Loop South-East South Australia in 10 days
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Head out from Adelaide and explore the South West of South Australia on this 10 day, 1500km journey through wineries, down the Victorian border and along the south coast to Kangaroo Island.
- Adelaide
- Adelaide to Morgan
- Morgan to Renmark
- Renmark to Bordertown
- Bordertown to Mt Gambier
- Mt. Gambier to Meningie
- Meningie to Victor Harbour
- Victor Harbour to Kangaroo Island
- Kangaroo Island to McLaren Vale
- McLaren Vale to Adelaide
Distance: 1598km
Day 1. Adelaide
Pick up your car or campervan in Adelaide today. If you are renting a campervan allow an hour for pick up and to familiarise yourself with your vehicle before you leave the depot.
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia, and is particularly well known for its world-class wines and cultural events. Visit the Art Gallery of South Australia and see their collection of roughly 38,000 works, dating as far back as ancient Rome until the present day.
If you’re a sporting fan, take a tour of Adelaide Oval. The tour will take you around the stadium, as well as the museum, which highlights cricket sporting legend Donald Bradman’s career. If you are a little more adventurous, you can take a tour to climb the roof of the stadium and see Adelaide from new heights.
Stay: Adelaide Caravan Park
Day 2. Adelaide to Morgan
Depart this morning and follow the National Highway A1, National Highway M20 and National Highway A20 to Eudunda Road. From here, take the B81 to Railway Terrace in Morgan.
Morgan is a town set against the Murray River, so be sure to check out the Riverfront Reserve. Here you can walk along the famous Murray and enjoy its serenity, whilst also discovering some of the history of the town and visiting the wharf.
Check out the Morgan River and Rail History Museum to learn about Morgan when it was a crucial port in the early days of river trading. The museum is housed in one of the old railway buildings along the riverfront and captures the essence of the old days.
Distance: 177 km, 2 hours 5 minutes
Stay: Morgan Riverside Caravan Park
Day 3. Morgan to Renmark
Depart this morning and follow the Goyder Highway and National Highway A20 to Renmark.
Visit Ruston’s Roses for afternoon tea and enjoy the romantic scenery provided by more than 50,000 rose bushes in over 4000 varieties, making it one of the largest collections in the world. The farm utilises the dry climate of the South Australian Riverland, and they have managed to maintain the distinctive scent of the roses, as opposed to growing them indoors. Also check out the accompanying car museum, where they have an eclectic range of vintage and historic racing cars.
Distance: 114 km, 1 hour 15 minutes
Stay: BIG4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park
Day 4. Renmark to Bordertown
Depart this morning and head south on the National Highway A20 to Pinnaroo. Turn left onto Bordertown Pinnaroo Road and then follow the National Highway A8 to Bordertown.
Visit Bob Hawke's Family Home and learn about Labor’s longest serving Prime Minister. Bob Hawke was born in Bordertown, and is their most famous past resident. The home contains memorabilia including family photos and serves as an interesting insight into how the man grew up.
Distance: 277 km, 3 hours 10 minutes
Stay: Bordertown Caravan Park
Day 5. Bordertown to Mount Gambier
Depart this morning and head south along the Bordertown-Naracoorte Road to the Riddoch Highway. Follow the Riddoch Highway to the Jubilee Highway in Mount Gambier.
Visit the Umpherston Sinkhole, also known as the sunken gardens. View the gardens from the top of the platform, and then walk down into the sinkhole to see the vibrant green gardens for yourself. It feels like you are in a fairyland. The infamous colony of possums appears at dusk, and they love being fed fresh fruit as well.
Also, don’t forget to visit the Blue Lake, one of Mount Gambier’s most popular attractions. The lake is on one of the extinct volcanic craters of Mount Gambier, and is a vibrant cobalt blue between December through to March, and a darker steel grey throughout the rest of the year. The Blue Lake has a walking trail, which is roughly 3.6 km long and takes you around to each of the viewing platforms around the lake. You can also discover more of the craters, tunnels and valleys of the area.
Distance: 183 km, 2 hours
Stay: Mount Gambier Central Caravan Park
Day 6. Mount Gambier to Meningie
Depart this morning and follow the Princes Highway to Meningie.
Check out the Meningie Cheese Factory Museum. The museum opened on the centenary of Federation and showcases the history of cheese making in Meningie, as well as other industries that have made an impact on the town, such as fishing. The accompanying restaurant is themed in the past, and is the perfect way to unwind after the day.
Distance: 300 km, 3 hours 5 minutes
Stay: Lake Albert Caravan Park
Day 7. Meningie to Victor Harbour
Depart this morning and take the Princes Highway, National Highway A1, National Highway M1, Callington Road and B37 to Victor Harbour.
Take a ride on the Victor Harbour Tramway to reach Granite Island. The tram is horse-drawn along the causeway over the ocean. It receives over 100,000 visitors annually and is the only experience of its kind in Australia.
Once at Granite Island, you must see the Little Penguins. The tours commence at dusk when the penguins come in. This is the best way to see the penguins up close in their natural habitat. While waiting for the penguins to come in, enjoy exploring the rest of the island. As it is a national park, there are plenty of trails and bushwalks to keep you entertained and informed.
Distance: 166 km, 2 hours
Stay: Victor Harbour Beachfront Holiday Park
Day 8. Victor Harbour to Kangaroo Island
Depart this morning and follow the B37 and B23 to Kangaroo Island Sealink in Cape Jervis. From here, you will have to book tickets to take the ferry over to Kangaroo Island. For campervan bookings, see their website.
On the island, visit the Flinders Chase National Park. The park features natural rock formations such as the Remarkable Rocks and the Admirals Arch, which provide truly breathtaking views. Don’t forget to see the colony of long nosed fur seals in their natural habitat at Cape du Couedic.
Check out the Raptor Domain that houses some of Kangaroo Island’s birds of prey. The centre is used to educate and protect birds of prey that are endangered or have been injured and are unable to return to wildlife. They put on shows to educate visitors about the birds and other animals found in Australia, including venomous spiders and dangerous reptiles.
Distance: 164 km, 3 hours
Stay: Kingscote Tourist Park & Family Units
Day 9. Kangaroo Island to McLaren Vale
Depart this morning and take the ferry back to the mainland. Follow the B23 to Maslin Beach until you reach McLaren Vale.
In McLaren Vale, it is paramount that you visit one of the many wineries that the area is famous for. D’Arenberg Wines is a winery that has been running for just over one hundred years, producing over 60 wines from 25 different grape varieties. The restaurant overlooks the rolling hills of McLaren Vale, providing the perfect arena to try locally produced food matched with the wines. You can also book in for a wine tasting at the cellar door.
Distance: 177 km, 3 hours
Stay: McLaren Vale Lakeside Caravan Park
Day 10. McLaren Vale to Adelaide
Depart this morning and follow the A13 and M2 to Adelaide. You have now completed your 10-day campervan tour of Adelaide. Continue your journey or return your campervan to the depot. Allow up to 60 minutes to do so.
Distance: 40 km, 45 minutes
Disclaimer
DriveNow's suggested itineraries are made available to assist travellers create and build personalised journey plans.
DriveNow does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of these itineraries and they are provided as is and as advisory only.
Special caution and planning should be taken when travelling in remote areas to ensure sufficient provisions, fuel and prescribed medicines are carried.
Weather conditions can make sealed roads impassable particularly during the northern Wet season. All rental vendors in Australia have restrictions on where their vehicles can be taken, therefore it is recommended that you consult with your vehicle provider on your intended journey when collecting your vehicle. Travelling where restrictions are imposed voids all insurance cover.
You acknowledge that any reliance on or use of any itinerary shall be at your sole risk.
