Category: South Australia

Macclesfield is a small town located in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia with a population of 350. You can wander the town with its historic buildings and old village feeling and enjoy a meal and a drink at one of the local historic hotels. It still has wonderful examples of early stone architecture that remain as dwellings to this day and there are an abundance of good walks both in and around the village.

The original settlement of Arno Vale was settled by John Hallet in 1840 on the fringe of where the current settlement lies. It was later named for the flocks of cockatoos that congregated in the ancient old gums surrounding the town. It’s convenient rural location – only 8 kilometres from Gawler, it has seen recent land subdivisions for people seeking a country lifestyle. Sandy Creek and Para Wirra Conservation Parks and Barossa Goldfields are a short drive away. The local general store can provide fuel and provisions seven days a week.

Auburn is one of the oldest settlements in the Clare Valley, so it’s a great place to explore the history of this famous wine region. The National Trust cares for a number of beautiful buildings, including the old Police Station (1859), the Mechanics Institute (1859), St John’s Anglican Church (1862), Post Office (1862) and the Council Chambers (1879). Glovers of Auburn (1855) is the oldest business house still used as commercial premises, and all are located in St Vincent Street, the picturesque street now recognised as an historic precinct. Auburn also has a claim to fame in poet CJ Dennis, who was born here in 1876 and went on to become most famous for his poem ‘A Sentimental Bloke’. You’ll find many of his works at the National Trust and library. Located at the southern approach to the Clare Valley, Auburn began as a resting place for the ore laden wagons and their teams as they made their way from the Burra copper mines to Port Wakefield. And it’s here that you will first be introduced to the wine lands of the Clare Valley. The undulating hillsides have extensive plantings by both the large and smaller wine growers and provide a stunning backdrop to the town.

Close to the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley, Tarlee is a great place to seek out antiques, arts and crafts. Stop at the local bakery and gather supplies for a picnic. Visit the Bakara Gallery which displays local art, or buy organic wholegrain products from the mill shop of Four Leaf Milling, a specialist flour producer. Tarlee also offers varied accommodation, with motel, bed and breakfast and farmstay. Stone for the foundations of many of Adelaide’s major buildings came from Tarlee quarries, including the general post office, Adelaide Museum, legislative council and railway station. An example of this bluestone can be seen at the Tarlee Railway Station and many of the older buildings in town.

Perched across the river from the north-east tip of Hindmarsh Island on the Murray River, Lake Alexandrina, the Coorong Waterway and the myriad of protected creeks and channels which surround the islands of the Mundoo Hindmarsh Island system. The town of Clayton hugs a small, shallow bay dotted by reedy islands. More experienced boat owners and fishermen head for the open waters of Lake Alexandrina, just minutes away.

Nestled between a long sandy beach and towering cliffs, Rapid Bay is 105 kilometres south of Adelaide and reached by a steeply descending road from the main Normanville-Cape Jervis Road. Here you’ll find an important South Australian landmark – a boulder on which Colonel Light carved his initials after he first stepped ashore. It’s reported that he said “I have hardly seen a place I like better”. The bay was named after the brig HMS Rapid in which Colonel Light and his staff came to South Australia, discovering Rapid Bay in 1830 en route to Glenelg. The HMAS Hobart was scuttled off Rapid Bay in November 2002 which has created an even more exciting dive experience for dive enthusiasts.

Wilpena Pound is a magnificent natural ampitheatre and the centrepiece of the Flinders Ranges National Park. It’s rich in wildlife including emus, kangaroos and euros. Here, you’ll find a great range of accommodation, 4WD tours, scenic flights and a general store at the award-winning Wilpena Pound Resort, which is also home to the new Wilpena Pound Visitor and Information Centre. With rugged mountain scenery, peaceful gorges and a huge array of wildlife and flora, the Flinders Ranges National Park is recognised as one of the finest landscapes in Australia. Highlights include walks to Rawnsley Bluff, Wilpena Lookout, Ferntree Falls and Clem Corner, plus Aboriginal art sites at Arkaroo Rock and Sacred Canyon. The Brachina Gorge Geological Trail traces the geological history of the area. Located off the Wilpena-Blinman road, the trail features a series of interpretive maps.

Donavans is a small township situated on the banks of the South Australian section of the Glenelg River named after Thomas John Donovan. Donovans is popular for fishing, skiing and river cruising. Numerous shacks and sheds line this section of the river. It is located 30 kilometres south-east of Mount Gambier.