Venture into Victor Harbor, Coober Pedy and Port Broughton to see what you've been missing - award-winning hospitality, scenery and things-to-do. Fill the bucket-list you never knew you had.
VISIT VICTOR HARBOR
Bringing home the gold for People's Choice and Top Tourism Town Winner is the quaint seaside town of Victor Harbor. Home to 17,000 people and just a quick scenic one-hour drive south of Adelaide, tourists and locals alike flock to this family-friendly coastal town right in the heart of the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Stroll or take a dip at one of the quiet sandy beaches, sample delicious local seafood or catch some of the best surf in South Australia at Petrel Cove or Knights Beach. Stretch your legs and set off on the Bluff Summit Walk, before throwing in a line and catching your own dinner. During the winter months, grab your binoculars and marvel at the ocean's gentle giants with whales, dolphins and seals frequenting the bay. No family visit is complete without hopping on Victor Harbor's iconic horse-drawn tram to journey across the causeway and explore Granite Island.
Accommodations here run the gamut from sandy shacks to the kid-tastic Victor Harbor Holiday and Cabin Park and lavish self-contained homes and apartments like Seaspray Cottage.
CHECK OUT COOBER PEDY
The arid Martian landscape of Coober Pedy is like nothing else and this unique destination has taken home the 2023 Small Tourism Town trophy for a reason. With a population of 2000, living underground is a way of life when keeping cool in one of the hottest parts of the Outback.
Nine hours north of Adelaide, discover the fascinating way of life at Australia's opal capital including underground churches, mini-mountains of opal-hunting tailing debris and even the very last drive-in movie theatre in South Australia. Adventure fiends can motorbike their way along endless dirt roads, and hackers might deem the Opal Fields Gold Club the most unforgettable they'll ever tee off on.
The town of Coober Pedy produces more opal than anywhere in the world, and their extraction from the earth has utterly shaped its culture. Seeing the red surface is a completely different experience from the air. Why not book a flight to see it as the birds do, with a mail run accompanying the postie to the outback cattle stations before knocking the dust off at the Big Winch 360 for a cold beer and a bite?
After a day of fossicking for your own opals, descend beneath the ground and discover a labyrinth of underground houses, hotels and even shops. Enjoy a night under the earth's surface at the Lookout Cave Hotel or one of the many subterranean B&Bs. At Riba's Underground, you can really rough it with a swag and a tent.
PAUSE IN PORT BROUGHTON
With a population of 1100, and sweetly tucked away at the top of Yorke Peninsula, Port Broughton is the Best Tiny Town in South Australia and has the award to prove it. Think sunny seaside days, food trucks. Two hours north of Adelaide, Port Broughton is the gateway to the Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and Flinders Ranges and Outback - and the perfect pitstop on your next road trip.
Enjoy a day on the water reeling in Blue Swimmer Crab and swimming in turquoise seas or take the whole crew to the Splash Park or the Funky Monkey Ninja Playground. The diverse dining scene here pleases every palate, from the indulgent to the casual.
At the Port Broughton Hotel, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to seafood, and at Bay Street Café, you're never too old for a frosty MegaShake or a dripping cone. Dogs are welcome just about everywhere, too, so the whole family can enjoy. Start your morning with Port Broughton's best coffee at SeaRenity Café before heading to the All Abilities Access Playground on the foreshore. In the afternoon, a mid-day art sesh may be just the thing at Gallery 1871, with a number of workshops available for kids and. Overnight, accommodation is easy and comfortable at the Port Broughton Tourist Park or Hotel, and other privately held options for homes and apartments are also available.
CONTINUE THE ADVENTURE
A road trip through South Australia's vast landscape, loaded with possibility and discovery, is at your fingertips. To plan your Top Tourism Town adventure, download our free guides. Victor Harbor, Coober Pedy and Port Broughton can't wait to welcome you.
