Port Augusta

Day Trips

Kick off your Port Augusta adventure at the Wadlata Outback Centre where immersive exhibits bring the outback to life. Learn about the history of the railways, indigenous cultures, and pioneering explorers through interactive displays. Engage with touchscreens and artifacts to set the context for the days ahead.

Head downtown for a guided walking tour of Port Augusta’s heritage buildings and murals. Pop into local galleries showcasing outback art and visit the Spirit of the Vines tasting room for regional wines. Grab a takeaway gourmet pie from a historic bakery for a picnic at Rotary Park overlooking Spencer Gulf.

Relax at the Port Augusta Foreshore as the sun dips over the gulf, painting the sky in fiery hues. Enjoy fish and chips at a waterfront kiosk while listening to local buskers. End the night stargazing on the jetty, as the clear outback skies begin to twinkle.

Stroll through the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden at sunrise when the crisp air brings rare bird calls to life. Discover collections of native fauna including saltbush, mallee and desert oaks, and learn about waterwise landscaping. Stop by the Flora Pavilion to see themed exhibits on medicinal plants of the region.

Join a guided photography workshop to capture the vivid colours of the gardens and distant Flinders Ranges. Enjoy a bush tucker lunch under the shadehouse, sampling local seeds and native herbs. Wander the interpretive trail to spot wallabies grazing near the waterholes.

Return to town for dinner at a local seafood restaurant featuring Spencer Gulf’s famous King George whiting. Sample craft beers from the nearby brewery as you swap stories with fellow travellers. Finish the night with a casual stroll along the historic Port Augusta jetty.

Leave early for Mambray Creek in Mount Remarkable National Park to beat the heat and catch the dawn light on the ridges. Follow the Sugar Gum Walk for an easy introduction or take on the Summit Trail for rewarding panoramas over the southern Flinders Ranges. Bring plenty of water and a packed snack to refuel at a scenic lookout.

Return to nearby Melrose for a country pub lunch and sample local lamb dishes. Wander Melrose’s Main Street, stopping at boutique galleries and the historic courthouse museum. Don’t miss the chance to take photos of the iconic Cutty Wren bird sculpture.

Head back to Port Augusta with sunset stopping at Mount Remarkable lookout for a quiet picnic. As darkness falls, set up your telescope for another evening of star-studded skies. Listen for the distant calls of night wildlife as you stargaze.

Travel north into the Flinders Ranges to Alligator Gorge in Mount Remarkable National Park. Tackle the Alligator Loop Walk lined with quartzite bluffs and seasonal waterfalls. Spot kangaroos grazing in the morning light and breathe in the crisp valley air.

Join a guided geology walk to learn about 600 million years of rock formation and ancient fossils. Pause for a packed lunch on the Gorge seat under the Gum trees. Relax by a creek pool and watch for native birds flitting between the boulders.

Return to Port Augusta for dinner at a farm-to-table restaurant showcasing local produce. Sip a locally distilled gin cocktail while overlooking the harbour lights. Cap the evening with a cultural performance if timed with local festivals.

Set off early for the iconic Wilpena Pound, driving through the heart of the Flinders Ranges. Board a scenic flight for a bird’s-eye view of the amphitheatre of sandstone peaks and desert plains. The aerial perspective reveals hidden canyons and wildlife mobs dotting the landscape.

Touch down for a guided walking tour around Wilpena Pound, learning about Adnyamathanha creation stories. Enjoy a bush barbecue lunch served riverside, featuring grilled beef sourced from local cattle stations. Spend the afternoon photographing the ever-changing light on rugged ridges.

Head back to Port Augusta with a stop at Bunyeroo Gorge lookout for sunset hues on the red rock walls. Share a communal dinner at a roadhouse, sampling bush spices on grilled specialties. Stargaze from the roadhouse veranda before the final leg back to town.

Embark on a self-drive safari along the Brachina Gorge Geological Trail, known as the museum of ancient rocks. Stop at interpretive panels to spot fossils and learn about the earth’s early ecosystems. Keep an eye out for yellow-footed rock wallabies amid the rocky slopes.

Continue through Bunyeroo Gorge, pulling over at scenic lookouts to photograph the dramatic fold structures. Enjoy a picnic lunch next to a seasonal creek with panoramic views of ochre cliffs. Spot wedge-tailed eagles soaring overhead as you marvel at the geological splendour.

Return to Port Augusta in time for a casual seafood dinner at a waterfront café. Ride the wind along the foreshore on the outdoor exercise gear or simply relax on a bench watching fishing boats. Later, visit a brewery taproom to sample craft ales brewed with local barley.

Explore the Kanyaka Station ruins, once a thriving 19th-century sheep station now reclaimed by the outback. Wander through decaying homestead remnants and imagine the lives of early settlers. Birdlife flits through the old wooden door frames, giving the site a quiet, haunting beauty.

Return to Port Augusta for a spa afternoon at a boutique wellness retreat, indulging in native oil massages and eucalyptus saunas. Enjoy light refreshments featuring lemon myrtle tea and local honey. Take time to recharge amid tranquil outback-inspired décor.

Climb to Stokes Hill Lookout just before sunset for sweeping views across Spencer Gulf and the Gulf St Vincent. Capture the changing colours of salt marshes and mangroves stretching below. Cap the evening with a gourmet picnic of local cheeses and charcuterie under the stars.

Join a day tour to Iga Warta, an Aboriginal-owned cultural centre in the southern Flinders Ranges. Learn Dreamtime stories passed down by the Adnyamathanha people as an elder guides you through sacred sites. Participate in traditional art workshops, creating hand-stamped ochre paintings.

Share a bush tucker feast prepared over open coals, sampling kangaroo skewers and native vegetable salads. Listen to didgeridoo performances echoing across the valley as you explore ancient rock art sites. Gain insight into centuries-old land management techniques still used today.

Return to Port Augusta for a relaxed dinner at a family-run Italian trattoria, sampling homemade pasta. Take a twilight walk along the marina, soaking in the salty sea air. Wrap up the day with a nightcap at a rooftop bar under the vast outback sky.

Board a morning harbour cruise of Spencer Gulf, learning about maritime history and shark cage diving operations. Glide past Port Augusta’s naval port and watch for dolphins riding the bow wave. Enjoy a coffee and light snack served onboard as you take in the coastal scenery.

Visit the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden’s Marine Interpretation Centre for insights into gulf ecosystems. Explore the Maritime Museum’s collection of historic vessels and prisoner-of-war ship displays. Indulge in fresh seafood at a waterfront restaurant overlooking the moored yachts.

Take an evening waterside yoga class on the Port Augusta jetty to stretch and unwind. Follow with dinner at a trendy fusion eatery, blending Murray cod with bush spice rubs. Soothe your palate with a dessert wine as the harbour lights reflect off the water.

Drive north along the Spencer Gulf shoreline to view the natural blowholes at Port Augusta West, where seawater shoots through limestone fissures. Capture the dynamic sprays framed by rugged coastal rocks. Walk along secluded beaches listening to the rhythmic pounding of the waves.

Return to town for a lazy lunch at a café overlooking the waterfront lawn. Relax with a good book under a shady Norfolk pine before a final dip in the gulf’s calm shallows. Explore the local markets for last-minute souvenirs and bush products.

Celebrate your Port Augusta journey with a sunset dinner cruise, sampling a multi-course feast crafted from local produce. Toast to your adventure with a glass of sparkling wine as the boat glides across shimmering waters. Disembark under the stars with memories of the outback and sea forever intertwined.