Best Short Break Stays in South Australia

From ocean-side retreats to country piles and vineyard dwellings, these top SA picks present the perfect weekend.

The Frames, Riverland

A stay in the Riverland region is a chance to slow right down to the pace of the meandering Murray River. An architecturally unique couples’ retreat on a clifftop overlooking the river, the aptly named Frames offers three private villas each with its own pool, spa and balcony.

Soak in the picture-perfect views of the landscape with a glass of local wine in hand. From staying put to exploring the river through its creeks and wetlands, choose to do as little or as much as you please while here.

Exterior of The Frames, Riverland — Stay at the Frames, Riverland. (Image: Cathy Edmonds)

Arkaba Conservancy, Flinders Ranges

A Wild Bush Luxury property (which does exactly what it says on the tin), Arkaba is a remote 2400-hectare wildlife conservancy on the doorstep of Ikara (Wilpena Pound) that provides the chance to bed down in its rustic but beautifully restored 1850s homestead to just 10 guests at a time.

A stay here is an all-inclusive experience that includes bushwalking, 4WD safaris and immersion in both the landscape and local Adnyamathanha culture.

Sequoia, Adelaide Hills

Mount Lofty House has long been a favourite South Australian retreat: first as a summer house built in 1852 and latterly as a luxurious boutique hotel offering guests the ultimate country retreat and recharge.

Its newest addition, Sequoia lodge, offers a contemporary counterpoint to the hotel’s classic leanings complete with natural spring-fed onsen tubs and panoramic infinity pool.

Your stay will be complemented by unfiltered access to the nature surrounding you including Mount Lofty Botanic Garden and all the spoils of the Mount Lofty estate: from world-class wines and artisan food at Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant to ultimate indulgence at the on-site day spa. All in the aid of a truly regenerative weekend.

Inside the new Sequoia, Adelaide Hills. (Image: Aaron Sitti)

Naiko Retreat, Fleurieu Peninsula

South Australia does an excellent line in stylish, edge-of-the-earth coastal retreats that leave nothing between you and the swell of the ocean but some designer decking.

The show-stopping deck at Naiko Retreat, Fleurieu Peninsula. (Image: Tony Johnson)

Case in point, Naiko Retreat. Its distinctive curvilinear form comes courtesy of Max Pritchard Gunner Architects, the team behind Uluru-Kata Tjuta’s Longitude 131˚ and Kangaroo Island’s Southern Ocean Lodge (as well as its planned rebuild following the 2019/20 bushfires) and delivers the ultimate weekend refuge.

A luxurious and sustainable stay for up to six people, it’s all pendant lighting, polished concrete floors and freestanding bathtubs that, making the most of the property’s hilltop position on a remote working sheep farm, afford sweeping views out towards Kangaroo Island.

CABN X, McLaren Vale

A new concept from off-grid tiny house trailblazers CABN, CABN X takes the brand’s eco credentials a step further with its two new architecturally designed nature escapes, Giles and William, set within a biodynamic McLaren Vale vineyard; CABN will donate a portion of your stay to the CABN conservation fund as well as plant a native tree on your behalf.

My Sister & The Sea, Marion Bay

This adorable three-bedroom 1950s weatherboard cottage on the Yorke Peninsula’s Marion Bay is an ode to owners Sarah and Emma’s countless family holidays spent here: lazing on the deck in summer, reading by the fire in winter and exploring nearby Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park. They invite you to do the same.

Seppeltsfield Vineyard Cottage

For a quintessential vineyard experience in the Barossa, find a cute cottage to bed down in for a few nights. Within walking distance to iconic Seppeltsfield Winery and FINO restaurant, this restored 1860s German settler’s cottage serves up all the best bits of the Barossa: food, wine, vineyard views and history.

Eos by SkyCity, Adelaide

Between its stylish and intuitively designed rooms with views over Adelaide, leisure deck with outdoor heated pool, sauna and spa, and plethora of eating and drinking options such as rooftop restaurant and bar Sôl, new Eos by SkyCity is the kind of city crash pad you could check into and forget to leave for a few days.

Traipse Jurassic cliffs and wander secluded beaches on Australia’s most enchanting walks.

Australia’s landscapes are made for hiking. Take the Red Centre, dusted in shifting sands and dotted with miraculous geological formations. Or our rainforests, left behind as the sole souvenir from continents that no longer exist. Down south, mottled night skies hang above crashing seas and unwavering cliffs. It makes sense, then, that hiking holidays are rising in popularity. No wi fi, no traffic. Just you and the path less travelled on the Great Walks of Australia in remote and iconic destinations.

What are the Great Walks of Australia?

If nature is your happy place, you’ve likely heard of the Great Walks of Australia, part of Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences program since 2013 – a curated collection of 15 all-inclusive, eco-luxury journeys showcasing the country’s most spectacular landscapes with expert guides and incredible meals. GWOA launching in 2013 as

From exploring the peaks of a World Heritage listed island, to journeying through the heart of Australia, and the gentle pull of the majestic Murray – there’s a walking holiday to suit walkers of all experience levels (and interests).

Joining a Great Walks of Australia hike means the pressure is off with all meals, guides and eco-luxury accommodation included.

Where can you hike?

1. Scenic Rim Trail, Queensland

great walks of australia tour group on Scenic Rim Trail, Queensland — Enjoy incredible food along the way.

Around 23 million years ago, volcanoes spewed magma across Queensland’s Scenic Rim . Now, what’s left of the fiery landscape takes the form of the UNESCO-listed Gondwana rainforest.

The Scenic Rim Trail is a four-day guided hike that takes you through the ancient rainforest. You’ll venture out into breathtaking viewpoints across the Main Range National Park. Enjoy a packed lunch, listen out for the duplicitous calls of the lyrebird and enjoy the silence.

You’ll spend your nights in boutique eco-cabins and incredible hospitality.

2. Murray River Walk, South Australia

great walks of australia tour group on — Walk through vibrant wildflower fields.

Murray River Walk pairs easy hiking with blissful evenings cruising the Murray River. Over four days and nights, you’ll follow kangaroo trails through red dirt dusted with vivid patches of wildflowers.

Each day ends on a solar-powered, custom-built houseboat. Watch towering, red sandstone cliffs float by from the top deck spa. Then, it’s three-course meals sourced from local produce and served alongside the region’s best wines.

The entire region you’ll be traversing is within the Riverland Ramsar site. Watch as spoonbills forage for food in the tranquil wetlands, emus parade through the wildflowers, and regent parrots flit above.

3. Maria Island Walk, Tasmania

wombat along the Maria Island Walk tasmania — Spot adorable locals.

Your Maria Island walk begins with a private boat transfer to an untouched, white sand beach. Barefoot in the sand, you’ll quickly realise – aside from your guide and group – you’re completely alone. Spot countless wombats and hear the distant calls of Tasmanian Devils as you spend four days leisurely traversing the island.

Nights are split between private, comfortable wilderness camps and queen-size beds in a historic cottage from the island’s convict history. Meals are built around fresh-caught seafood and served with East Coast Tasmanian wine.

4. Seven Peaks Walk, New South Wales

hiker on Seven Peaks Walks on Lord Howe Island — Explore the incredible Lord Howe Island. (Image: Luke Hanson)

Lord Howe Island feels like another world. With its patchwork blue coral lagoons and magma-honed peaks, it’s easy to forget you’re in New South Wales.

This walk has the highest level of elevation in the Great Walks of Australia’s collection. It’s because of this that you’ll witness nature like never before. UNESCO-listed volcanic peaks and coral reefs that grew out of solidified lava will become your daily norm.

Along the way, step onto beaches that lie undisturbed for weeks at a time. Then, snorkel the southernmost reef in the Pacific Ocean.

5. Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk, Northern Territory

This five-day, fully guided, premium hiking experience inside Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park was developed in partnership with Aṉangu Traditional Owners. Begin your walk dwarfed by the shade of Kata Tjuṯa’s towering dome formations. Following remote desert trails through the red sands, crest dunes and traverse mulga woodlands as you draw closer to the monolithic walls of Uluṟu.

Each night, dine under the lamp light of the Milky Way in the warm desert air and sleep in new flagship, environmentally sensitive private camps and lodge. This is the first time that travellers have ever been allowed to spend the night inside the national park.

6. The Twelve Apostles Signature Walk, Victoria

great walks of australia tour group on The Twelve Apostles Signature Walk, Victoria — See the Twelve Apostles in a new way. (Image: Ken Luke)

The Great Ocean Road’s rugged splendour is best experienced on this signature four-day, 44-kilometre guided walk . You’ll follow the rugged limestone stacks of the shipwreck coastline: wild, crashing waves, curious wildlife, and two national parks.

Finish each day at your luxurious lodge, where you’ll sit with your feet soaking and a glass of wine in hand. You’ll have a single lodge to call home on this walk, meaning you’ll only need to set out with a day pack.

7. Three Capes Signature Walk, Tasmania

On Tasmania’s Three Capes Signature Walk , you’ll feel like you’re walking along the edge of the world. From your boat landing on a remote beach, climb slowly upward for spectacular views and wildlife encounters with pods of dolphins, fur seals and echidnas. Spend days walking Jurassic dolerite cliffs with the wild Southern Ocean as your only constant.

Stay in architecturally designed eco-lodges nestled at the very edge of the world. Think floor-to-ceiling windows, a plunge pool and even an on-site spa to tend to ailments from the hike.

Discover more Great Walks of Australia and start planning your next adventure at greatwalksofaustralia.com.au.

The best short break stays in South Australia