The Best Day Trips from Adelaide

Ready to plan some day trips from Adelaide? Whether you want something close-by or feel like going on a bigger adventure, we’ve rounded up seven great places to explore in South Australia that are within driving distance of Adelaide—although most warrant at least a 1-night stopover.

For exceptional marine life and fresh seafood.

Distance from Adelaide: 7 hour and 30 minute drive (630km west from Adelaide)

Visually awe inspiring, this slice of coastline epitomises the beauty of South Australia with its abundance of nature reserves, pristine beaches and succulent seafood. Although it's a bit more than a day trip away we couldn't miss this destination off the list.  

At the south-eastern tip of the Eyre Peninsula is Lincoln National Park. Discover beautiful beaches and rugged islands, perfect for a family adventure like no other. Hike, fish, snorkel or laze and bathe at sun-kissed beaches in this secluded paradise.

Coffin Bay is also an undeniable treasure. Here you can truly eat your fill of the freshest oysters, snorkel coves at Coffin Bay National Park and experience the unbridled beauty of nature at its most pure.

Don't miss: Come face to face with a powerful Great White Shark from the safety of an enclosure. A truly unforgettable moment in the deep blue awaits those wishing to encounter one of the world's most awe-inspiring marine creatures. Check out the world's first shark Aqua Sub with Adventure Bay Charters.

For a nearby city escape, full of history.

Distance from Adelaide: 20-minute drive (14 kilometres south of Adelaide)

One of the easiest and most popular day trips out of Adelaide is Port Adelaide. Port Adelaide is a beautiful State Heritage Area, so taking a guided or self-guided tour along its beautiful streets is a must.

Home to original, colonial buildings, Port Adelaide is a great day trip for history lovers. Head to the Customs House Complex, which includes the Telegraph Office, the Institute Building, and Customs House. The complex of late-Victorian bluestone buildings were built at different times in history, but time has blended them together into one historical complex.

Don't miss: Test your nerves on a Ghost Tour around Port Adelaide (once known as 'Port Misery' because of all the deaths that occurred). Wander through the most haunted buildings in the city and listen to grisly tales.

For some of the best wine tasting in all of Australia.

Adelaide Hills distance from Adelaide: Roughly a 42-minute drive (31km east of Adelaide)

Barossa Valley distance from Adelaide: Just over an hour-long drive (75km north-east of Adelaide)

Within an hour's drive from Adelaide city, you'll find yourself in South Australia's wine country. While Australia has wine regions all over the nation, the world class wine regions of Adelaide Hills and the Barossa Valley speak for themselves.

Enjoy a Barossa Valley or Adelaide HIlls day trip and visit award winning wineries for wine tastings. Some of the most popular wineries include Penfolds Wines in the Barossa Valley—a world-renowned name amongst wine lovers—and Bird in Hand in the Adelaide Hills—go for the chardonnay and stay for lunch at the onsite restaurant. 

You might even discover that South Australia is home to your new favourite wine after you enjoy a wine tasting. If so, remember to grab yourself a bottle from the cellar door to bring home from your Adelaide day trip to enjoy with friends and family.

For great beaches and lush rolling scenery.

Distance from Adelaide: 1-hour drive (40 kilometres south of Adelaide)

Picture green, rolling hills bordered by a beautiful, rugged coastline that's perfect for swimming and surfing. That's the Fleurieu Peninsula!

Soak up some sunshine along the crystal clear white sand of Normanville beach, spot kangaroos in the Deep Creek Conservation Park, and be sure to pack a picnic and your swimmers when venturing to the picture-perfect Ingalalla waterfall.

Only a one-hour drive from the city centre, it's no wonder the Fleurieu Peninsula is one of the most popular day trips from Adelaide.

Don’t miss: Jump on a horse-drawn tram along the Causeway to Granite Island.

Distance from Adelaide: 30-minute drive (27 kilometres south-east of Adelaide)

Want to escape to Europe without a long-haul flight? Then Hahndorf is the perfect Adelaide day trip for you! This pint-sized town (or should we say stein-sized town) is Australia's oldest surviving German settlement and is packed full of authentic experiences.

Wander the beautiful main street and browse the adorable local shops. Pick up some German sweets at Hahndorf Sweets or buy an authentic cuckoo clock, made on-site, from the German Village Shop. Be sure to visit in autumn for an incredible show of colourful foliage lining the streets. 

After you've worked up an appetite, stop by the Hahndorf Inn for some delicious German meals matched with famous German beers and desserts. Try the Rinder Rippchen (their famous beef ribs) or the Giant Bratwurst Hot Dog and finish off with some Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) – yum! What other day trips from Adelaide can offer such delicious, international snacks?

Don't miss: Visit Beerenberg Farm and hand-pick your own delicious, fresh strawberries (the picking season runs from November to April).

For close encounters with Australian wildlife.

Distance from Adelaide: 30 minutes by plane or 2-hour drive to Cape Jervis followed by a 45-minute ferry (210 kilometres south-west of Adelaide).

With more than one-third of the island protected by conservation areas and national parks, Kangaroo Island is a wildlife lover's paradise and great Adelaide day trip for nature enthusiasts. Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is the place to go if you want to get up close to local wildlife. 

Venture down to Admiral's Arch, for the most Instagrammable location on the island. This rock-meets-sea scenery is a favourite hang-out for wildlife, so keep your eyes peeled for local fur seal colonies. Head to the Seal Bay Conservation Park (a protected area and home to the third-largest colony of Australian sea lions) to learn more about the sea lions who call Australia home.

Feeling a bit adventurous? Then don't miss the Kelly Hill Caves. These other-worldly caves are home to some visually striking stalagmite and stalactite formations. Join a guided walking tour or jump on an extreme adventure tour where you'll crawl through a maze of some of the smaller caves. 

For vast wilderness during your day trip from Adelaide, visit the Flinders Chase National Park. Head to the ancient, rocky platforms above the sea, the Remarkable Rocks, for a unique vista you won't find anywhere else.

Don't miss: While in the Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, don't miss the Koala Walk. 

For a true outback Australian experience. 

Distance from Adelaide: 5-hour drive or 1-hour flight (468 kilometres north of Adelaide).

So, we may have been a little bit cheeky with this one... you'll probably need more than a day trip to do the Flinders Ranges, but we just couldn't resist including this great South Australian holiday destination.

If you're wanting a true Aussie experience in South Australia, then this is the place to be. The Flinders Range is like nothing else on earth. You'll say goodbye to lush green coastlines and hello to bright red sand and dusty open spaces as you venture away from the Adelaide city centre and into the outback.

The best-known landmark in the Flinders Ranges is Wilpena Pound. This massive natural basin looks like a giant crater. But don't be fooled, the rim is actually made up of the stumps of huge mountains, believed to have once been as high as the Himalayas!

These tall, rocky mountains provide truly breathtaking views of the ranges, making Wilpena Pound an excellent location for hiking. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen if you plan to hike.

Don't miss: When visiting the Flinders Ranges, be sure to visit Coober Pedy. Most of this town has been built underground in order to escape the scorching summer heat, creating an underground maze of shops, museums and homes. Visit these local dugouts while you're there, or try your luck at panning for opals.