SOUTH AUSTRALIA
South Australia is a dry, scorched state consisting of large desert areas and enormous saline lakes. Only the south-eastern corner around Adelaide and the mighty Murray river have been tamed. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of the population lives here, leaving the rest of the state extremely sparsely populated. There are several renowned wine-growing regions, some spectacular coastal scenery, the unique Flinders Ranges, and all the drama, monotony and epic space of the outback that you could ever wish to experience.
Facts at a Glance
Environment
Attractions
Activities
Getting Around
Facts at a Glance
Area: 984,277 sq km
Population: 1.5 million
Capital city: Adelaide (pop: 1 million)
State Government: Liberal-National coalition
State Premier: Dean Brown
South Australia is located in the southern central section of Australia and borders all of the mainland states. Its southern coast fronts the Great Australian Bight, and is indented by the Spencer and St Vincent gulfs. Only the Flinders Ranges, north of Adelaide, and the Musgrave Ranges, in the inhospitable north-west, interrupt the low-lying, flat terrain. The west of the state merges into the incessant Nullarbor Plain.
Environment
Green, fertile land is confined to Adelaide and its northern outskirts, the Fleurieu Peninsula, and the Barossa and Clare valleys; the rest of the useable land in the state is utilised for wheat, barley or borderline grazing. Most of the northern half of the state is covered by the Great Victoria and Simpson deserts and the centre is occupied by the saline lakes of Eyre, Torrens, Frome and Gardiner. A large section of the state's centre is occupied by the prohibited area around Woomera, an experimental rocket launch site in the 1950s and 1960s. Atomic bomb tests conducted by the British at Maralinga in the 1950s have left similar no-go zones.
Adelaide has four seasons, with maximum temperatures averaging 28 degree centigrade between November and March. Minimums can be below 10 degrees between June and September. Rainfall is heaviest from May to September. The further north and west you go, the drier and hotter it gets.
AttractionsAdelaide
Adelaide is a solid, gracious, civilised city, surrounded by parkland, and situated on the banks of the Torrens River. The metropolitan area is bound by the scenic Adelaide Hills and the shores of Gulf St Vincent. Adelaide is often referred to as the `city of churches', but is gaining greater recognition
for hosting the biennial Adelaide Arts Festival and being the centre of power for the `old money' powerbrokers of Australia's Federal Liberal Party. Attractions include the South Australian Museum, the Migration Museum, the Gallery of South Australia, the Adelaide Festival Centre and Glenelg Beach.
There are several other wine-growing regions in the state, notably the south-eastern corner around Penola, Coonawarra and Padthaway; in the Clare Valley, north of the Barossa; and around McClaren Vale on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
A.A.A. TOURS is a major day tour operator, specialising in personal tour around Adelaide and Kangaroo Island. They are also the only tour company in South Australia to offer Day Tours in both Adelaide & Kangaroo Island. Greyhound Pioneer has bus services between Adelaide and all major South Australian towns. Stateliner is the main regional bus operator. Three railway lines cross the state - the Indian Pacific (Sydney-Perth), the Ghan (Adelaide-Alice Springs) and the Overland (Adelaide-Melbourne).
Getting Around