Explore South Australia

Just 20 minutes east from the city centre, the Adelaide Hills rise 710m above the plains and provide an opportunity to get away from the big smoke. They are full of small country towns, cellar doors, hikes and unique activities, such as cider making and picking your own fresh produce.  

Visit Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement and one of Australia’s most famous towns. There, old and new combine to present you with a brilliant blend of activities, with a bustling main street full of German bakeries, pubs and smallgoods outlets. 

There are few experiences as quintessentially Australian as seeing the native wildlife up close. At Cleland Wildlife Park, guests can take a photo with a koala or choose to feed the resident kangaroos and wallabies.

More Adelaide Hill experiences:

• Longview Vineyard

• Bird in Hand

Just a 45-minute drive south of Adelaide in the heart of one of Australia’s oldest and most acclaimed wine regions, Mclaren Vale is a wine lover and foodie’s paradise. Boasting over 550 vineyards and over 90 cellar doors with incredible culinary offerings, eat and drink your way through iconic wineries and cellar doors and the region's best restaurants.

McLaren Vale and its surrounding vineyards are on the doorstep of the Fleurieu Peninsula’s stunning coastline and sandy beaches. Cycle along the 9km Shiraz Trail and soak in the stunning views of wineries, farms, gumtrees and ocean views.

Recommended stops in McLaren Vale:

Just 50 minutes north east of Adelaide, wineries dominate your to-do list — your only task being to savour the shiraz, rolling it across your tongue, as you debate its flavour with friends. Stroll through farmers markets unhurried, jar of honey in hand, as you take in what's grown here. Sit down for a meal that is crafted by a local chef, whose artistry will have you questioning where to cut first. In the Barossa, time slows, and in its history, you'll find a deeper connection to your own.

Add to your Barossa itinerary:

Escape from the city on Kangaroo Island, described by National Geographic Traveller as "the most unspoilt wilderness in the Asia Pacific." Picture sea lions basking on white-sand beaches, koalas dozing in eucalyptus trees, penguins waddling through the night and kangaroos hopping up to the front door of your accommodation.

The country’s third-largest island is awash with local, seasonal and boutique food experiences, as well as being home to wineries and award-winning local gins at KI Spirits. If delegates would like to stay on overnight, they can rest up at one of the several retreats on the island.

Australia is full of a vast open space, known as the ‘outback,’ and Adelaide is a starting point to explore this rugged land. South Australia is home to the Flinders Ranges, an ancient and vast landscape spotted with historic, outback towns, national parks and Aboriginal cultural sites.

Visitors can marvel at Wilpena Pound, a large amphitheatre created through erosion over millions of years, or look up at night for a dazzling array of stars. Explore the ancient landscape by plane, walking or four-wheel drive, while basing yourself at a luxury eco-villa.  

Port Lincoln is a coastal paradise famous for its seafood and pristine beaches. Located on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, it sits on Boston Bay – the largest natural harbour in Australia – and is just a 30-minute flight from Adelaide.

Adventure seekers can get close to the largest predatory fish on Earth by cage diving with great white sharks under the guidance of experienced dive operators. Those looking for a calmer experience can wade out to shuck their own live oysters, before enjoying a seafood smorgasbord.