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3 cities
State · Austrália Meridional (Adelaide)
Austrália Meridional
South Australia is the state of Adelaide, the Barossa wines, the German village of Hahndorf and the wildlife of Kangaroo Island.
In the photo: Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The state
Get to know Austrália Meridional
South Australia lies in the central-southern part of the country, between the interior desert and the Southern Ocean. Much of the state is arid, and life is concentrated in the south around Adelaide, the wine regions and the coast.
Adelaide, the capital, was planned with wide streets and a ring of parks around the city centre. The Central Market, the museums and galleries along North Terrace and Glenelg beach, linked to the centre by tram, are the city's attractions; in summer it hosts the Adelaide Fringe, a major arts festival.
In the Adelaide Hills, Hahndorf was founded by German immigrants in the 19th century and retains old houses, bakeries and breweries. To the north, the Barossa Valley, with the town of Tanunda, is one of the country's best-known wine regions, especially for shiraz; McLaren Vale and Clare Valley are other wine regions in the state.
Kangaroo Island, Australia's third-largest island, is the wildlife destination: kangaroos, koalas, sea lions at Seal Bay and the rock formations Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch in Flinders Chase National Park. Kingscote is the main town, and Penneshaw receives the ferry from the mainland.
Further north are the Flinders Ranges, with the natural crater Ikara (Wilpena Pound), and Coober Pedy, the opal-mining town where many live in dwellings dug into the rock. In the southeast, the Naracoorte Caves are part of the Mammal Fossil Sites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Destinations
1 destination in Austrália Meridional
Cities
3 cities in Austrália Meridional in the guide
Austrália Meridional
Capital
Adelaide
Capital of South Australia, Adelaide has a planned grid centre surrounded by parks. North Terrace brings together the art gallery and the botanic garden; the Central Market is a must; Adelaide Oval hosts cricket and Australian football. The tram takes you to Glenelg beach, and in the hills to the east are the Mount Lofty lookout and Cleland Wildlife Park, with koalas and kangaroos.
Austrália Meridional
Hahndorf
Village in the Adelaide Hills, about 28 km from the city centre, Hahndorf was founded in 1839 by Lutheran immigrants from Prussia and is the oldest German-origin village preserved in Australia. The main street, shaded by trees, has stone houses, bakeries, breweries and shops. Nearby, The Cedars was the home and studio of the painter Hans Heysen.
Austrália Meridional
Tanunda
Tanunda lies in the heart of the Barossa Valley, about 70 km from Adelaide, and is the village with the strongest German heritage in the region, with Lutheran churches, stone houses and bakeries. It is the base for visiting the valley’s wineries, famous for shiraz, the Mengler Hill lookout with its sculpture park, and the Whispering Wall dam, where a whisper travels across the dam.
When to go
The seasons are the same as in Brazil. Spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) usually have the most pleasant days, and autumn is harvest time in the Barossa. Summer is hot and dry, with very warm days; in winter Adelaide is cool and rainy. For the Flinders Ranges and Coober Pedy, prefer April to October.
Getting there
Adelaide Airport (ADL) is close to the city centre and receives flights from across the country; visitors from Brazil typically take another flight from Sydney or Melbourne. Hahndorf is about 30 km from Adelaide, and the Barossa Valley about 70 km. For Kangaroo Island, the ferry departs from Cape Jervis, roughly a 2-hour drive from Adelaide, and arrives at Penneshaw; there are also flights to Kingscote. Adelaide is a stop for the long-distance trains The Ghan, to Darwin, and the Indian Pacific, between Sydney and Perth.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Austrália Meridional
Can you visit the Barossa Valley on a day trip from Adelaide?
Yes. Tanunda is about a 1-hour drive from Adelaide, and there are day tours of the wineries that depart from the city — a good option for those who want to taste wine and not drive.
How many days for Kangaroo Island?
The island is large and the attractions are far apart: with 2 or 3 days you can see Seal Bay, Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch and the beaches. A one-day trip from Adelaide is possible, but long.
Do you need a car on Kangaroo Island?
Yes, or an organized tour: there is no public transport between the island's points of interest. You can take the ferry with a car or rent one on the island. Avoid driving at dawn and dusk, when animals cross the road.
What is Adelaide's time zone?
Adelaide is 12 and a half hours ahead of Brasília, and 13 and a half hours ahead during the Australian daylight saving time, from October to April. It is half an hour behind Sydney and Melbourne.