South Australia’s Southern Highlights
South Australia doesn’t shout. It’s not the Great Barrier Reef or the Sydney Opera House. But for travellers who care about food, wine, wildlife, and landscapes that haven’t been overrun – it quietly delivers one of the most rewarding weeks in the country. This itinerary threads together three distinct experiences: cosmopolitan Adelaide, the slow rhythm of a Murray River paddlewheeler cruise, and Kangaroo Island’s wildlife encounters that feel genuinely close-up.
The Southern Highlights Tour runs over 7 nights and 8 days. It starts and finishes in Adelaide, with a 3-night cruise aboard the PS Murray Princess between Walker Flat and Murray Bridge, an optional Barossa Valley wine and heritage tour, and an overnight exploration of Kangaroo Island including Seal Bay, Flinders Chase National Park, and the island’s artisan producers. For travel agents building Australian programmes, it works as a strong standalone package or pairs naturally with east coast itineraries and the great Australian rail journeys departing Adelaide. Also available as a self-drive option for clients who prefer their own pace.
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Your South Australia Journey – Day by Day
Arrive in Adelaide & Settle In
Clients arrive at Adelaide Airport where a private driver meets them and transfers them to EOS by SkyCity or similar for one night including breakfast. The rest of the day is theirs. Adelaide is compact and walkable – the Central Market, North Terrace’s cultural precinct, and the bar and restaurant scene along Peel Street and Leigh Street are all within easy reach.
EOS by SkyCity encompasses the finest in modern hospitality – signature restaurants and entertainment, opulent suites, and spa experiences. It’s a strong start to the trip and sets a tone for what’s to come.
Trade tip: For clients arriving on international flights via Melbourne or Sydney, we recommend arriving the afternoon before to allow for jet lag. Additional pre-tour nights in Adelaide can be arranged. The city is often underestimated by international visitors – a free evening here lets them discover why locals are so fiercely proud of it.
Explore Adelaide & Board the Murray Princess
After breakfast, the morning is free for exploring. The Adelaide Central Market is worth a visit – it’s been running since 1869 and remains one of the best fresh produce markets in the country. The Art Gallery of South Australia and the South Australian Museum are both free and both excellent.
In the mid-afternoon, complimentary coach transfers run from Adelaide CBD to the historic town of Mannum on the Murray River – the birthplace of the Murray River trade and communication. The PS Murray Princess departs at 4:30 pm, heading downriver under floodlight as guests enjoy a welcome dinner on board. Keep an eye on the riverbanks – kangaroos, hairy-nosed wombats, tortoises, and egrets are regularly spotted in the evening light. The on-board entertainer provides music for the night owls as the ship moors overnight at Mundurra.
Trade tip: The coach transfer from Adelaide to Mannum takes roughly 90 minutes and is included. Clients who prefer to self-drive can arrange parking at Mannum. The embarkation is relaxed and unhurried – a nice transition from city to river.
Murray Bridge & Riverland Food and Wine
After a hearty breakfast, the ship moors at Murray Bridge – the site of the first bridge to span the Murray River, built in 1879. Guests choose between a guided tour of the town’s historic landmarks and local attractions, or an optional wildlife tour at Monarto Safari Park (additional cost). Monarto is one of the largest open-range zoos in the world – giraffes, rhinos, lions, and meerkats in an open-range Australian bush setting. Those who visit Monarto arrive back on board in time for lunch.
Back in the Sturt Dining Room, there’s a special presentation on the bounty of Riverland food and wine, including a tasting of two reds, two whites, and regional produce. The Murray Princess continues upriver through the afternoon, mooring at Salt Bush Flat. Dinner and on-board entertainment round out the evening.
Trade tip: Monarto Safari Park is a genuine highlight if your clients opt for it. It’s different from anything else on the itinerary and adds variety. Allow time when booking as guests need to be back on board for lunch. The Riverland wine tasting afterwards provides a nice contrast – two very different sides of South Australia in a single day.
Salt Bush Flat, Nature Walk & River Wildlife
The morning begins with a guided nature walk at Salt Bush Flat, where the guide shares the secrets of the local flora and fauna. It’s not strenuous – more of a gentle amble through a landscape that reveals its detail slowly. A good way to get in a little exercise before the day unfolds.
The Murray Princess then departs downriver. Near Fromms Landing, the ship turns and heads to River View Lodge near Piggy Flat/Coolcha, where guests board the flat-bottomed “Dragon-Fly” discovery vessel for a wildlife tour through the maze of backwaters and channels. Travelling in small, personalised groups, they get close to the river’s birdlife – darters, herons, and egrets feeding along the muddy edges. The afternoon offers bocce and fishing challenges on board before a delicious final night dinner in the Sturt Dining Room.
Trade tip: The flat-bottomed boat excursion is a standout. It gets guests off the main river and into the quieter channels where the wildlife is concentrated. Good for photographers. The whole day has a gentle, unhurried pace that many travellers say they needed more than they expected.
Disembark at Mannum & Optional Barossa Valley Tour
The Murray Princess returns to Mannum Wharf after breakfast. From here, clients can transfer directly back to Adelaide or take the optional Barossa Wine and Heritage Tour (additional cost).
The Barossa day trip departs Mannum by coach, heading to Australia’s richest and best-known wine-making region – source of roughly a quarter of the country’s wines. The tour includes a visit to Jacob’s Creek Visitor Centre for a light morning tea and wine tasting, a two-course lunch at Lambert Estate with vineyard views, and an afternoon stop at Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop. The coach drives through the picturesque regions of Seppeltsfield and Marananga, full of history, before returning via Mannum to a luxury coach for the journey back to Adelaide, arriving at approximately 5:30 pm.
Accommodation at EOS by SkyCity or similar with breakfast.
Trade tip: We strongly recommend adding the Barossa option. It ties the whole South Australian story together – food, wine, landscape. Jacob’s Creek resonates with international visitors, and Maggie Beer is a household name in Australia. The additional cost is modest for what’s included.
Cross to Kangaroo Island & Wildlife Encounters
An early morning hotel pick-up for the scenic coach transfer to Cape Jervis, taking in the picturesque Fleurieu Peninsula with its vineyards, coastal views, and rolling hills. At Cape Jervis, guests board the SeaLink ferry for the 45-minute crossing to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island, then join a luxury SeaLink coach with a local driver-guide.
First stop: Seal Bay Conservation Park for a guided beach walk among a colony of rare Australian sea lions. This isn’t behind glass – guests walk right onto the beach alongside the animals. Get up close and see these wild creatures frolic and laze about. It’s a truly unforgettable experience. Lunch is a two-course meal at Vivonne Bay Bistro on the south coast.
The afternoon is spent in Flinders Chase National Park, which was devastated in the worst fire to ever hit the island in January 2020. The regeneration of native bush has been remarkable, and there are many opportunities for photos. As you travel through the park, keep an eye out for echidnas, wallabies, reptiles, and koalas. The Remarkable Rocks – a cluster of enormous granite boulders sculpted by wind and sea – provide great photographic opportunities, and the Admirals Arch boardwalk takes guests down a rugged cliff face to reveal the spectacular rock archway, a natural nursery and safe haven for playful long-nosed fur seals. The day finishes with a visit to Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park for kangaroo feeding and a keeper talk about the Kangaroo Island koalas before heading to overnight accommodation at Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge or similar.
Trade tip: Seal Bay is the hero experience of the Kangaroo Island component. The guided beach walk is unique to this location and genuinely moving for most visitors. Remarkable Rocks has become one of South Australia’s most recognisable landmarks and photographs incredibly well. This is a full day, so make sure clients have comfortable walking shoes.
Artisan Producers, Raptors & Cellar Door
After a delicious cooked breakfast, the second day on Kangaroo Island focuses on the island’s leading creators and local character. The pace is different from day one – less about big landscapes, more about the people and produce that make this place distinctive.
First stop: Raptor Domain for a free-flight birds of prey presentation – the only one of its kind in South Australia, thought by many to be the most interactive birds of prey presentation in Australia. Educational, interactive, and unexpectedly thrilling when a wedge-tailed eagle swoops overhead.
Lunch at Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery, followed by an introductory talk about the history of the oil distillery and a guided tour. Australia’s last remaining commercial eucalyptus oil distillery. Optional tasting of Kangaroo Island Ciders’ Colony Cove range including Apple Sparkler and Cider available at additional cost. Free time in the souvenir shop for eucalyptus products.
Next is Clifford’s Honey Farm for an informative guided tour of the honey room, where guests learn about the extraction process, taste a honey soft drink, and have the option to sample the Drunken Drone Brewery’s Honey Wheat Ale. In the farm gate shop, you can see a working beehive and try to spot the Queen bee. The farm features pure Kangaroo Island Ligurian honey – the last pure strain of Ligurian bees in the world – along with beauty products and their famous honey ice cream.
A photo stop at the spectacular Pennington Bay on the south coast, then a structured wine tasting at False Cape Wines’ cellar door – a stunning new space built from recycled wood, jetty timbers, and limestone sourced on the property. Free time for dinner in Penneshaw (own expense) before the evening ferry and coach transfer back to Adelaide. Overnight at EOS by SkyCity or similar.
Trade tip: The Ligurian bee story at Clifford’s is a genuine point of difference – nowhere else in the world has this. It resonates particularly well with clients from Asia and Europe who appreciate artisan food heritage. False Cape Wines is a polished finish to the island experience. The evening ferry crossing often features spectacular sunsets.
Farewell Adelaide
Following breakfast, a private driver collects clients from their hotel and transfers them to Adelaide Airport for their onward journey.
Trade tip: For clients wanting to extend, this itinerary pairs exceptionally well with one of Australia’s great train journeys departing Adelaide – the Ghan to Darwin, the Indian Pacific to Perth or Sydney, or the Overland to Melbourne. We can also arrange additional nights in Adelaide, self-drive extensions through the Adelaide Hills or McLaren Vale, or connections to other Australian destinations. Contact our team to discuss how the Southern Highlights fits into a broader Australian programme. This itinerary and other South Australian products can also be quoted and booked via our FIT/HELiO booking platform.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
