koalas, bats, possums and echidnas. Not to be missed are the three heritage working lighthouses – Cape Willoughby, Cape Borda and Cape du Couedic.

You should trek to Flinders Chase National Park. This rugged wilderness features the stunning Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. The former is a great place to enjoy stunning sunrises and sunsets. Another stop on the itinerary should be Seal Bay, which offers a look-in at the Australian sea-lion colony and the gorgeous neighbouring coastline.

After all that, live it up with some good wines at Coonawarra and McLaren Vale.

Easy day trips

There are a variety of day trips that can be taken from Adelaide.

A 30-minute drive to Adelaide Hills unveils the hillside jewel of Hahndorf. Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement offers shopping at quaint shops and plenty of heritage. One can get a

- ch at H . from the city. It’s also home to market gardens with berries, stone fruits, citrus and more. You can find it all at the famous Barossa Farmers Market, Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop, Barossa Valley Cheese Company and at a number of great restaurants and cafés.

Get your winemaking fix at Penfolds where guests are invited to make their own blends. Meanwhile, Seppeltsfield offers the opportunity for visitors to try

own birth l a .

Port Lincoln’s the place to be, to see the largest commercial fishing fleet in the Southern Hemisphere. Learn how fishermen work the wild seas off Eyre’s thousand-kilometre coastline.

For a close encounter with marine wildlife, the Baird Bay Eco Ocean Adventure lets you snorkel with bottlenose dolphins and sea lions. From May to October, some 30 humpbacks and southern right whales move into sublime Fowlers Bay to calve.

Meanwhile, May to August is great for seeing giant cuttlefish swarm in the waters of Whyalla. Bold ones might want to try cage diving with great white sharks, out of Port Lincoln.

After that adventure, sink into some sumptuous seafood. Stop at Whyalla (for barramundi and Murray cod), Cowell (oysters), Arno Bay (tuna and kingfish), Elliston (lobsters) and Streaky Bay (abalone). Oyster Farm Tours lets participants wade into the clear waters and harvest the freshest oysters. Then have a hands-on shucking lesson and taste the delightful seafood.

End your day at Lincoln National Park that looks out to the spectacular Southern Ocean.

This article is brought to you by Tourism Australia, South Australian Tourism Commission and Malaysia Airlines. Malaysia Airlines flies four times weekly from Kuala Lumpur to Adelaide.