There is so much beauty across South Australia. Perfect for long weekends or even making for some fun filled staycations, SA is home to stunning pink and blue lakes, islands and ranges just waiting to be explored.
Magical lakes, sinkholes & islands
Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges
Home to the Adnyamathanha people, Wilpena Pound, in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, is an indescribable landscape resembling a natural amphitheatre.
Located some 429km from Adelaide, the site holds incredible cultural heritage to the First Nations people, with the traditional name Ikara translating to ‘meeting place’.
Visitors are welcome to sleep in a tent under the stars or enjoy a luxury retreat at one of the accommodation options, before exploring the sites of the Ranges. We highly recommend learning about the cultural significance of the area with Aboriginal Cultural Tours or taking a scenic flight to see the sites from above.
Blue Lake, Mount Gambier
Did you know Mount Gambier, on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, was named after an extinct volcano? Today, one of the craters from that volcano is known as the Blue Lake and it draws many visitors to the region throughout the year to witness its exquisite colours. Typically, a darker blue in the cooler months, the lake mysteriously changes to a deep turquoise early in November (until late February).
Visitors are invited to explore the site using the 3.6km road and walking track around the circumference of the lake and equipped with many viewing points. Local business, Aquifer Tours, also offer daily tours that travel into the original dolomite well shaft where you can learn about the area’s hydrology and local history.
Umpherston Sinkhole, Mount Gambier
Also known as the sunken garden, the Umpherston Sinkhole on the Limestone Coast, is like a scene from a fairy-tale. Once a cave formed naturally through dissolution of the limestone, the top chamber collapsed over time, creating the sinkhole. Now, the topsoil on the floor forms the perfect environment for the garden to thrive!
Visitors are encouraged to appreciate the size of the sinkhole from the viewing platforms at the top, before wandering down to explore the garden and meet the resident colony of possums who love to be fed fresh fruit.
Lake MacDonnell, Eyre Peninsula
You may have seen this very pleasing Eyre Peninsula destination on Instagram and thought it too good to be true. But trust us, Lake MacDonnell is nothing short of beautiful. Located about 1.5-hour flight then 45-minute drive from Adelaide in Penong, the Pink Lake is high in salt concentration, giving a salmon pink colour on clear-sky days.
On the other side of the causeway is the Green Lake and further down the road is the beautiful Cactus Beach, famously loved by surfers.
Be sure to bring your camera (or drone if you’re lucky enough) because the photos will be spectacular.
If you can’t get to the Peninsula, check out Lake Bumbunga in Lochiel which is a 1 hour and 40 minute drive from the city.
Remarkable Rocks, Kangaroo Island
Head across the sea to Kangaroo Island to see the stunning natural art that is the Remarkable Rocks. Formed over 500 million years from the erosive forces of wind, sea and rain, the rocks appear as a cluster of perfectly balanced granite boulders within the Flinders Chase National Park.
Viewing platforms are provided for disabled access, as well as a vantage point of the rocks and of the picturesque Casuarina Islets.