Everyone needs a break from city life sometimes and Adelaide is blessed to have an amazing range of nearby places to visit. These 10 awesome weekend getaways from Adelaide will give you a taster of what the surrounding countryside has to offer.
Whether you are a local looking for an escape from the city, or a visitor exploring S.A on a road trip, there will be a trip to suit you. For the lovebirds, the stunning wine regions make a perfect romantic getaway.
Read on to find a brief description outlining the highlights of each location. Suggested in each are some of the best accommodation options to leave you feeling 100% recharged.
Most of these trips will require a vehicle, if you are visiting Adelaide then see the link below to browse for the best value car hire.
Table of Contents
Weekend Getaways From Adelaide
Flinders Ranges
Exploring Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
The dramatic cliffs of the Flinders Ranges are an iconic image of South Australia. The interesting volcanic geology of the region creates startlingly beautiful vistas all over the park. The hiking in top notch but the park can also be enjoyed via scenic drives and several great roadside view points.
The crescent shaped Elder Range is the first feature you come across and you start to get a sense of how great this park is going to be. The highlight however is undoubtedly Wilpena Pound. The landscape appears like a massive crater, ringed by steep cliffs and covered in forest.
Hiking into the lush Wilpena Pound
There are a number of hikes departing from the Wilpena Pound resort. The easiest one enters the pound through a pleasant forested valley. There is a viewpoint up a moderate hill and an old homestead to visit with history of the early settlers in the area. You can also hike to the tallest peaks in the area for the best views however these hikes are fairly strenuous and closed over summer.
The only way to get a true appreciation of the amazing feature known as the pound is with a scenic flight. None of the viewpoints offer anything approaching the view shown below. See the link below for more information on this experience.
Where to Stay in the Flinders Ranges
Best for views: Rawnsley Park Station
This station offers luxury cabins and is perfectly situated for the best views in the park. You will be spoilt with amazing opportunities for photography during the golden hours from your private balcony. There is a restaurant/bar on site and a pool to cool off in after hiking.
Best for Hiking: Wilpena Pound Resort
This accommodation is situated right at the only entrance to the ‘pound’ feature. They are a large operation with anything from luxury villas and glamping tents to unpowered camp sites. They have a really nice pool area just out the front of the restaurant/bar. This is conveniently situated right where you return from hikes into the pound and surrounding features.
See wild emus wandering the landscape
Mount Gambier
Mount Gambier comes in as quite a surprise when you are from out of state and not familiar with the region. There is so much to do here that you might not be able to cover it all in one weekend, but you certainly won’t be bored!
The town is nestled right in the south-east of the state amidst a dramatic volcanic landscape. The limestone foundations of the area also create many amazing features to explore. Being South Australia there is of course delicious local wine to drink from the Limestone Coast Wine Region.
The strikingly blue crater lake
The most striking feature of Mount Gambier is the huge blue lake which is contained within a volcanic crater. There are several viewpoints around the lake accessible by vehicle. For an amazing view of the whole area head up to the Centenary Tower which is perched atop the highest hill in the area.
My personal favourite spot in town was the Umpherston Sinkhole. This is right near the centre of town and is filled with beautiful gardens and water features. Another top highlight are the limestone caves beneath the city which can be entered and explored right in town at Engelbrecht Cave.
Have you ever seen a garden in a sinkhole?
Where to Stay in Mount Gambier
Treat Yourself: Colhurst House
This 1800s mansion offers beautiful rooms with antique furniture and open fireplaces. The freestanding tubs are a highlight and great place to relax with a glass of the fantastic local wine.
Unique and Value: The Old Mount Gambier Gaol
Staying in unique and quirky places is always great, especially when they are as highly reviewed as this one. The historic gaol has all sorts of room options to suit different budgets, including staying in a cell!
Barossa Valley
Chateau Tanunda is a great stop in the Barossa
This internationally famous wine region is probably not a surprise addition to any list in South Australia. It’s close to Adelaide and it’s possible to day trip here but it really deserves a full weekend getaway from Adelaide.
The vineyards seem endless as you drive through the stunning landscape. The region encompasses a number of towns, all of which offer great holiday accommodation options. See below for some amazing options for a romantic getaway from Adelaide.
Endless vineyards of the Barossa
There are so many wineries that it is hard to choose where to visit! The best way to experience some of the highlights and taste a lot of wine is to book a tour with a knowledgeable local guide. Most tours depart from Adelaide but the one below accommodates people staying locally.
This private tour conveniently picks you up from and returns you to your Barossa accommodation. Visit as many as five wineries and enjoy a gourmet platter for lunch. If you prefer to explore on your own but want a little bit of a deeper insight into the region then check out this Shiraz Masterclass. Your host will help you to identify the characteristics that have made this wine famous throughout the world.
Exploring the cellars
Where to Stay in the Barossa Valley
Romantic Getaway: Jacobs Creek Retreat
Relax in old world style luxury in these beautifully designed suites inside 1840s stone buildings. The grounds create an atmosphere of relaxation and tranquillity and of course the wine is not far away.
Vineyard Views: Blickinstal Barossa Valley Retreat
Offering stunning views over the vineyards, you can enjoy your wine whilst taking in sunset views of the beautiful vines that it grew on. The lodge apartments offer a spa bath and wood fire for a perfect getaway in the cooler seasons.
Kangaroo Island
Admirals Arch on Kangaroo Island
This is Australia’s third largest island and is packed full of wildlife and beautiful natural landmarks. A weekend getaway from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island will allow you to get a taste of this area and spot a bunch of cute animals.
You can enjoy this island in a number of different ways. You could choose to just relax in nature and unplug, while enjoying the great food and wine of the region. Alternatively there are loads of wildlife and adventure experiences to keep you occupied if you get bored easily.
Seal Bay is amazing for wildlife lovers
Taking a car across on the ferry can be a little expensive here so a tour can be a good value option. The below tour is by 4WD so you can access some of the lesser visited areas of the island. The tour guides know exactly where to find all the animals including walking down a seal covered beach.
They offer pick up and drop off to Adelaide hotels which is a bonus for tourists. The ferry and all entrance tickets are included as well as a delicious 2 course lunch with local wine. This is a great way to get an introduction to this beautiful natural haven.
►View prices and availability for the 2-day Kangaroo Island tour◄
Where to Stay on Kangaroo Island
Adults Only Retreat: Sea Dragon Kangaroo Island
This is THE place for people who want to get away from it all and enjoy pure relaxation. The amazing ocean views, private beach, hot tub and in-room meal deliveries make it an amazing romantic getaway from Adelaide.
Classic Hotel: Mercure Kangaroo Island
A traditional hotel is a great choice for a weekend stay. They have all the amenities you need which allows you to maximise your relaxation time. It is in the east of the island so close to the ferry and a great base to explore from. Return to their award winning restaurant for a great dinner.
Mount Remarkable National Park
The drive to Alligator Gorge is stunning
This beautiful national park is a perfect weekend getaway from Adelaide for avid hikers and nature lovers. Make no mistake, this is an active getaway. Hiking is the main activity and there are also some good mountain bike trails in the area.
The best way to see the park is to complete an overnight hike, there are several campgrounds along the hiking trails with good facilities. For those looking for day hikes there is a major campground on the west side of the range and a town on the east side.
Hiking into Alligator Gorge
The highlight of the park is Alligator Gorge and the road leading to it. The drive offers stunning vistas on both sides of the road as it winds it’s way up a narrow ridge. The hike from the carpark to the gorge is fairly short and easy/moderate difficulty.
Mount Remarkable itself can be hiked from either side of the park however the most direct route is from the town of Melrose. This is still a solid hike at around 14km however the grade is fairly mild. The mountain is 960m high so prepare for a decent workout!
A stay at Jacka Brothers is a highlight
Where to Stay in Mount Remarkable National Park
Camping: Mambray Creek Campground
This is a government run campground and the best point to access hikes in the park. If you want to just do a day hike to alligator gorge and/or Mt Remarkable then you might want to stay in Melrose.
Melrose: Jacka Brothers Brewery
For the guys out there, I don’t need to say anything other than that you can stay at a brewery! For non beer lovers they still have lovely rooms and grounds. The stone feature walls are simply beautiful. Day hikes are easily accessed from Melrose.
Clare Valley
Amazing views are found down the backroads
The town of Clare is about 150km north from Adelaide and is the hub of the Clare Valley wine region. If you are an avid appreciator of all things wine then you will likely know that it is famed for it’s Rieslings.
The top highlight here is the Riesling Trail, a 35km long cycling path that runs between the towns of Auburn and Clare. The trail itself passes through beautiful scenery and is a lovely ride free from the worries of passing cars. There are many cellar doors along the route and even more a short detour away.
One of many tastings on the Riesling Trail!
A highlights of the trail is exploring the grounds of the historic Sevenhill Cellars. The tasting fee includes entrance to the cellar and the hosts were fantastic at explaining some of the history around the grounds.
The pretty town of Auburn is a great place to grab lunch at the half way point. We highly recommend hiring electric bikes as the return journey is a slight uphill incline. Check out Clare Valley Bike Hire to browse prices and availability. Of course if you don’t enjoy cycling or you aren’t able to cycle, then there are some great wine tasting tours available.