South Australia
You probably know about Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and other big cities of Australia with millions of residents. But you probably haven’t heard of Parachilna in outback South Australia. It has a pub which is not unusual but the town has a population of 4. Yes, that’s one more than 3. Yet this pub is proving popular with movie makers who want to use the great Australian wilderness as a backdrop and every movie maker needs a bed for the night. You could stay in this very pub as you backpack your way around South Australia. The pub in the tiny town also serves some interesting local grub including kangaroo, emu, yabbies and bush tomatoes.
South Australia is big without being the size of some other massive Aussie states and the Northern Territory. And it packs a lot into its boundaries from the beautiful Flinders Ranges to the fishing port of Port Lincoln, the fabulous Barossa Valley to Australia’s version of the Galapagos Islands in Kangaroo Island. But we can’t miss the capital, Adelaide, known as the city of churches.
Adelaide is one of those well-planned cities and is easy to get around. In fact there’s even a free bicycle service. You need appropriate ID and can cycle around the city to its markets, shopping arcades, old buildings and along the beautiful River Torrens. The Adelaide Festival Centre is right in town and has a wide range of theatre and art all year round. The Adelaide Festival with its mainstream and fringe events is hugely popular. Throw in Writers’ Week and you have a smorgasbord of artistic adventures. Adelaide has churches, gardens, markets, museums, shopping and beaches. Accommodation for backpackers in Adelaide includes hostels and budget motels.
Australia is one giant island but has thousands of smaller islands around its coast. The State of Tasmania too is an island but off the coast of South Australia lies Kangaroo Island and what a place to visit. It’s great for backpackers with plenty of hostels and camping sites. If you fancy something a little different you could try a lighthouse keeper’s cottage. About 5000 people live permanently on KI and there is plenty of space for all. The island is about 150 kilometres long meaning there is a lot of coastline to explore. If you fancy gourmet food you’ll have to sample the wine, honey, whiting and cheese from Kangaroo Island. You get to KI via ferry – there are two with several sailings every day. It’s a 45 minute trip. You can fly in if you wish. There are parks, beaches, caves, wildlife, art displays, lighthouses and even a mini desert known as Little Sahara. Kangaroo Island will not disappoint.
The Barossa Valley is famous for its vineyards and has been described as the home of Australian wine. It’s only a short drive from Adelaide and has plenty of attractions. Of course if you fancy fine wine and food then you are in for a good time tonight. The region has spectacularly beautiful scenery and is best seen from a hot-air balloon. The towns in the Valley have strong European influences including German and the Cornish miners from England. Many Lutherans live in this region. The annual Vintage Festival sees the best in food, wine and the arts. One advantage of this region is its close proximity to Adelaide. Any backpacker in the capital city could easily fit in a day or half-day trip to the Barossa Valley.
Port Lincoln is about 300 kilometres by road from Adelaide and is a bustling port city with an impressive fishing industry. It’s known as the seafood capital of Australia and has a thriving aquaculture operation. Backpackers can find some interesting places to stay including a converted woolshed right on the seafront. If you’re into old steam locomotives there’s a narrow-gauge railway in the town. Quite a few movies have been filmed in and around Port Lincoln and the scenery in the region is top-notch. There are tours around the area on land and on sea and whatever you do, try the seafood.
Heading way north from Adelaide in central South Australia you’ll come to the beautiful Flinders Ranges. They are so big they’re divided into three regions – Southern, Central and Northern. They look fascinating and have history to burn. Many famous fossils sites have been discovered but remain a secret to keep them safe. There are aboriginal sites, abandoned European homesteads and outstanding Australian flora and fauna. Many tourists let their camera do the talking and capture exotic birds and animals in all their stunning colour and beauty. There is plenty of accommodation for backpackers but as with many parts of Australia, the region is vast and it takes time to get there, get around and get to your next port of call.
