Are you planning on taking a road trip to Australia? Figuring the best things to see, experiences to discover, activities to book, and places to wonder? Then read this guide as we list down one of the short, most wonderful journeys of rugged South Australia. In the below article, we’ve compiled some of the best things to see from Bordertown to Port Augusta.
Bordertown and Port Augusta are South Australia’s most precious under-rated regions. Yes, you don’t often see people talking about these cities as part of their solo venture. However, if given the time and if you’re willing to explore the iconic outback of Australia, then Bordertown to Port Augusta route is sincerely the best-appreciated road trip in SA.
Both these towns have their own little cozy environment, with an amazing range of cafes & restaurants, hotels and cabins, and plenty of things to see and discover. Though the journey from Bordertown to Port Augusta seems short, but it’s still packed with some of South Australia’s iconic highlights. These include exploring the evergreen Adelaide City, wineries of Clare Valley, and historical towns of Hahndorf and Mintaro.
Introduction to Bordertown and Port Augusta
Fringed on the borders of Victoria and South Australia, Bordertown is the first destination to come across once you enter the Limestone Coast region. Due to its central location between the two states, Bordertown acts as a perfect gateway to easily enter both states. It is also one of the places worth stopping by for your Melbourne to Coober Pedy journey. Today, Bordertown is known for its cultural essence, promoting incredible arts and exhibitions through its various centers. The place was also the birthplace of one of Australia’s most renowned prime ministers, Bob Hawke.
Port Augusta, on the other hand, is known for its cross-road connectivity mainly due to its intersection of north-south (Darwin to Adelaide) and the east-west (Perth to Melbourne). It’s one of the most accessible towns to explore outback Australia from nearby cities. From Port Augusta, destinations like Adelaide, Coober Pedy, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, Woomera, and Gawler Ranges National Park are easy to drive to for your next adventure. Ideally, most travelers who often venture the outback stay a couple of nights at Port Augusta or Rawnsley Park Station to relax.
Planning Tips for Bordertown to Port Augusta Drive
Let’s understand some essential planning tips before planning your road trip journey. While there are plenty of things to see from Bordertown to Port Augusta, one should really plan their itinerary to avoid any schedule hassles. In this section, you’ll know how to rent a car, what are the driving times, and some other important factors.
Driving Times for Bordertown to Port Augusta
The journey to reach Port Augusta from Bordertown is 579kms (359 miles). If you drive non-stop, considering no traffic or any stopovers, you’ll take approximately 6hr 22mins to cover up the entire journey. However, we don’t recommend a direct journey, as there are plenty of classic things to see from Bordertown to Port Augusta. We would ideally suggest you stop at certain places, or maybe for a couple of nights to admire the beauty of this short road trip truly.
Furthermore, there are multiple routes to reach Port Augusta. One via B57 and Goyder Highway/B64 and the other through National Highway A8 and A1. However, we suggest taking the route via M1, which cuts directly through Adelaide. This way you get to see the highlights of this charming city and also good options to stay for your relaxation.
Here’s a quick glance at suggested & alternative routes & their times:
Via National Highway A8 and A1: 6hr 20mins (564kms): This route cuts through the outskirts of Adelaide via Mount Crawford Forest.
Via National Highway M1 and A1: 6hr 22mins (579kms): Best recommend route through Adelaide.
Via B57 and B64: 6hr 56mins (641kms): Longest route.
How many days are required?
To explore the highlights between Bordertown and Port Augusta, we recommend spending a minimum of 2 days. If you got some more time to spare, you can extend your stay in Adelaide and discover touring opportunities within the city. Most travelers who often stay back ay Adelaide spend a week getting to know the city’s cultural and historical attractions.
Renting a Car in Australia
One of the best things to do for road trips in Australia is rent a car. Doing so smoothens your pre-journey prerequisites and provides you with a great deal of flexibility to travel. Of course, on any road trip, you would want to have some sort of freedom to roam around and tour nearby attractions. By renting a car, you can time your travel as per your own schedule.
I recommend choosing Rentalcars.com for its affordability and service. You can choose various options from their car list to get a suitable vehicle for yourself. It’s one of the best operators currently, which offers maximum flexibility in selecting your vehicle.
Map of Bordertown to Port Augusta Road Trip
Here’s a route map of Bordertown to Port Augusta drive –
Things to See from Bordertown to Port Augusta
Explore Bordertown
Before starting out your journey from Bordertown, it’s best to explore some of the well-known attractions within the town. It’s worth spending a few hours visiting two of Bordertown’s most popular tourist sites – Walkway Gallery & Bob Hawke Museum and Bordertown Wildlife Park. There are plenty of local sites in the town, but we feel this two stand out for your first visit.
If you’re an art-lover, I bet you’ll absolutely adore walking around the Walkway Gallery. I am not much of an art-fantasizer, but I appreciate good artwork done by any talented artist. Upon your visit, you’ll see many touring exhibits and centers to roam around. On many occasions, events and live exhibitions are held, including the one where a local artist paints a masterpiece in front of you. Moreover, there’s also Bob Hawke Gallery, which is worth your exploration.
The other standout attraction to see is the Bordertown Wildlife Park. It’s the only colony in Australia to house white kangaroos. Since you don’t get to see these species anywhere in the country, most tourists often drive down to Bordertown to see them in their natural habitat.
Visit the Charming Adelaide
If you’re a first-time traveler to Australia, Adelaide has to be on your bucket-list cities to explore. This lovely, charming cultural city thrives with bustling activities, world-class events, exquisite bar scenes, vineyards, beaches, immersive festivals, and much more. Given the time, you can easily spend three to four days in Adelaide, discovering its many unique experiences.
Adelaide harbor many historic buildings and fantastic art galleries. If you’re a huge history buff, you could literally dwell on the past events of what Adelaide was before. Moreover, Adelaide boasts some of South Australia’s best museums. So, you could easily spend a relaxing time wandering through the artifacts and objects displayed.
You also shouldn’t miss visiting the stunning Adelaide Botanical Gardens. Spread over an area of 50hectares, this lush green space is a paradisical home to Australian native plants. This ideally is a great place for tourists who only have a couple of hours to explore Adelaide. Want to know the best part? Adelaide Botanical Gardens is absolutely free to visit.
The last thing you wouldn’t want to miss is the Adelaide Central Markets. With over 70 vendors selling varietals of produces, the Adelaide Central Markets is the largest open market in the Southern Hemisphere. This also makes your souvenir shopping easy, as you can buy a few items here. You could also grab lunch & sip a glass of wine at one of the world-class restaurants lining up the markets.
Apart from ordinary day exploration and tours, you could also do some spectacular things in Adelaide at night. Below are some of our personal recommendations.
Things to do in Adelaide at Night:
Watch a sunset – With incredible beaches fringing the western side of Adelaide, you can be sure of spending some relaxing time late evening. The city is known for its sunsets, and there’s no better place than Adelaide to watch the sun sink below.
Explore Night Tours – Adelaide gets active at night with some great activities and unique experiences. One of them is the ghoulish ghost tour. If you love spine-tingling scary stories, then embark on a ghostly adventure in Adelaide. The other popular thing at night is walking on Adelaide Oval Roof. It’s considered to be the best viewing spot in all of Adelaide.
Enjoy culinary tales – Adelaide’s gastronomy scene has its own popularity in the country. With world-class restaurants lining up the streets of the city, you can have a great time trying out local Australian cuisine. Here’s a quick guide to the best restaurants in Adelaide.
Where to stay | Check out these amazing places to stay in Adelaide.
Meet the Wineries of Clare Valley
Just two hours north of Adelaide City, Clare Valley is home to some of the most awarded wineries in the country. Being a premier wine region of South Australia, it’s also one of the stunning things to see from Bordertown to Port Augusta.
As you journey north from Adelaide, you’ll soon see a diverse range of landscapes before reaching the Clare Valley. With undulating hills and beautiful towns surrounding the vineyards, you will be mesmerized by the scenic beauty the valley presents. On the other hand, it isn’t only the wineries that steal your heart once you reach the Clare Valley, but the presence of villages, pristine farmlands, and countless wheat fields in the region makes you feel like you’re in paradise.
The highlight of Clare Valley is its quaint towns. If you get the time to explore the nearby region, ensure that you visit the beautiful towns of Clare, Sevenhill, and the Polish Hill River. All of them are lined up against the vineyards that offer wines to taste. You can also book a guided tour of Clare Valley wineries to save some time. If you prefer exploring the valley on your own, then there are many walking trails and cycling paths to embark upon. This is (literally) the best way to get to know the region by yourself.
Where to stay | Best recommended hotels for your Clare Valley trip.
Discover the beauty of Hahndorf
Nestled in Adelaide Hills, Hahndorf is a lovely old German settlement harboring beautiful tiny houses. A visit to this town certainly feels like a different world altogether. Everything here, right from streets to pubs, cafes, and restaurants, oozes out the Bavarian charm that directly elevates your touring experience.
Hahndorf, being the oldest settlement, is a heritage-listed town. Its steep history, cultural points, and quaint villages make it worthwhile to explore the area on your own. The German buildings across the streets are your photo-stop destination, while the cute restaurants offer the best traditional German sweets and local produce. A few galleries on the side of the street offer a quick dive through the indigenous artwork.
Things to do in Hahndorf:
Explore local pubs & bars – There’s nothing more popular than a beer in Germany. If you love a local pint, then you’re lucky to get some good stuff in Hahndorf. Enjoy a few beers with some local snacks at one of the pubs located in this town.
Visit the Beerenberg Farm – If time permits, you can take a detour to Hahndorf’s most popular attraction, Beerenberg Farm. Known for its local produce, the farm provides an excellent spot for families to picnic, engage with locals, and try amazing fresh strawberries.
Try local wines – Hahndorf is also popularly known for its wineries. The rolling hills provide an excellent surface for the vineyards to grow organically, enriching grapes. You can visit Penfolds or Hahndorf Hill to taste local wines.
Where to stay | Beautiful rooms to book for Hahndorf trip.
Explore History at Martindale Hall
Built by Edmund Bowman in 1879, Martindale Hall Conservation Park is a beautiful Georgian-styled architecture in Mintaro. It’s definitely worth your time to explore this grandiose home and its many rooms on your own. You can take the guided tour to get a glimpse of what luxury looked like in the 19th century. The entire building houses 32 rooms in total and a massive-space cellar of seven rooms.
Today, Martindale Hall is one of the best attractions to visit near Clare Valley. It’s a living museum that takes you back in time to discover numerous tales, fascinating stories, and interesting in-house artifacts. A popular rumor circulating around the house is that 14 servants were on duty 24 hours a day to look after the requirements of two people. This is what you can call ‘an extravagant way of living a luxurious life.’
Further Readings & Resources
This wraps up our compilation of things to see from Bordertown to Port Augusta. We got you some more resources to check for Australia below:
Byron Bay to Gold Coast – The Ultimate Byron Bay to Gold Coast Itinerary (+Map, Tips)
Melbourne to Coober Pedy – 9 Sensational Melbourne to Coober Pedy Road Trip Stops
Melbourne to Gold Coast – 7 Ultimate Melbourne to Gold Coast Road Trip Spots
Byron Bay Itinerary – How to Spend 2 Days in Byron Bay
Explore the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia.
Accommodation – 10 Gorgeous Places to Stay on the Fleurieu Peninsula
Culinary Stores– A Tale of Fleurieu Peninsula’s Best Fish & Chips
Coastal Cities & Towns – 10 Unique Places to Visit on the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia
Hiking & Walking – The Best of Fleurieu Peninsula Hikes: Walking & Hiking Trails
