Adelaide & South Australia Travel Guide 2026
How to plan a South Australia trip from Adelaide — the wine regions, Kangaroo Island and the wildlife of the Eyre Peninsula, including the famous Port Lincoln shark and sea lion swims.
Adelaide is the relaxed, food-and-wine capital of South Australia, within easy reach of the Barossa and McLaren Vale wine regions, the Adelaide Hills, and Kangaroo Island. Further west, the Eyre Peninsula around Port Lincoln is the home of Australia's only great white shark cage diving and swim-with-sea-lions trips — the standout wildlife adventures in this state.
In This Guide
Dundee Picks for South Australia
The Eyre Peninsula wildlife swims are the trips our team gets asked about most.
Once in a lifetimeGreat White Shark Dive & Tour
Australia's only great white shark cage diving — come face to face with an apex predator off Port Lincoln.
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Family favouriteSwim with the Sealions
Snorkel with wild, playful Australian sea lions — the "puppies of the sea" — in the clear waters off Port Lincoln.
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Best valueShark & Sea Lion Combo
Both bucket-list swims in one trip — great whites and sea lions on the same Eyre Peninsula adventure.
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When to go
Adelaide has a Mediterranean climate. March to May (autumn, vintage season in the wineries) and September to November (spring) are ideal. Summer is hot and dry; winter is mild and green. Port Lincoln wildlife trips run year-round, with sea lions especially playful in the warmer months.
How long to stay
Adelaide and its wine regions fill 2-3 days. Add 1-2 days for Kangaroo Island, and allow a separate trip (fly to Port Lincoln) for the Eyre Peninsula shark and sea lion swims.
Getting there
Fly into Adelaide Airport, 15 minutes from the CBD. Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula is a short domestic flight or a long drive around the gulf.
Getting around
Adelaide's grid centre is easy to walk and has trams and buses. For the wine regions, Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln, a guided tour or tour package is the simplest way to see the highlights without the long self-drives.
Where to stay
Stay central in Adelaide for the food and laneway scene, in the Barossa or McLaren Vale for wine, or in Port Lincoln when you're doing the Eyre Peninsula wildlife trips.
What Does a South Australia Trip Cost?
Prices vary with season and inclusions, so we show live prices on each tour. As a planning guide:
| Great white shark cage dive | Live price | Full-day trip from Port Lincoln |
| Swim with sea lions | Live price | Half or full day from Port Lincoln |
| Barossa / McLaren Vale wine day | Live price | From Adelaide |
| Kangaroo Island | Live price | Day trip or overnight — wildlife and coast |
All tours booked through Dundee show live availability and a live price with instant confirmation and no hidden booking fees.
Dundee Local Tip
Pair the great white cage dive and the sea lion swim on one Eyre Peninsula trip — flying into Port Lincoln for both is far better value than doing them separately, and the sea lion snorkel is the surprise highlight for most people. [Dundee team: replace or add your own first-hand tip here.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you cage dive with great white sharks in Australia?
Port Lincoln, on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, is the only place in Australia you can do great white shark cage diving. Trips run year-round, weather permitting.
Can you swim with sea lions in South Australia?
Yes — off Port Lincoln you can snorkel with wild Australian sea lions, one of the friendliest wildlife encounters in the country.
What are the best things to do around Adelaide?
The Barossa and McLaren Vale wine regions, the Adelaide Hills, the central market and laneway food scene, Kangaroo Island, and the Eyre Peninsula wildlife swims out of Port Lincoln.
When is the best time to visit South Australia?
Autumn (March-May) and spring (September-November) are ideal for Adelaide and the wine regions. Port Lincoln wildlife trips run all year.
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