Live Large in South Australia’s Winter Wonderland
Summer is approaching too quickly for most of us, since the heat is here all year round. Fortunately, winter beckons in South Australia - and you're invited. The city of Adelaide and its surrounding regions usher in the turn of winter in their own special way, and any tourist will find joy diving into the smorgasbord of snowy activities they have in store for everyone. CheapTickets.sg tells all with eight great destinations that can be found only in South Australia which will entertain and enthrall beyond your wildest dreams.
One lovely part about taking off to South Australia is that your wardrobe is probably already prepared - temperatures range from a comfortable 14° to 22°C in April, and only rarely drop below 10 degrees. Time to break out that sweater you’ve never gotten to wear here, and book your Adelaide adventure today!
Book your next great escape to South Australia now.
Watch the Sunsets Fade to Stars in the Flinders Ranges
If you’re a city native, watching the stars surrounded by nature is the stuff of fantasies. However, a five-hour drive north from Adelaide will take you to Flinders Ranges, a striking landscape with 600 million years of history beneath its bedrock. The Ranges hold plenty to secrets for travellers to discover - hike up the edge of Wilpena Pound, a rim 100 kilometres wide that towers over the surrounding plains, or simply fly across it and see its beauty from above; relive the steam engines of old that will bring you through the earliest infrastructure set up in the region; and finish off with an authentic food menu you’ll only find here in South Australia. And we haven’t even gotten to the stars!
For the perfect view of the stars above, getting rid of the roof helps. Resorts in Wilpena Pound and Rawnsley Park offer camping options for caravanners and hikers alike. If you’re looking for a luxurious glamping experience, check out Arkaba and Ikara Safari Camp and check in early to watch a beautiful orange horizon fade to starry white.
Get Close to the Bayfront Coasts at Southern Ocean Lodge
Prefer the seas to the stars? Nestled in Kangaroo Island, the Southern Ocean Lodge is a short 30-minute flight from the mainland. Alternatively, you can take in the sights with slightly longer, but equally spectacular coach and ferry services. Normally renowned as a must-go summer destination, this place offers a serene tranquility during the colder seasons. Whether you choose to walk the length of Hanson Bay, or stay perched in comfort within one of several luxurious suites available, you’ll own the coastlines in style.
Kangaroo Island offers an incredible range of activities, but if you’re planning to hit up a particular establishment, do remember to check with them to see if they will be open during the winter - some places do shut their doors until the weather warms!
3. Waltz with the Stars at Adelaide’s Cabaret Festival
Some of us might be looking for stars of a different kind - Adelaide will have that going for you as well at this year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Spawned out of a time to uncertainty for the musical theatre and political satire industry, founder Frank Ford recognized the presence of both in the cabaret scene and put them together as a festival in 2001. The rest, they say, is history.
Bringing a different kind of warmth to the winter, the festival is scheduled to open with a bang from 7 to 22 June this year. Previous iterations of this ever-growing festival have featured statement acts by Idina Menzel and Dita von Teese, and this year promises to be even better. Among the repertoire this year (which continues to grow!) is the premiere of The Swell Mob, an award-winning mix of clowning, puppetry, and cabaret from the UK; and Kate Miller-Heidke, the only artist in history to perform at Coachella, the New York Metropolitan Opera, the Eurovision Song Contest and The Gov.
Experience Australia’s Own Slice of Europe at Hahndorf
The oldest living German settlement in Australia, Hahndorf has a history that would impress history buffs and casual tourists alike. Expect the hospitality and adventure characteristic of a cosy cottage family and more - traditional architecture complete with yarns and folklore, explore ethical artisanal shopping at Poet’s Ode, and old-school German fare from an equally old-school Hahndorf Inn (it’s been around for 150 years).
Wish to see the sights beyond the township? Beerenberg Farm specializes in strawberries, and isn’t afraid to share the love. Channel your inner farmboy or farmgirl and select your cream of the crop at their regular strawberry pickings, and take them home by the kilogram - plenty for you and your loved ones!
5. Cheer On with 60,000 Fans at the Adelaide Oval
Fancy some football? Here in South Australia, football is played two ways - the standard way, and the unhinged Aussie rules way, where points are scored by getting the ball between the posts at each end of the pitch. The Adelaide Oval is the perfect arena for this uniquely Australian sport, and the two teams that call the stadium home stage games throughout the winter period.
If sport isn’t your thing, take a scenic tour of the stadium - or on top of it! The Oval organizes RoofClimb sessions in the day and night, so get strapped in and see the cityscape from a different perspective.
Take Flight Above the Barossa
There’s a lustre about floating across the landscape in a hot air balloon. Barossa gives you that, and tops it off with champagne. Home to over 150 wineries, the region is home to various great food, drink, and entertainment. Coupled with a signature Barossan hospitality, it’s a great place to kick back and enjoy the winter in its majesty.
The laidback vibe of the region has also allowed a range of arts to thrive, including blacksmiths, painters, and even mettwurst curators. With plenty of secrets around every corner, you’ll be in for a novel experience every time. Daily bus services connect Barossa to Adelaide’s metro transport services via the Gawler Railway Station.
7. Wrap Up with An Actual Winter Wonderland - or Three!
Adelaide takes their winters seriously, despite the climate not allowing for snow. There were three temporary outdoor skating rinks in Adelaide last year, all run between June and July with differing concepts. The City of Holdfast Bay’s rink, held at Glenelg, featured a picturesque skating experience overlooking the beachfront.
This year promises to be no different - possibly even more phenomenal. Plans are in place to turn Victoria Square, Adelaide’s city center, into an alpine village within the CBD, an otherwise quiet region during the winter season. Think a skating rink, an ice slide, jumping castles, and bar areas for the booze - a snow-glazed fantasy awaits!
A frequently overlooked part of Australia has much to undiscover - be the first to experience a winter like no other. Don’t sleep - book your next great escape to South Australia now!
This article is brought to you by CheapTickets.sg & South Australia Tourism Commission.