South Australia

South Australia sits in the centre of Australia, with the Southern Ocean to the south, flanked on the other sides by land. Its landmarks include the Great Australian Bight, which provides spectacular whale-watching opportunities every year; the magnificent Flinders Ranges; the natural wonder of Kangaroo Island; the world’s largest cattle station, and the world-famous wine regions of the Barossa and Clare Valley.

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Quick Facts

 Category Details
 Population1,542,033 (in June 2005)
 ClimateAround the coast, South Australians enjoy a temperate climate that encourages outdoor living and a relaxed atmosphere. But in the north, temperatures can get hot, particularly in the summer months. Adelaide’s summer average is 28.3 Celsius, with a winter average of 15.9 Celsius.
 Cultural MixSouth Australia’s population is characterised by a great diversity of cultures. Approximately one in five South Australians was born overseas, with about half of this group born in English-speaking countries, and the other half in countries where English is not the dominant language.
 Famous ForSouth Australia is famous for: Kangaroo Island for its unspoilt nature; Coober Pedy for its underground homes; enthralling events like international cycling race the Tour Down Under; the Clipsal 500 V8 championship; the Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive; and Australia’s largest arts festival - the Adelaide Fringe. We’re known for our world-class Barossa wine region and for being the home of the remarkable Penfold’s Grange (the 1990 vintage was dubbed ‘the best red wine in the world’ by Wine Spectator magazine).
 TransportBy air, you can reach South Australia on international airlines including Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Garuda Airlines; there are also several national airline operators servicing the state. By rail, the Ghan runs between Adelaide and Darwin via Alice Springs, while the Indian Pacific spans the continent between Sydney and Perth via Adelaide. The Overland runs between Melbourne and Adelaide – all are owned by Great Southern Rail. Adelaide’s interstate rail terminal is located at Keswick, a few kilometres from the city centre. A number of coach companies have connections to and within South Australia. Its central position makes SA a great destination for a short(ish) drive from the eastern states, or part of a longer tour across the nation.
 The People

Artists

  • film director Scott Hicks (Shine, Snow Falling on Cedars)
  • film director Rolf de Heer (Ten Canoes)
  • painter David Bromley
  • photo-based artist Deborah Paauwe
  • sculptor Greg Johns
  • glass artist Nick Mount
  • artist Fiona Hall
  • Sir Hans Heysen made his home in the Adelaide Hills – his studio is still open to visitors.


Musicians

  • South Australia is home to successful hip-hop band The Hilltop Hoods
  • Musos who grew up here include Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian and Aussie rocker Jimmy Barnes
  • US singer-songwriter Ben Folds also married a local and made Adelaide his part-time home.


Actors

  • Anthony Lapaglia
  • Gary Sweet
  • Katie Fischer
  • Shaun Micallef
  • Sir Robert Helpmann


Writers

  • Nobel prize winner Joseph Coetzee
  • children’s author Mem Fox
  • novelist Monica McInerney
  • sc-fi writer Sean Williams.


Chefs

  • Jean-Claude de Tolouse
  • Andrew Fielke
  • Le Tu Thai
  • Simon Bryant
  • Maggie Beer
  • Cheong Liew


South Australia has also produced astronaut Andy Thomas and Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt.

 Did you know...The hit TV show McLeod’s Daughters is filmed in South Australia.
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Related Information
State Highlights - South Australia

Fringed by the Southern Ocean, the world-class Barossa and Clare Valley wine regions and more than 3700 kms of awe-inspiring coastline, South Australia is one of Australia’s true gems.

Itinerary Ideas - Southern Cruiser

Wind your way from Adelaide to Melbourne over 7 days and get up close and personal with the native fauna and the spectacular coastal scenery for which this journey is so well known.