When putting together your Australian itinerary, there are a few golden nuggets you absolutely must add to your itinerary—from Adelaide and the state of South Australia!

Exciting South Australia activities include the many wineries (there are more than 200 within a two-hour drive of Adelaide), a tour of the sports stadium at the Adelaide Oval (a definite must-see) and enjoying quaint cafés and innovative restaurants throughout the state.

Here are some unique South Australian experiences you’ll be thankful for adding to your travel itinerary:

Dare the haunted tour of an infamous Australian prison

With unique architecture and a rich history packed with ghosts and spirits, this is not only a place to get a chilling thrill—the Gaol housed some of the state’s most notorious and dangerous criminals for more than 140 years! This tour guides travellers through the hallways (and cells) of South Australia’s first inmates. The penitentiary was in operation from 1841 to 1988, making it Australia’s longest-run prison.

Take a walk through a ‘sunken garden’

South Australia’s Umpherston Sinkhole is truly a beauty to experience firsthand. You can literally walk down into the sinkhole or along the hanging vines; its large size and depth makes for many great vantage points. This sunken garden was once a cave formed through dissolution of the limestone—it’s an incredible interior garden from bottom to top!

Walk through an underground town

More than 100 million years ago, Coober Pedy was covered by ocean. After the water receded, it became a desert. The resulting town is almost entirely underground—the structures are referred to as “dugouts”—as a way for the locals to escape the heat. Travellers can stay in an underground hotel or check out the shops for great opal souvenirs (Coober Pedy is Australia’s opal capital!). You can also take an opal mine tour and check out the underground restaurants and cafes. Above ground, you’ll love the region’s multicoloured landscapes of the desert!

Check out prehistoric surroundings

Camp, self-drive, or enjoy a train journey or scenic flight, through remarkable landscapes such as Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound and Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. See awe-inspiring ancient mountain ranges that have eroded over hundreds of millions of years, rare native animals and bird species, granite peaks, ancient gorges, rock formations and incredible ancient Aboriginal rock art. Visit Australia’s only World Heritage –Listed site: Naracoorte Caves National Park, home to giant fossilized skeletons of megafauna from nearly 60,000 years ago.

Convinced that South Australia should be your next destination? Check out more awesome trips from Downunder Travel.