Buckle up and enjoy a tour through the best day trip destinations from Adelaide!
It’s not an exaggeration to say Adelaide is a city rich in culture, history, and natural beauty. Though while Adelaide offers plenty to see and do, its surroundings boast an array of stunning landscapes and charming towns that make for perfect day trips.
From wine tasting in world-renowned vineyards to soaking up the sun on pristine beaches, this list of the best day trips from Adelaide provide a delightful escape for every traveller. Join us as we uncover the top destinations just a short drive from the city, each offering its own unique attractions and experiences that showcase the diverse beauty of this remarkable region.
Barossa Valley
Chances are, wherever you hail from in Australia, you’ve heard of the Barossa Valley, South Australia’s most notable wine region. Located only an hour out from Adelaide, this wine region features a smorgasbord of sensational wineries, including the renowned Penfolds Cellar Door that produces some of the best representations of Australian shiraz that money can buy. Yet Barossa Valley is more than just wineries, yet is stock full of fantastic restaurants, lavender farms, and stunning resorts to simply soak in and enjoy. One of the best weekend getaway trips from Adelaide, wine aficionados and travellers alike shouldn’t pass up a visit to Barossa Valley!
Barossa Valley. Photographed by hddigital. Image via Shutterstock.
Clare Valley
We’re introducing you to one of the oldest wine regions in Australia, Clare Valley. This quaint, vibrant and charming setting hosts over 50 gorgeous, rustic cellar doors surrounded by endless rolling green hills along a stunning 40-kilometre corridor. Thankfully, this stunning South Australian region can be found less than a two-hour drive from Adelaide. And, beyond wine, Calre Valley is also part of the famed Epicurean Way Road trip that’ll deliver some sensational dining experiences in South Australia. Simply one of the best day trips from Adelaide!
Clare Valley. Image via South Australian Tourism Commission
Fleurieu Peninsula
Welcome to the most pristine wilderness ever seen in South Australia, Fleurieu Peninsula. For once Adelaidians don’t have to go far for a stunning road trip, because the Fleurieu Peninsula is just under an hour away! It’s one of South Australia’s most luscious regions filled with plenty of gorgeous wineries, hiking trails and coastal retreats. Think beach-spotting along the coast, tours of the famed wine region McLaren Vale, or even a helicopter flight of the area is more up your alley. Whether you’re seeking an active vacation to revitalise your system from all that working from home or a proper meditative retreat from the hustle and bustle, you’ll find it at Fleurieu Peninsula.
Fleurieu Peninsula. Image via South Australian Tourism Commission and Tourism Australia
Glenelg
Only a 20-minute drive from Adelaide, the town of Glenelg is the perfect summer getaway for anyone in South Australia. Stretching luxuriously over 150-metres out into the open ocean on the edge of St Vincent Gulf, this summer destination features a spectacular jetty with great restaurants and boutique shops that make for a relaxing and comforting atmosphere to lay back and enjoy. Yet, the real star of the show is the stunning beach and bay that is home to plenty of ways to enjoy the water, including spotting a wild dolphin or two. So sprawl out your towel and soak in the sun at Adelaide’s one of the best beachside towns in South Australia, Glenelg.
Moseley Beach Club, Glenelg. Photography by Hayley Hays Photography. Image via South Australian Tourism Commission
Hahndorf
Guten tag, Australia! If you’ve been aching to travel to Germany this year but can’t, don’t fret: this small town in Adelaide Hills is a mirror image of a storybook Germany we’re all craving. Settled by German Lutheran immigrants in 1838, Hahndorf boasts spectacular German architecture, with a tree-lined main strip featuring all sorts of German-inspired goodies including a cheese maker, leather smith, craft brewery, chocolatier and plenty of other shops and restaurants. And located only 30 minutes outside of Adelaide’s CBD, this quirky town in South Australia is the perfect weekend getaway, with plenty of activities to enjoy for all ages. Better yet, check out this list of the Top 10 Things to Do in Hahndorf here.
Hahndorf. Image via South Australian Tourism Commission
Kangaroo Island
The official slogan for Kangaroo Island is ‘just over the water, but a world away’ and we think it fits perfectly. At 155-kilometres long, this is Australia’s third-largest island and one of the most naturally picturesque locations in Australia. Found south-west of Adelaide, reaching Kangaroo Island requires a short hour-and-a-half drive to Cape Jervis, as well as a 45-minute ferry to Kangaroo Island port. Once you arrive, Kangaroo Island will overwhelm you with an abundance of beautiful beaches and captivating landscapes, though the island has plenty more to offer, including delightful eateries and animal sanctuaries that’ll bring you close to the island’s flora and fauna. It’s easy then to see why Kangaroo Island is one of the best day trip destinations from Adelaide! Need some more convincing? Learn more about the 5 Reasons to Explore Kangaroo Island here.
Kangaroo Island. Image via South Australian Tourism Commission and Tourism Australia
Go chasing the 6 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in South Australia here. And while out in the South Australian countryside, pitch your tent at The Best Camping Spots in South Australia.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.
