8 winter wonders in SA
Winter’s here, but that doesn’t mean we have to hide indoors. What a great time to get out and enjoy our state’s cooler season.
Here are eight South Australian winter activities worth rugging up for.
They’re back
Every winter the waters off Victor Harbor become a hot spot for southern right whales escaping the Antarctic freeze. From late May to October, Encounter Bay is busy with whales courting and mating, while expectant mothers give birth and nurse their young.
The Bluff, Granite Island and Nakurami Kondoli Whale Lookout near Kings Beach are great spots to whale watch.
If you’re in the area in June, stick around for all the activities on offer during the month-long Winter Whale Fest.
Ghost in the night
The dampness of the cooler months is just right for fungi of all types, including Omphalotus nidiformis, better known as the ghost mushroom.
When the sun sets in the cool, dark forests of the Limestone Coast, these mushrooms take on an eerie glow, fuelled by the chemical reaction of bioluminescence. On a jet-black night, the ghostly glimmer beneath the trees is an otherworldly experience.
During May and June, Walk the Limestone Coast runs tours into the forest near Glencoe. Tours fill up fast, so book early.
Blasts from the past
Illuminate Adelaide is back for another blockbuster season and is set to light up the CBD and beyond. From 3–20 July, visit Adelaide Zoo after dark for Universal Kingdom: The Next Era – a sensory treat for the whole family.
Wander through a mystical world where ancient dinosaurs roam the Earth in a spellbinding display of puppetry and lighting.
Triceratops, raptors, baby dinos and a mighty T-Rex will all be there, while toothy pterodactyls soar overhead.
Country cascades
Often bone dry in the heat of summer, Mannum Waterfalls, 10km from Mannum, can become a raging torrent after heavy rain.
Wet or dry, you’ll enjoy a 3km-return walk among the eucalypts and granite outcrops beside Reedy Creek, which tumbles through a series of cascades in a rocky gorge.
Be sure to wear sturdy shoes, carry plenty of water and prepare for some rock hopping. There are car parks at both ends of the walking trail and a lookout near the upper car park.
Tastes of the Adelaide Hills
Nothing quite beats a glass of red by a crackling fire to fight off the winter chill.
From 25–27 July, the Adelaide Hills Winter Reds Festival showcases the region’s top-notch cool-climate wines in a gorgeous hills setting.
Rug up for a weekend of wine tastings, fireside food, live music and art displays, as more than 35 winemakers and venues welcome visitors to a truly beautiful part of our state.
Beneath the Milky Way
Away from the dazzle of city lights, the stars in the night sky shine with a stunning brilliance.
On a clear night among the towering escarpments of the Flinders Ranges, the arc of the Milky Way seems almost within arm’s reach (main photo).
Closer to home, glowing satellites continue their hurried journey overhead, while meteors flame out brightly as they hit the atmosphere at impossible speed.
Gaze at the cosmos with a glass of your favourite drop and a platter of Barossa and Clare Valley produce gathered en route.
Campers will find excellent spots among the pines along Bunyeroo Valley and deep in the remote Gammon Ranges. Or book a cabin, luxe tent or hotel room and duck outside when night falls.
Pops of colour
Camellias celebrate winter by bursting into colour, with a showy display of white, pink and red blooms.
Stroll through South Asian Gully in Mount Lofty Botanic Garden to see these colourful shrubs embrace the season.
If the weather is kind, make a day of it with a picnic on the lawns near the bottom car park, or up top among a fairytale land of dwarf conifers.
Underwater aliens
There’s no need to leave Earth to see one of the universe’s most bizarre creatures. From May to August, giant cuttlefish up to 60cm long arrive in the waters off Whyalla to mate.
With three hearts, blue blood, arms galore, and chameleon-like colour changes, these underwater oddities are truly one of nature’s marvels.
Take in their vibrant colour displays as males shapeshift and switch outfits quicker than a runway model as they try to attract a partner.
Families can head to Stony Point, 20km northeast of Whyalla, where a boardwalk provides easy access to the shallows for wading and snorkelling.
More intrepid folk can venture out to sea on an organised snorkelling or scuba tour.