12 Day Adelaide and Beyond Campervan Explorer

Kick start your South Australian adventure in the state capital, Adelaide. You’ll spend three nights in the heart of the city at Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide, from which you can easily explore the city on foot. There are plenty of great bars and restaurants nearby, too.

Sports fans should make tracks for the Adelaide Oval, where you can do a behind-the-scenes stadium tour – or you could opt for the RoofClimb and see Adelaide from a whole new perspective. Meanwhile, foodies will love Adelaide Central Market. With over 70 traders under one roof, this vibrant market buzzes with life all year round. You can roam the aisles for fresh fruit, meat and fish, sample gourmet cheeses and delicious pastries, or grab a seat in one of the cafes and enjoy the hubbub of market life.

Alternatively, discover an oasis in the heart of the city in the form of Adelaide Botanic Garden. Within the grounds, you’ll find the 1989 Bicentennial Conservatory and the 1877-built Palm House – two beautiful glass structures filled with a fascinating selection of plants. The gardens also boast a wetland, rose garden and a cactus garden.

If you’re a beach lover, don’t worry – we haven’t forgotten you. Take a short tram ride from Adelaide city centre to the seaside suburb of Glenelg. Feel the sand beneath your toes, wander the foreshore, discover an array of boutique shops, and sip cocktails as you watch the sun go down.

Overnight: Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide

Next, it’s time to pick up your Maui campervan and hit the road. En route to Kangaroo Island, we recommend making a stop in McLaren Vale – it’s one of Australia’s premier wine regions, home to some of the oldest grape vines in the world. Take your pick from over 80 vineyards and cellar doors. For an extra special lunch stop, make for d’Arenburg, home to The Cube, a quirky five-storey structure which resembles a Rubiks Cube. From McLaren Vale, you’ll travel on to Cape Jervis, where you’ll find the ferry terminal for Kangaroo Island. The ferry ride is only 45 minutes, and you’ll dock in Penneshaw on the island’s north coast.

Kangaroo Island and all its rugged beauty is yours to explore over the next few days. Australia’s third-largest island is seven times the size of Singapore – so it’s best to arrive with a plan of what you want to see and do. Watch sea lions lazing on the beach at Seal Bay, explore Flinders Chase National Park, or discover the iconic natural landmarks of Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Kangaroo Island is one of the best places in Australia for wildlife viewing, so keep your eyes peeled – you might see koalas, kangaroos, echidnas, platypus and even penguins. The island’s waters are just as diverse, and there’s a host of whale and dolphin cruises you can join. Kangaroo Island is also a food and drink haven, especially around Kingscote and Penneshaw. Try regional wines, taste local honey, visit gin distilleries, and nibble on gourmet cheeses.

Overnight: Maui campervan

Leave Kangaroo Island behind you and set off for the Adelaide Hills. We’d suggest driving via the quaint coastal town of Victor Harbor, where you can board a horse-drawn tram across a causeway to a wild penguin colony. It’s also a great place for whale-watching between June and September, when southern right whales and humpbacks migrate to Australia’s warmer waters.

The Adelaide Hills is one of South Australia’s most popular wine regions, and also happens to be one of the most picturesque parts of the state. Discover cellar doors hidden down leafy lanes, spot kangaroos hopping amongst the vines, and see charming little towns lined with pretty boutiques and cafes. Known for its cool-climate wines, this place has more than 60 vineyards, not to mention numerous bars, restaurants and a thriving arts scene.

During your time in the Adelaide Hills, spend one night at the boutique Handhorf Hill Winery for an exclusive overnight vineyard stay, designed purely for Maui customers. You’ll be able to enjoy an exclusive site location and a gourmet dinner hamper, complete with a bottle of wine.

Overnight: Maui campervan

You’ve ticked off the city, the wine, the wildlife and the beaches – now it’s time for the Outback. A few days exploring the Flinders Ranges and Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park is the perfect way to round off your South Australian adventure.

Rawnsley Park Station makes a great base and offers a number of powered sites for your campervan. From here, you’ll be perfectly placed for a range of activities like bushwalking, wildlife-watching and star-gazing. Marvel at ancient Aboriginal rock carvings at Arkaroo Rock, see prehistoric fossils at Brachina Gorge, and walk in the foothills of Wilpena Pound. You can even venture to the top of Rawnsley Bluff for an epic outlook and a fantastic view into the Pound. For an even more dramatic perspective, why not take a scenic flight over the mountainous landscape?

 Overnight: Maui campervan

As your road trip comes to a close, it’s time to return to Adelaide to drop off your campervan. If you’re looking to break up the journey back to the city, why not make a stop in the Clare Valley? Another of South Australia’s renowned wine regions, this area is best known for its Riesling, but its shiraz and cabernet are also creeping up the ranks. Take your pick from more than 30 wineries, or grab a snack in one of the many restaurants and cafes.