Mapped: 50 new tourism and hospitality experiences in SA

SA tourism and hospitality providers have been busy reinventing themselves to provide a host of new experiences in 2021. See the map and explore what’s on offer.

Move over, Maccas! A McLaren Vale helicopter business has launched Australia’s first fly-through lunch experience.

Tourism operator Helivista has joined forces with Penny’s Hill Winery and The Currant Shed restaurant to deliver an experience that takes dining out to new heights.

The offer, which costs $590 per person, includes wine tasting at Penny’s Hills, a fly through lunch pick-up from The Currant Shed, a 20 minute scenic flight, followed by a 90 minute picnic at a secret lunch spot.

It is one of 50 plus new Tourism and Hospitality Experiences hoped to entice tourists to travel SA in 2021.

Helivista Co-owner Mei Ling Beck said the fly-through lunch was prompted by COVID-19, which forced heavy restrictions on tourism and hospitality providers.

“When COVID hit, restaurants could no longer have anyone sit in, so we thought that we could do picnics but a lot of people did that and we felt it was the easy thing to do and we didn’t want that,” she said.

“So we ended up working with The Currant Shed and booked a few friends to try out what we had come up with and they loved it - and that’s how it all started.

“So far, it’s been really popular for couples and we’ve had quite a few engagements and anniversaries.”

Helivista aren’t the only SA business to have reinvented themselves during the pandemic.

Paul and Mei Ling Beck of Helivista, who have launched their Heli Fly-Through lunch experiences in McLaren Vale. Picture: Morgan Sette.

Numerous wineries have been busy working on major business expansions, including Simon Tolley Wines which will open its first cellar door in Woodside later this month.

Peter Teakle Wines in Port Lincoln also launched a new cellar door last month, while fire-ravished winery Tilbrook Estate plans to re-open to the public in March.

Experience Coffin Bay owners Chris and Linda Hank have also not sat idle over the past 12 months, launching a new “pimped up” boat to help bring more tourism to their town. The new vessel can now cater for large groups of up to 36 people to help facilitate tours of a local oyster farm.

In the Fleurieu Peninsula, Lake Breeze Winery will this month unveil its $1.8m winery expansion, while travel company Coonawarra Experiences recently secured exclusive rights to conduct new tour offerings at Land of Tomorrow Wines on the Limestone Coats.

Chris and Linda Hank with their new 'pimped up' oyster punt in Coffin Bay. Picture: Emily Jarvis

South Australian Tourism Commission chief executive Rodney Harrex said while 2020 saw one of the most severe contractions of tourism on record, local businesses had worked hard to reinvent themselves.

According to the latest tourism data, SA enjoyed $230 million in domestic overnight expenditure in September 2020 - the highest figure recorded since COVID-19 took hold of Australia in March.

Interstate visits also rose to 51,000, pushing up interstate overnight expenditure by 173 per cent - up to $168 million.

These figures are expected to rise again when the latest tourism data is released on January 20.

Mr Harrex said the Commission was working hard to redirect the 11 million Australians who normally holiday overseas, to book and spend in SA.

“With international borders closed, all funds allocated for international marketing activities have been redirected to the domestic market,” he said.

“From our wine regions, food offerings, nature and coastal highlights, to events and Arts – we are constantly adapting our marketing and refreshing our campaigns.

“Summer is going to be key for the recovery of tourism in SA, and with proven stimulus programs like the second round of Great State vouchers, as well as events like the Santos Festival of Cycling, there are many reasons to book up and spend up in South Australia this summer.”