From diving with great white sharks in pristine Eyre Peninsula waters to watching top-class sport from the roof of one of the world’s best sporting arenas, South Australia offers a raft of amazing experiences to tick off during these warmer months.

You can also immerse yourself in wine country, get close to nature while staying in utter luxury, dine in the nation’s best restaurant or soak up all the colour and excitement of “Mad March”, when SA well and truly lives up to its reputation as the festival state

Aside from being a fantastic way to have some fun and make some memories, enjoying what this great state has to offer supports South Australian businesses­ – and helps keep our economy strong.

DINE AT AUSTRALIA’S BEST RESTAURANT

Few restaurants can boast a setting as spectacular as Restaurant Botanic, and fewer still its adventurous approach to culinary excellence.

Chef Justin James (who worked at Denmark’s world-famous Noma) calls his restaurant “a celebration of place and time”. His degustation menu raids the surrounding Adelaide Botanic Garden for inspiration and ingredients, creating dishes of unique flair and relentless creativity.

Fallen bunya-bunya branches infuse a sweet custard with wattle seed and native thyme. A Coffin Bay oyster is paired with a tangy zest of pickled lime and green ants. The menu features ingredients as diverse as emu, marron, camel hump and shiitake mushroom fudge. It’s spectacular.

Our food critics judged Restaurant Botanic as the best dining experience in the state in this year’s delicious.100 list, but that was just the entree. The connoisseurs at Gourmet Traveller magazine then named it Australia’s restaurant of the year, acclaiming its combination of “fun and adventure, polish and poise”.

It doesn’t come quick and it doesn’t come cheap – expect to spend a minimum of four hours and between $125 and $800 per person depending on drink selections. But know that this is a meal you’ll remember for years.

LIVE IN THE FAST LANE

Get your motor runnin’ and head out on the highway ... straight to The Bend Motorsport Park, South Australia’s home of all things fast and furious. And when you’re there, pull on a helmet, strap yourself into one of a number of high-performance race cars and enjoy the sort of adrenaline rush that can only come with living life in the fast lane.

Set on the outskirts of Tailem Bend, The Bend Motorsport Park is the creation of Dr Sam Shahin, a director of Peregrine Corporation, which operates the OTR chain of service stations. The complex boasts a challenging 7.77km bitumen circuit – the second-longest permanent racetrack in the world – a drag-racing strip and a drift-racing circuit.

It provides the chance to experience the thrill of race speeds as a passenger or a driver, with an instructor alongside, in high performance track and race cars. Vehicles include track-prepared V8 Ford Mustangs, a V8 Holden, a turbocharged Hyundai i30N or as a passenger in a Formula 3 open wheel race car.

There is also the opportunity to experience hurtling around The Bend track for three laps as a passenger in a race-winning Porsche GT3 Cup Car or to stir up the dust in The Bend’s rally-prepared Subaru.

THE BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE

No visit to Adelaide Oval is complete without harnessing up, hooking on and clambering over the southern and western grandstands of the much-loved ground. And for added thrills, it’s worth tackling the Adelaide Oval RoofClimb experience during an AFL or cricket game.

This brings sports viewing to completely new heights; taking in the on-field action from a Riverbank Stand perch 50m above the southern end offers a unique birds-eye perspective of the ground many commentators hail as the best in the world. You’ll also be perfectly placed to enjoy the stunning vistas of the city and beyond.

Match day climbing experiences are available for the upcoming Test clash against the West Indies, as well as Big Bash League games. The climb is open to most people over the age of eight, although anyone over the age of 75 will need a medical clearance.

And for anyone looking for a natural high, TreeClimb Adelaide offers the opportunity to swing from the treetops in carefully designed aerial adventure parks. The first course opened on the southern fringe of the city in late 2018, with a second set to open in December at Kuitpo Forest, south of Adelaide.

EXPERIENCE SHEER LUXURY

The 2020 Kangaroo Island bushfire destroyed one of the crown jewels of South Australian tourism, the globally acclaimed Southern Ocean Lodge. It’s now being rebuilt, but there are still options to enjoy world-class six-star accommodation in our own backyard.

Sequoia Lodge at Mount Lofty House has 14 ultra-luxurious adults-only suites, each with a private balcony opening out to stunning vistas over the Piccadilly Valley. But the Sequoia experience is about much more than the stylish accommodation. Hardy’s Verandah, one of SA’s best restaurants, is just a short stroll through the grounds. And Sequoia’s guests are encouraged to tailor each stay to their interests – whether that’s sunrise yoga, artisan food tours, wine-tasting masterclasses, a long soak in the lodge’s artesian hot pools or taking a Ferrari for a spin through the Hills. It’s sublime way to shake off stress.

But if you’d rather experience the buzz of the city, Eos by SkyCity offers indulgent getaways with Adelaide’s best restaurants, small bars, live sport, night-life and casino gaming on your doorstep. It’s one of our newest hotels, only opening in late 2020. Why not live like a high-roller, even if it’s just for one weekend?

NOODLE AROUND COOBER PEDY

Drive five minutes out of Coober Pedy and it feels like you’re on an alien planet. The desert coils and flows in every direction, countless shades of ochre shimmering under a cloudless azure sky. Everywhere you look the landscape is pockmarked with craters and dotted with conical piles of dirt from opal mines, creating a mysterious symmetry in this wildest of environments.

The folks are different in Coober Pedy. Some reckon you need a touch of madness to live in a place where the relentless heat forced civilisation underground. Prospectors have spent decades chasing one big score, that spectacular seam of opal that’s always in the next shaft they’ll dig.

But for visitors intrepid enough to venture deep into the heart of the Outback (a nine-hour drive or two-hour flight from Adelaide), Coober Pedy is a destination you will never forget.

For starters, you’ll probably be sleeping in underground accommodation – the best way to escape the heat. There’s eccentric art all around, churches hollowed out of sandstone, a huge crashed alien spaceship on the main street. But for the real wow factor, drive north of town and you’ll find the Kanku-Breakaways, a series of majestic orange and red mesas that look for all the world like the backdrop to America’s Wild West.

EXPLORE A SUBTERRANEAN WORLD

SA’s wild on the surface ... but has hidden depths! The heroic exploits of Adelaide doctor Richard Harris in rescuing Thai children from a flooded cave focused worldwide attention on the excitement and peril of cave diving.

Kilsby Sinkhole is renowned as one of the world’s best cave diving locations thanks to its crystal-clear visibility. Nearby Piccaninnie Ponds has a massive underwater cavern known as The Cathedral, surrounded by white walls of scalloped limestone. If you’re a scuba diver with appropriate accreditation, you can explore an underwater wonderland only a tiny proportion of people will ever get to see.

If you prefer your subterranean thrills to be a little more sedate, explore the 500,000-year-old fossils, stalactites and stalagmites of the Naracoorte Caves. Or just an hour’s drive away in Mount Gambier, enter the otherworldly Umpherston Sinkhole/Balumbul – an open cave dissolved out of limestone and now filled with an extraordinary terraced botanical garden.

AHOY! BE A RIVERBOAT CAPTAIN

South Australia’s section of the River Murray (that’s right, we put the river first here in SA) is nothing short of spectacular, winding its way through vivid red earth cliffs and wetlands studded with giant ancient red gums. Along its banks are the towns that sprung up along this inland lifeblood, from large regional centres like Renmark to smaller villages like Mannum, rich with river history.

Sure, you can explore the Riverland by car, but to really get a feel for the place you need to take to the water and there’s no better way to do this than by houseboat.

From floating palaces with sundecks and jacuzzis that sleep 20 people to tiny little four-berth vessels, the range of houseboats available for hire is astounding. And the best bit is you don’t need a special licence to take the wheel of your own floating palace – a driver’s licence and captain’s hat is all that’s required.

GET THE PARTY STARTED

It’s arguably Australia’s biggest party – and there’s no reason why anyone should miss out on sharing in the fun. For several weeks from late February, Adelaide will again be transformed into a carnival of colour, movement and sound as South Australia cranks up into “Mad March” mode.

Regardless of whether your interests lie with diving into all the fun of the Adelaide Fringe (February 19-March 19) – and the cavalcade of the 6000-plus comedians, acrobats, dancers, musicians and other performers who help make up Australia’s biggest arts festival – exploring the diverse cultural offerings as part of the 2023 Adelaide Festival (March 3-19) or simply letting the sounds of the world drift over you in Botanic Park (Womadelaide, March 10-13), there is something to cater for all. Throw in the Adelaide Motorsport Festival (March 24-26) and it’s easy to see why SA can still proudly call itself the festival state.

“There are festivals everywhere, but there are deeper layers to the experience in Adelaide at certain times of the year that are unique,” long-serving Adelaide Fringe director Heather Croall told The Advertiser last year. “It’s all about the alchemy – creativity comes together with innovation, which comes together with risk-taking and entrepreneurship and then – boom.”

DIVE WITH GREAT WHITES

In the classic movie Jaws, the mayor wants to cover up the presence of a great white on Amity Island for fear it will scare away the tourists. Port Lincoln, on the southern tip of Eyre Peninsula, has gone in the completely opposite direction, positioning the fearsome apex predator as its number one drawcard.

The town is shark mad, and anyone who’s spent time in a cage off the Neptune Islands staring into the eyes of a five-metre white will instantly understand why this activity has become one of the most coveted wildlife experiences on earth. Awe, not fear, is the most common reaction with most tourists leaving with a new respect for these magnificent creatures that can live for as long as 70 years.

Calypso Star Charters is your best bet for a day trip great white experience, while Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions offers multi-day trips and the chance for qualified divers to experience the unique seafloor cage option.

EXPLORE OUR GREAT SOUTHERN LANDSCAPE

It truly is the land that time forgot, a vast arid mountain range that winds its way from the top of Spencer Gulf deep into the heart of the South Australian outback.

At the southern end of the mighty Flinders Ranges you’ll find the majestic Wilpena Pound, a huge natural amphitheatre enclosing gorgeous bushland and a resort offering everything from hotel rooms and glamping to unpowered tent sites. Nearby Rawnsley Park Station is another great base, and the perfect place to explore the region by air with both plane and helicopter flights available.

At the northern end of the range sits Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, one of the country’s great outback experiences where guests can take in the breathtaking night views of the Milky Way, be thrilled on a daredevil 4WD ridgetop tour or take an educational walk through the Mawson Valley with local Adnyamathanha man Sharpy Coulthard, learning the old ways of this ancient landscape.

SAVOUR FINE WINE TIME

From the history-soaked Barossa and Clare valleys to the mix of sea and vines at McLaren Vale; the cool-climate wines of the Adelaide Hills to the red-rich Coonawarra, South Australians are truly blessed when it comes to world-renowned wine regions. In fact – with a total of 18 distinct regions in SA overall – it’s little wonder Adelaide has been named as one of the world’s Great Wine Capitals, alongside centres such as Bordeaux in France and the Napa Valley in the US.

Each region offers its own unique flavours and personalities, adding plenty to South Australia’s well-aged blend with the mix of hidden cellar doors, celebrated restaurants and sweeping vineyards. And to make them even more palatable, they are all largely within easy reach of Adelaide. That means savouring some of the state’s top drops is as simple as either jumping in a car or – to make even more out of your day – booking a seat on one of the many tours on offer.

There are also plenty of wineries – including McLaren Vale’s quirky Down The Rabbit Hole or Banrock Station Wine and Wetland Centre in the Riverland – that have plenty to interest younger members of the family too. Cheers!

PARADISE FOR CHOCOHOLICS

There’s no doubt anything from the Haigh’s Chocolates range – from a specially wrapped box of bliss to bags full of famous freckles, fudges and frogs – offers a go-to gift that’s sure to impress any chocolate-lover. But did you stop to wonder just how these sweet treats came into creation?

A trip to Haigh’s Parkside visitor centre and factory at 154 Greenhill Rd can provide a rare glimpse into the workings of Australia’s oldest family-owned chocolatier, which was founded in 1915. Just as Charlie Bucket did in Roald Dahl’s much-loved book, visitors can watch on in wonder as the Haigh’s team of chocolate artisans create and hand-finish the company’s mouth-watering range of offerings. And just to add to the experience, people can enjoy special tastings during the tour – while the retail store will also be well worth exploring afterwards to pick up some factory-fresh chocolates and confectionery in time for Christmas.

While you’re thinking of all things sweet, also consider the Menz range of goodies – which include the iconic FruChocs, Violet Crumble and Crown Mints varieties. With outlets at Glynde, Hahndorf, Tanunda and McLaren Vale, Menz also offers its share of goodies to bring to the festive table – or stuff a stocking or two.

PLUS ONE FOR THE KIDS ... AND IT’S FREE!

Life’s not getting any cheaper, that’s a fact, but the good news is that if you’re in South Australia there is a huge range of activities that are dirt cheap or even free. Thanks to our two large gulfs and a history of wool and grain production, our coastline is positively bristling with jetties and these are the perfect place to take the kids for a cheap day out.

Catch a feed and you might even make a profit! Tommy ruffs, squid and blue swimmer crabs are all common off our jetties. All are easy to catch and all are delicious. Just make sure you’re across the rules and regulations before you start fishing.

If wetting a line isn’t your thing, the state’s beaches are some of the best in the nation. From the open beaches of places like Robe and the wild West Coast to the sheltered coves and bays of the gulfs, it would take a lifetime to explore them all. Might as well start now.

So that’s our list ... what other activities or destinations do you think celebrate SA? Leave your ideas as a comment below and check out more stories like this here. #WebackSA