Skip to main content
0409 661 342 | bookings@cooeetours.com.au | Wine · Wildlife · Outback · Adelaide · Coastal
★★★★★ Expert SA Guides Since 1974
ATAS Accredited
🌏 Wine · Wildlife · Wonder — Adelaide to the Outback

South Australia
Tours

Where world-class wine country meets ancient outback, pristine coastal wilderness, and one of Australia's most liveable cities. Six completely distinct regions — six reasons to come back. Cooee Tours has been guiding visitors through South Australia since 1974.

6 Regions
Across South Australia
150+
Barossa Wineries
Wildlife
Sea Lions · Koalas · Penguins
Since 1974
50+ Years Guiding SA
Small expert-guided groups
·
🍷 Barossa · McLaren Vale · Adelaide Hills
·
🦘 Kangaroo Island wildlife
·
🏅 ATAS Accredited · Since 1974
South Australia Tours

Wine, Wildlife, and Wonder — Adelaide to the Outback

South Australia packs more distinct travel experiences per square kilometre than almost anywhere in Australia. Within two hours of Adelaide you can taste the world's greatest Shiraz in the Barossa Valley, walk beside wild sea lions on Kangaroo Island, and stand at the rim of the ancient Flinders Ranges. Beyond, the Eyre Peninsula's oysters, the Murray River's red gum forests, and the opal fields of Coober Pedy represent a state that rewards deeper exploration at every turn.

Six Regions, Six Stories

The Best of South Australia

Each of SA's six major tourism regions offers a completely distinct experience — from the world's oldest vines to Australia's greatest island wildlife sanctuary.

Adelaide city River Torrens parklands South Australia capital
Capital City

Adelaide — The Festival City

Central Market, North Terrace cultural precinct, Glenelg Beach, and the world's largest fringe festival — all within a city ringed by parklands, 20 minutes from wine country.

Book Adelaide tour →
Barossa Valley vineyard old vine Shiraz South Australia wine region
Wine Region

Barossa Valley — World's Greatest Shiraz

One hour northeast of Adelaide — 150+ wineries, old-vine Shiraz from the 1860s, German Lutheran heritage, the iconic Seppeltsfield avenue, and Maggie Beer's farm shop.

Book Barossa wine tour →
Kangaroo Island wildlife sea lions Seal Bay Remarkable Rocks coast SA
Island Wildlife

Kangaroo Island — Australia's Galapagos

Australia's third-largest island and greatest wildlife sanctuary — wild sea lions at Seal Bay, koalas, the extraordinary Remarkable Rocks, and Admirals Arch. 45 minutes by ferry.

Book Kangaroo Island tour →
Flinders Ranges Wilpena Pound outback ancient landscape South Australia
Outback & Culture

Flinders Ranges — Ancient Country

The Adnyamathanha have lived in these ranges for at least 30,000 years. Wilpena Pound's geological amphitheatre, ochre rock art sites, dramatic gorges, and outback night skies.

Book Flinders Ranges tour →
McLaren Vale wine region Fleurieu Peninsula coastal vines SA
Wine & Coast

McLaren Vale — Where Vines Meet the Sea

40 minutes south of Adelaide — Grenache, Shiraz, and Cabernet from one of Australia's oldest wine regions, coastal viewpoints, the d'Arenberg Cube, and farm-to-table dining.

Book McLaren Vale tour →
Eyre Peninsula coastline seafood oysters Coffin Bay Port Lincoln SA
Seafood & Wilderness

Eyre Peninsula — Australia's Seafood Frontier

Pacific oysters from Coffin Bay, Southern Bluefin Tuna from Port Lincoln, wild swimming with sea lions, and some of Australia's most dramatic, least-visited coastal scenery.

Book Eyre Peninsula tour →
Wine & Food Trails

South Australia's Great Food & Wine Regions

No Australian state combines this density of world-class wine regions with outstanding local produce in such proximity to a capital city. Four distinct flavour destinations within two hours of Adelaide.

Barossa Valley old vine Shiraz cellar door winery

Barossa Valley

The world standard for full-bodied Shiraz — 150+ wineries, old-vine Grenache and Mataro, Seppeltsfield fortifieds, and Maggie Beer's legendary farm shop. One hour from Adelaide.

Full-day tour from $239 →
McLaren Vale coastal vineyards wine d'Arenberg South Australia

McLaren Vale

Boutique coastal wineries 40 minutes south of Adelaide — Grenache, Shiraz, and Cabernet of extraordinary quality, the d'Arenberg Cube, Coriole's ancient vines, and coastal cliff views.

Enquire about McLaren Vale →
Adelaide Hills cool climate wine Hahndorf artisan produce

Adelaide Hills

Cool-climate elevation produces exceptional Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Hahndorf's German heritage town, Jurlique's lavender farm, Beerenberg Strawberry Farm.

Enquire about Adelaide Hills →
Eyre Peninsula seafood oysters fresh tuna Coffin Bay South Australia

Eyre Peninsula Seafood

Australia's freshest seafood — Pacific oysters from Coffin Bay, Southern Bluefin Tuna from Port Lincoln, and King George Whiting. The seafood trail stretches 2,000km of pristine coastline.

Enquire about Eyre Peninsula →
Indigenous Culture & Heritage

Stories Written in Stone — South Australia's Living Cultural Heritage

South Australia's Aboriginal peoples have the world's oldest continuous connection to Country — a living culture shaped across tens of thousands of years. The landscapes that draw visitors to this state — the Flinders Ranges' peaks, the Coorong's wetlands, the Adelaide Plains — are not simply beautiful scenery. They are living Country, carrying stories, law, and meaning that predate any European understanding of these places.

Cooee Tours works with accredited Indigenous cultural experiences across South Australia, connecting visitors directly with Kaurna, Adnyamathanha, and Ngarrindjeri knowledge holders who share their Country's stories on their own terms.

Tarntanya (Adelaide) sits on Kaurna Country — a living urban culture continuing through language revival and art. Wilpena Pound (Ikara) in the Flinders Ranges is sacred Adnyamathanha Country, where the ancient geological formation carries a Creation narrative thousands of years old. The Coorong is the spiritual heart of the Ngarrindjeri — a vast wetland system carrying one of Australia's most important cultural and ecological landscapes.

Kaurna Heritage — Tarntanya (Adelaide)

The Kaurna people are the Traditional Custodians of the Adelaide Plains. Guided walking tours reveal the landscape beneath the colonial overlay — the River Torrens (Karrawirra Parri), Montefiore Hill, and the seasonal patterns that shaped this region across millennia. Living language revival and contemporary Kaurna art are accessible through Adelaide's cultural institutions.

Adnyamathanha Culture — Flinders Ranges

Walk among ancient ochre rock art sites and hear the Adnyamathanha Yura Mudlanha — stories of a people who have lived in and shaped these ranges for more than 30,000 years. Wilpena Pound (Ikara) carries the Creation story of the Adnyamathanha in its very geological formation. Accredited guided experiences available through Wilpena Pound Resort.

Ngarrindjeri Culture — The Coorong

The Coorong is the spiritual heart of the Ngarrindjeri nation — a 130km coastal lagoon of extraordinary ecological and cultural significance. Guided experiences include traditional fishing and weaving demonstrations, canoe journeys, and storytelling connecting the wetlands to Dreamtime narratives of deep meaning and long heritage.

Barngarla Culture — Eyre Peninsula

The Barngarla people are the Traditional Custodians of the Eyre Peninsula — a region of extraordinary marine biodiversity and cultural significance. The peninsula's pristine beaches, marine parks, and sea country carry deep cultural meaning accessible through accredited Barngarla experiences at Port Lincoln and along the coast.

When to Visit

What's On in South Australia — Year Round

South Australia offers compelling reasons to visit in every season — from the Barossa Vintage Festival in autumn to whale watching in winter and the world's largest fringe festival in summer.

🌸

Spring
Sep – Nov

Mild temperatures, blooming vineyards, and some of SA's best outdoor events. Ideal for wine touring — new vintage releases and uncrowded cellar doors throughout.

  • Royal Adelaide Show (September)
  • Bay to Birdwood classic car rally
  • New vintage releases at cellar doors
  • Blooming botanic gardens & cover crops
☀️

Summer
Dec – Feb

Hot Adelaide days with stunning coastal relief — Kangaroo Island at its most vibrant, Glenelg beach, McLaren Vale twilight events. The Adelaide Fringe transforms the city.

  • Adelaide Fringe Festival (Feb–Mar)
  • Kangaroo Island peak wildlife season
  • Glenelg beach & coastal dining
  • Twilight vineyard dinners
🍂

Autumn
Mar – May

Peak wine touring season — harvest in Barossa and McLaren Vale, perfect 15–22°C weather, stunning vineyard colour, and the famous Barossa Vintage Festival.

  • Barossa Vintage Festival (odd years)
  • Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend
  • Harvest crush events at wineries
  • Ideal touring temperatures state-wide
❄️

Winter
Jun – Aug

Uncrowded cellar doors with fireplaces, whale watching on the Fleurieu Peninsula, truffle season in the Adelaide Hills, and the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

  • Adelaide Cabaret Festival (June)
  • Southern Right Whale watching
  • Truffle season Adelaide Hills
  • Intimate winter cellar door experiences
Book a Cooee South Australia Tour

Our South Australia Tour Collection

Expert-guided small-group tours across every region of South Australia — from a full-day Barossa wine tour to championship golf, coastal wildlife adventures, and outback expeditions.

What Our Guests Say

South Australia Tour Reviews

★★★★★

We did the Barossa day tour on day one and Kangaroo Island on day two. Two completely different experiences — extraordinary old-vine wine estates followed by walking beside wild sea lions on a beach that felt entirely untouched. South Australia is remarkable and Cooee made every detail effortless.

Sarah & Tom B., Melbourne
★★★★★

The Flinders Ranges tour with the Adnyamathanha guide was the highlight of our entire Australian trip. Standing at Wilpena Pound while our guide explained what the formation means to his people was genuinely moving — the kind of experience that changes how you see the country you're in.

Claire D., United Kingdom
★★★★★

The McLaren Vale day tour opened up a completely different version of South Australia for us — boutique wineries, coastal views, the d'Arenberg Cube for lunch. The Cooee guide knew every producer personally. Remarkable value for such a high-quality experience.

James K., Sydney
Frequently Asked Questions

South Australia Tours FAQ

South Australia's most popular guided tours include the Barossa Valley wine tour from Adelaide (four premium cellar doors, gourmet lunch, from $239 per person), Kangaroo Island wildlife day tour (Seal Bay sea lions, Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch), Flinders Ranges outback adventure (Wilpena Pound, Adnyamathanha cultural sites), and McLaren Vale wine and food day tour. Cooee Tours offers expert-guided small-group experiences across all these regions and creates custom multi-region itineraries.

South Australia has genuine year-round appeal. Autumn (March–May) is peak wine tourism season — the Barossa Vintage Festival, perfect harvest conditions and vineyard colour. Spring (September–November) offers blooming landscapes and mild weather with new vintage releases available. Summer (December–February) is ideal for Kangaroo Island and coastal touring, and is when the Adelaide Fringe Festival runs. Winter (June–August) brings whale watching on the Fleurieu Peninsula, truffle season in the Adelaide Hills, and uncrowded intimate cellar door experiences.

Kangaroo Island is approximately 45 minutes by ferry from Cape Jervis (90 minutes south of Adelaide by coach) or 25 minutes by regional flight from Adelaide Airport. Cooee Tours day tours from Adelaide include all return transport — coach to Cape Jervis, Sealink ferry to Penneshaw, and guided touring throughout the island. Tours depart Adelaide early morning and return by early evening, making it a comfortable full-day experience without an overnight stay.

South Australia offers some of Australia's most accessible Indigenous cultural experiences: Kaurna heritage walking tours through Tarntanya (Adelaide), Adnyamathanha-guided experiences at the Flinders Ranges and Wilpena Pound, Ngarrindjeri cultural experiences at the Coorong wetlands including traditional fishing and storytelling, and Barngarla coastal experiences on the Eyre Peninsula. Cooee Tours connects guests with accredited cultural experience providers across all SA regions.

A minimum of five days allows Adelaide plus two major day trips — Barossa Valley and Kangaroo Island being the most popular combination. Seven to ten days opens up McLaren Vale, the Adelaide Hills, and a night or two in the Flinders Ranges. Two weeks allows you to add the Eyre Peninsula, Murray River, and possibly Coober Pedy. Cooee Tours designs custom itineraries for any duration — contact us to discuss your available time and interests.

Book Your South Australia Tour

Wine, wildlife, ancient outback, coastal wilderness, and one of Australia's greatest cities — all within reach of Adelaide. Cooee Tours has been guiding visitors through South Australia since 1974.