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30,000 South Australian travel vouchers worth up to $500 are up for grabs

Kassia ByrnesBy Kassia Byrnes
South Australia is welcoming more travellers this summer, with a new round of coastal travel vouchers across dining, accommodation and experiences.

A new round of South Australian travel vouchers and dining vouchers is being released in a ballot system to help soothe the sting to local tourism in algal bloom-affected areas.

The Algal bloom

three friends sitting on Port Willunga Beach Fleurieu Peninsula south australia
South Australia’s coastline is still safe for humans. (Image: SATC)

The current algal bloom in South Australia is affecting much of the coastline, especially the Fleurieu Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and the Spencer Gulf.

While algae and even blooms of algae are a natural part of coastal ecosystems, the current bloom in South Australia is toxic to fish and some other marine animals. As a result, both marine life and the industries that rely on it (fishing, aquaculture and tourism) are seeing a serious negative impact. However, it is still safe for humans to swim in SA beaches , provided they avoid discoloured and/or foamy water (which may cause mild, short-term irritation).

This current algal bloom phenomenon came about as a result of floodwaters from the River Murray in 2022-23, a cold-water upwelling in summer 2023-24 and a marine heatwave that has been happening since September 2024. Each event brought extra nutrients to the sea and then lifted them to the surface.

In response, a $102.5 million Algal Bloom Summer Plan was announced by the South Australian and Australian governments, including measures to protect the marine environment and back coastal communities.

Travel vouchers

seal pups on Seal Bay Conservation Park Kangaroo Island south australia
Catch the ferry to Kangaroo Island with the experience vouchers. (Image: Kangaroo Island Tourism Alliance)

Open to South Australians, 30,000 travel vouchers of up to $500 for accommodation and $100 for experiences in coastal destinations will be up for grabs. It comes as a bigger, extended round of the popular Coast is Calling travel voucher program (with the first round having been announced in August).

This round will expand on the first to also include qualifying holiday rentals, the Kangaroo Island ferry and additional experiences, including guided sporting experiences and additional leisure and entertainment activities. As well as an extended period of travel between December 5 and April 26.

Accommodation vouchers are intended to encourage longer stays, worth $500 for a five-night minimum stay, $200 for a two-night minimum stay and $100 for a one-night minimum stay.

“These vouchers are helping local businesses bounce back, driving tourism and keeping regional economies strong right across the state’s coastline," said Minister for the Environment, Murray Watt . “This program is about more than just holidays – it’s about supporting jobs, small businesses and the communities that make South Australia’s coast such a special part of the country".

“Another 30,000 vouchers released for summer will be a game-changer for many coastal businesses who rely on this holiday period to set themselves up for the rest of the year," added Minister for Multicultural Affairs of South Australia, Zoe Bettison.

Dining vouchers

womand and her child walking at Dolphin Bay Yorke Peninsula
It’s the perfect time for a family getaway. (Image: Carly Kruger)

A $15 million dining program in the form of 300,000 $50 dining vouchers to be used at coastal dining venues – including restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs and takeaway venues – will give travellers the ability to get $50 cashback on their meal. Using the voucher, travellers can upload their meal receipt from a participating business along with their unique voucher code to receive 50 per cent off their meal, up to $50.

“We’re currently seeing the impact a voucher program can make, with the first round of Coast is Calling Vouchers already injecting over $2.7 million in booking value alone into communities impacted by the algal bloom," said Bettison.

How to enter the ballot

South Australian travellers can enter the dining public ballot on the Coast is Calling website . From 3 November 2025, 60,000 vouchers will be on offer in this first round. Subsequent ballots will be drawn in December, January, February and March.

A ballot for travel vouchers will open from 1-3 December, to be drawn on December 4. Voucher winners will need to book by January 19, and can be used for travel between 5 December and 26 April.

Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
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Mornington Peninsula’s storied past: war, shipwrecks and a runaway convict 

    Kellie FloydBy Kellie Floyd
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    The Mornington Peninsula is a coastline of contrasts, where convict and military history meets shipwrecks, wild seas and adventures above and below the surface.

    The Mornington Peninsula can be the kind of place where salt-tangled hair feels like a badge of honour – proof you’ve been somewhere wild, raw and real. Peel back the layers and you’ll discover stories that anchor this region to something other than its famed food and wine.

    This land is the traditional Sea Country of the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung people. Long before grapevines were planted and artisanal goods were crafted, the Bunurong Traditional Owners lived in deep connection with the land and sea. Today, places such as Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary echo that tradition, with families exploring its rockpools in search of colourful sea stars and crabs at low tide and learning how these fragile ecosystems have been cared for across countless generations.

    a group of people visiting the Port Nepean National Park
    Take in the rugged coastal landscape at Port Nepean National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    A visit to Point Nepean National Park feels like stepping back through time. The fort, built in 1882, protected the narrow entrance to Port Phillip Bay until the end of the Second World War. It was here that the first Allied shot of the First World War was fired – at a German cargo ship trying to escape just hours after war was declared. Nearby, the old Quarantine Station, one of Australia’s first permanent quarantine facilities, established in 1852, still stands. Walking through the hospital and disinfecting complex evokes stories of those who arrived from faraway shores.

    Not far from here is a story of survival that inspired the Aussie phrase ‘you’ve got Buckley’s chance’. In 1803, escaped convict William Buckley vanished into the bush near what’s now Sorrento. Everyone thought he had no hope of surviving, but he reappeared 32 years later, having lived with local Aboriginal people.

    Even the waters here hold history. The infamous stretch known as The Rip, just three kilometres wide at the entrance of Port Phillip Bay, is among the most treacherous waterways. Countless ships were lost here in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and in 1967, Australia’s own Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared while swimming off the coast, never to be found.

    a seal swimming in Port Phillip Bay
    A seal swimming in Port Phillip Bay. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    But for all its danger, the sea here also holds extraordinary beauty. Dolphins are often seen near Sorrento’s cliffs, while below the surface, seagrass meadows and rocky reefs teem with life. Marine tours offer a viewing to this underwater wonderland, while back on terra firma, walking trails lead along beaches, through coastal scrub, and over rock pools.

    And if you think you’ll forget about the Mornington Peninsula once you’ve left? You’ve got Buckley’s chance.

    A traveller’s checklist

    Staying there

    the suite interior at InterContinental Sorrento
    Luxury interiors at the historic InterContinental Sorrento. (Image: Greg Elms)

    Point Nepean Discovery Tents is immersive glamping beside the historic Quarantine Station. Or upgrade to luxury at the 1875-built InterContinental Sorrento .

    Playing there

    an aerial view of Cape Schanck Lighthouse
    Make your way to the Cape Schanck Lighthouse. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    Bayplay Adventure Tours offer eco-adventures from snorkelling with sea dragons to kayaking with dolphins and cycling Point Nepean. Cape Schanck Lighthouse is fascinating to explore on a guided tour, which takes you into the lighthouse and keeper’s cottage.

    Eating there

    Portsea Hotel is a beautifully restored 1876 Tudor-style pub right on the beach, serving seasonal local fare.