Top winter activities in South Australia

As the temperatures drop, southern right whales return, tracing ancient paths along South Australia’s coast. From May to October, these 90-tonne giants migrate close to shore, calving and nursing in protected bays. You’ll spot them on boat tours in Encounter Bay, or from beaches and clifftops along Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula. But one of the most unforgettable views awaits at the Head of Bight on the Eyre Peninsula. A cliff-top boardwalk leads to a sweeping platform, where the ocean opens wide and whales drift just below. Bring your binoculars and take your time. All you need to do is stand still and watch the wild come to you. Find the best vantage points and tours with our guide to whale watching in South Australia.  

There is a simple, steady comfort in watching the landscape shift from the window of a vintage carriage. Whether it’s the steam rising against the red gums of the Pichi Richi pass, or the salt spray hitting the glass on the Cockle Train, these heritage lines are a reminder of a slower way to see the state.

In Victor Harbor, that same nostalgia pulls you across the causeway. The horse drawn tram has been making this trip since 1894, led by a team of Clydesdales whose heavy, rhythmic trot is the only sound above the wind. These heritage railways are a chance to settle in and let the scenery do the work.

The Limestone Coast’s landscape is perhaps most beautiful at depth. Below the frost-covered cattle stations and cabernet vines, the earth holds its breath in a quiet, subterranean maze. Whether you’re descending into the lush, sunken gardens of Umpherston Sinkhole / Balumbul or snorkelling the gin-clear depths of Kilsby Sinkhole, there’s a rare comfort in the consistency here. These ancient limestone caves and sinkholes, from the megafauna fossils of Naracoorte to the tea-dark waters of Little Blue Lake, stay a steady temperature year-round. On a biting July day, the cave water can feel warmer than the world above.

The Clare Valley Riesling Trail slows you down in the best way. In winter, it’s all cool air and open country, connected by a 35-kilometre path winding through rolling vineyards, pubs and cellar doors. There’s a rhythm to it: riding by bike through the late-morning light as the last of the mist lifts, pausing for a tasting by the fire, then rolling on again. If the weather shifts, you can easily drive between stops - most are just minutes apart. Pop into Skillogalee for a crisp riesling, or indulge in a bold, winter-ready shiraz. Head to Mintaro, a village frozen in time and home to the grand Martindale Hall.  Local winemakers here don’t just pour a glass; they pour their stories. They’ll tell you how the season shaped the vintage and why riesling sings here like nowhere else. Each stop along the trail offers something distinct, but together they form a kind of tasting tapestry unique to Clare Valley. 

As you head down a damp trail in the middle of winter, eyes low to the ground, you start to see our forests differently. At Ghost Mushroom Lane on the Limestone Coast (16km outside of Mount Gambier) pine needles glisten and the air fills with the rich scent of rain-soaked earth. After dark, a local expert leads you into the forest - torch in hand and stories at the ready. They know exactly where to look, and what to listen for. In the right conditions, you see them: faintly glowing white against the forest floor. It’s a light show born from the natural chemical reaction between fungal enzymes and oxygen. This fleeting experience appears for just a few weeks each year, usually in May and June. You’ll also uncover another kind of winter treasure in the Adelaide Hills, where truffle dogs lead you through crisp paddocks in search of black gold - best enjoyed shaved over warm pasta during a long, lazy lunch.