Best Nature and Wildlife Areas in South Australia

"Get up close and personal with roos, koalas, wallabies, betongs and Tasmanian devils with the kids in Adelaide – most of which are in their natural habitat – and itʼs just 20 minutes away from the city centre!. Itʼs also a great place to have a picnic. For opening hours, information on planning your day, fees and to buy tickets, head straight to the website."

"It’s only 20 minutes drive from the centre of Adelaide and a perfect way to see much of Australia’s native wildlife. Set in acres of land, this park provides an immersive nature experience, with a limited number of enclosures. The best bit is you can roam amongst kangaroos and wallabies, wombats and see a koala up close."

"If you'd prefer to spend a day solely among Australia's endemic animals – kangaroos, koalas, emus, etc – then don't miss this beloved wildlife park in the Adelaide Hills!"

"About 22km (14mi) from Adelaide’s centre, the Cleland Conservation Park is home to the Cleland Wildlife Park, Mount Lofty Summit, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden and Waterfall Gully. Making for a great day trip from the city, you can combine visiting the animals at the wildlife park with the flora and fauna of the Botanic Garden, before braving the hike up to the top of Mount Lofty, where you’ll be rewarded with panoramic vistas over the city all the way to the coast. Take the scenic route down through Waterfall Gully, before heading back to the city and treating yourself to a well-deserved meal at one of the city’s great restaurants."

"For wildlife spotting, city views and heart rate-raising hikes, head for Cleland Conservation Park. Flanking the eastern foothills of the city and marking the start of the Adelaide Hills, here a network of walking trails weaving through bushland are teeming with wildlife, including the popular Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty hike and a section of the Heysen Trail. To hike without another soul in sight, choose one of the lesser known surrounding 11 trails and traverse through dense bushland, up challenging inclines, by waterfalls and past sites of historical and cultural importance as you spot koalas, kangaroos and birdlife."

"Found in the bushland of the Adelaide Hills, Cleland Conservation Park preserves natural surroundings for native wildlife. With many walking and cycling tracks, the park offers a unique opportunity to explore this scenic spot your way. No visit is complete without a look at Waterfall Gully, the largest of seven waterfalls in the area."

"There’s nothing like a long walk by the sea to soothe the soul, and Hallett Cove Conservation Park offers breathtaking coastal views along the 2km hike. In just under an hour’s drive from the city, meander along coastal clifftops with a fresh ocean breeze in your face before stopping for a snap at the insta-worthy Sugarloaf formation. Once the site of a glacial lake which melted some 270 million years ago, Hallett Cove Conservation Park is renowned as one of Australia’s most important geological and archaeological sites."

"Discover the Sugarloaf on the Glacier Hike in Hallett Cove Conservation Park. It’s a huge, unusually-shaped rock formation that was created 280 million years ago during the Australian Ice Age. See it for yourself before continuing on the beautiful coastal walk to Marino."

"Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary is another Adelaide institution and it is one of the zoos and wildlife parks in and near Adelaide that is definitely worth considering. Dr John Wamsley started Warrawong in 1969, constructing fences to protect the native animals from feral cats and foxes and create a sanctuary for them. The Sanctuary was closed for a number of years (there were problems getting insurance for the site), before being purchased recently by a couple who are trying to restore it to its former glory."

"📝 Options, options, options and servings that are on the generous side are just some of the reasons that have Adelaideans returning for more. From sandwiches and pies to sweet treats, and obviously coffee too, you’ll actually have to return a few times to try a bit of everything. 🕖 Weekdays 6.30am – 3pm, Saturdays and nights ‘on hold’"

"Global flavours are the order of the day at this homely café and bakery. Think Thai beef pies, Persian love cakes and macarons in rotating flavours (chocolate freckle and strawberry lime have both graced the cabinet). And, they take their coffee seriously here, too."

"Hidden amidst the inner Adelaide suburb of Stepney, Little Bang Brewing has everything Adelaidians could ask for in a brewery fit for your next craft-beer drinking session. Its large open-air courtyard is perfect for a sunny day or a starry night. With beers including their debut brew the 10.1% ABV Galactopus, Little Bang Brewing Co.’s range is equally extensive as it is enticing."

"Something to discuss as you sip into a Geezer Pleaser bitter or Naked Objector IPA at this surprising little brewery in suburban Stepney. It's a warehouse set-up, with a sunny beer..."

"Operated by The Sparkke Change Beverage Company, Sparkke at the Whitmore is all about individuality, social equity, forward thinking, and inclusivity. What sets Sparkke apart is their character – they are a female-led BrewPub, stocking Sparkke’s 100% natural beverages among the classics. Their rooftop is expansive and colourful, with plenty of seating for parties big and small."

"Renowned as one of Adelaide’s original microbreweries, from a rental property’s shed in the Barossa Valley, to a large warehouse in Royal Park, Big Shed Brewing Concern has certainly come a long way. Creating an array of weird but wonderfully named and tasty craft beers expect everything from the F-Yeah American Pale Ale, Californiacator West Coast IPA and Frankenbrown American Brown Ale amongst many more. Under the guidance of the Big Shed Brewing Concern team, for your visit we’d recommend partaking in the Ultimate Brewday Experience where you can get down and dirty lugging hoses, taking samples and understanding the hands-on nature of the job."

"If Semaphore were an author, it'd be Jack Kerouac – bohemian, poetic and partial to a drink. Wander the main street before gentrification takes hold, ducking into Sweet Amber's red-brick shopfront for a craft... Microbrewery in Adelaide"

"With great glass frontage out on to the sea, and amazing views of Henley Jetty, this easy dining option gives diners the option to enjoy some great gourmet pizzas and small dishes for sharing. The wine list and staff’s knowledge of the drinks menu is fantastic. If the weather is nice, head outside on to the side deck, which also offers water views."

"CBD: 38 Waymouth Street 5000 | P: 8211 6723Hyde Park: 1/160 King William Rd, Hyde Park 5061 | P: 8272 8186Henley Beach: 269 Seaview Rd, Henley Beach 5022 | P: 8422 8606"

"Melt cbd in Waymouth Street offers the city dwellers their favourite tapas and pizza they have come to know and love from it's first home in Hyde Park."