SA’s top 5 unique winter experiences

Switch off the heater and step outside.

By Samuel Smith
Published: Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Come cooler weather, South Australia’s regions are brimming with unique experiences. From swimming with undersea chameleons to lapping up world-famous food and wine, there’s so much to see, taste and do this winter.

Swim with giant cuttlefish

Where: Eyre Peninsula

Cuttlefish are so much more than budgie food. In fact, the multihued cephalopods are chameleons of the sea, changing colour and pattern to mimic their environment. Normally leading a solitary existence, one of the only places in the world to see them en masse is the Eyre Peninsula.

Each year, from May to July, thousands of giant cuttlefish – some measuring more than 60cm long – converge off the coast of Whyalla to breed. To see them for yourself, go on a guided snorkelling experience with Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries (EMS). Goggles, snorkels, flippers and wetsuits are provided. All you need to bring is your sense of adventure.

RAA members save when booking an EMS swim with cuttlefish experience. Sessions run from 29 June to 9 July, and are known to book out fast.

Giant cuttlefish in Whyalla. Image: SATC.
Giant cuttlefish in Whyalla. Image: SATC.

Encounter ghost mushrooms

Where: Limestone Coast

From extinct volcanoes to underground caves, the Limestone Coast is a region full of natural wonders. None, however, are as mysterious as the ghost mushroom.

Each year in Glencoe, during the months of May and June, luminous fungi light up the night with their soft green glow. You can see nature’s nightlights for yourself, just a 16km drive from Mount Gambier in the aptly named Ghost Mushroom Lane.

The ghost mushrooms get their glow from a chemical reaction between fungal enzymes and oxygen. Believe it or not, their light can be bright enough to read a book by!

Ghost Mushroom Lane is free to visit, and open during May and June each year. RAA members save on a range of Limestone Coast activities and experiences.

Ghost mushrooms, Limestone Coast. Image: SATC.
Ghost mushrooms, Limestone Coast. Image: SATC.

Indulge at the Winter Reds Festival

Where: Adelaide Hills

The Adelaide Hills’ misty meadows produce some of South Australia’s finest cool climate wines, from crisp riesling and sav blanc to fruit-forward pinot noir.

Throw on your warmest jacket, wrap your scarf tight and experience the region’s very best at the Winter Reds Festival. Running from 26–28 July, you’ll find cosy long lunches, fireside feasts, art exhibitions, gigs and tastings at more than 30 beautiful wineries.

RAA members save when booking food and wine experiences in the Adelaide Hills.

Winter Reds Festival, Golding Wines. Image: SATC.
Winter Reds Festival, Golding Wines. Image: SATC.

Trek across an ancient landscape

Where: Flinders Ranges

South Australia’s Flinders Ranges boasts an otherworldly landscape combining deep red earth, towering rocky ravines, dramatic gorges and an impressive array of flora and fauna. In summer, sweltering temperatures are known to exceed 38 °C. Winter, however, provides a much cooler climate, perfect for outback exploration.

See the very best of the Flinders Ranges on The Arkaba Walk – a three-day walking safari, traversing the iconic Wilpena Pound and 60,000 acres of wild bushland. By day, you’ll be guided through dry creek beds, across craggy clifftops and to the banks of isolated waterholes. At night, you’ll be treated to decadent dinners, paired with fine Australian wine. Fall asleep under the stars in deluxe swag camps, set up in spectacular outback locations.

RAA members save when booking The Arkaba Walk experience.

The Arkaba Walk, Flinders Ranges. Image: SATC.
The Arkaba Walk, Flinders Ranges. Image: SATC.

Search for whales

Where: Fleurieu Peninsula

SA is one of the best places in the country to spot our oceans’ gentle giants. During winter, the waters off Kangaroo Island, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Eyre Peninsula are teeming with whales.

Big Duck Boat Tours in the Fleurieu Peninsula offer a totally unique whale watching experience, taking guests to secret coves, islands and beaches around Victor Harbor. The Duck itself seats 27 passengers; you’ll spend your day on the water, spotting behemoths of the deep, as well as seals, dolphins and seabirds.

Please note: While Big Duck tours run year-round, you’ll only spot whales from June to September.

Want to get up close? RAA members save when booking Big Duck Boat Tours.

Big Duck Boat Tours, Fleurieu Peninsula. Image: SATC.
Big Duck Boat Tours, Fleurieu Peninsula. Image: SATC.

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