You step out of your hotel room to look out over a lush vineyard, go spy on some adorable koalas, then finish off your day with a delicious meal paired with world-class wines.
We’re all craving real-life experiences like this, but for now, virtual travel is the best way to take a vacation. Fortunately, the state of South Australia—in the south-central part of the country and home to the beautiful boutique city of Adelaide—has created plenty of ways to explore from your living room. On SATV you can discover highlights of this stunning region, peek in on animals with wildlife experts, learn new skills, enjoy the sounds of nature, and tour its award-winning vineyards with winemakers. (Hint: Order some of the famous wines to enjoy while you watch!)
Not sure where to begin? Check out the video below to learn more about the adventures that AFAR cofounder Joe Diaz enjoyed in Adelaide, the Barossa Valley, and the Outback. And keep reading to transport yourself through even more fresh video content. You’ll find an area full of beauty—one that’s ideal for when we’re all traveling again.
Discover a State of Relaxation
Need a moment of Zen? Lose yourself in relaxing videos full of gorgeous scenery. Begin with some Aussie-style river cruising along the Murray River—Australia’s longest—where you can actually rent a houseboat and sail along the fringe of the Outback, just a three-hour drive from Adelaide.
Murray River, South Australia
Isaac Forman
Then travel through one of the world’s most famous wine regions, the Barossa. Vine-laced hills and dozens of wine cellars pepper this glorious landscape full of winding roads, only an hour from Adelaide. Here you’ll find vintners with familiar names (Penfolds, Jacob’s Creek), and many others waiting to be discovered (Seppeltsfield, Two Hands, and Langmeil, to name just a few).
Treat yourself to gorgeous rock formations, sweeping coastal views, and more dreamy moments here!
Koala Cam
Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Jensen Chua
Do you know why koalas sleep 18-20 hours a day? Find out on this “Fuzzy Butts on Kangaroo Island” Facebook Live video, as your tour guide takes you to check out these cute creatures on Kangaroo Island, just a 20-minute flight (or a 3.5-hour drive and ferry ride) from Adelaide. Koalas are just one of the unique creatures you’ll find here, and this is just one of the Facebook Live videos available.
Your watch party can also include everything from farm tours to local delicacies and glamping. See it all on SATV.
Take a Virtual Tour
Baird Bay, South Australia
David Edgar/Edgar Pacific Photography
Once you’ve gone swimming with playful sea lions—even virtually—doing it without them won’t be as fun. These curious, friendly creatures happily speed past you and even swim right up to say hi. Jump in by watching Swimming with Sea Lions, one of South Australia’s fascinating virtual tours that’s set in a place where you can do it for real—on the coast of the Eyre Peninsula, about a 40-minute flight from Adelaide.
Find tours featuring other interests as well, from mountain bike riding to Barossa Valley wine tasting, by heading to the site.
Plan to Get Wild
Coffin Bay, South Australia
Jonathan van der Knaap
It’s never too early to start scoping out some of the South Australia highlights you’d like to visit in real life. Check out the aptly named Kangaroo Island, where you can get up close and personal with koalas, seals, sea lions, wombats, echidnas, birds, and yes, kangaroos. Out on the Eyre Peninsula—the state’s aquatic playground—seals and sea lions await your company in their watery kingdom. (For the more adventurous, there’s cage diving with great white sharks!) Or you can sample the wildlife in a different way: by donning hip waders and visiting working oyster farms. The farmers will show you around and let you sample the freshest oysters you’ve ever eaten.
To immerse yourself in South Australia’s animal scene, click here!
Barossa Valley, South Australia
Dragan Radocaj
Local Love
It may be a while before you can book a trip to South Australia, but—besides discovering inspiration and making plans—you can give some love to Adelaide and South Australia by joining the SeeSouthAustraliaFromHome Facebook page. It’s a show of support for those who will help make your dreams a reality, as well as a super-fun way to check out what locals are up to. You’ll also pick up more information about the variety of unforgettable experiences you’ll have when you visit.
When you’re ready to put together your trip, the experts at Aspire Down Under are ready to help.
