In South Australia, forget waiting lists at award-winning restaurants or jostling for space at crowded attractions. Luxury there, after all, is measured not by opulence but by authenticity, tranquility and connection.
Private tastings in the Barossa wine region unfold at an unhurried pace, secluded lodges offer barrier-free wildlife encounters, and each experience feels personal and exclusive.
South Australia has long been overshadowed by its siblings, but for discerning travellers seeking authentic experiences without the crowds, this destination is a revelation.
Producing 80 per cent of the country’s premium wines and boasting some of the southern hemisphere’s most stunning wilderness lodges, it also cradles Kangaroo Island – a wildlife sanctuary seven times the size of Singapore.
As the luxury travel industry shifts to prioritise deeper connections with fewer, more select places, South Australia perfectly meets this desire for depth over breadth. Visitors can slow down, savour each moment, and discover a world where sophistication meets simplicity.
Wine country par excellence
The capital of South Australia, Adelaide has quietly transformed into the country’s most sophisticated city.
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Its grid-patterned streets house innovative restaurants where chefs work directly with farmers and foragers for the freshest seasonal ingredients. Proximity is everything in this “20-minute city,” where fine dining, cultural immersion and natural wonders are within easy reach.
At Adelaide Hills’ Pike & Joyce, panoramic views complement exquisite multicourse meals as you enjoy exceptional vintages amid rolling hillsides. PHOTO: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TOURISM COMMISSION
In the city, culinary enthusiasts will find a treasure trove of gastronomic attractions. Restaurant Botanic, nestled within the historic Adelaide Botanic Garden, epitomises the state’s unhurried approach to luxury.
This glass-walled restaurant offers views of the garden’s vast collection of native and exotic plants. The restaurant’s innovative fermentation and preservation techniques showcase South Australian ingredients at their peak, with a bespoke beverage programme that often features limited-production wines from small regional producers.
Just outside the city lies the world-class Penfolds Magill Estate. The iconic winery offers the Ultimate Penfolds Experience, which includes vineyard tours and private tastings of their most sought-after wines.
End your visit at Magill Estate Kitchen where you can savour a slow lunch of contemporary cuisine featuring seasonal ingredients – think smoked trout rillette or buttermilk chicken – as you gaze at sweeping views of the vineyards.
A 40-minute drive from Adelaide takes you to the d’Arenberg Cube, an architectural marvel that stands as part-winery, part modern art installation, in McLaren Vale.
From its multi-sensory wine experience to the striking geometric art installations and panoramic rooftop views, every corner is a photo opportunity waiting to happen.
On the estate, d’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant – set in a restored 19th-century homestead – offers sweeping vineyard views and a standout degustation menu. Local, seasonal produce shines alongside d’Arenberg’s acclaimed wine portfolio, completing the experience with a long, luxurious lunch.
Enjoy a multi-sensory wine experience at d’Arenberg Cube, where the Rubik’s cube-inspired structure houses immersive art installations, a fine dining restaurant and tasting rooms that showcase the winery’s well-known shiraz and cabernet sauvignon. PHOTO: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TOURISM COMMISSION
In picturesque Adelaide Hills, just 45 minutes from the city, Pike & Joyce presents a more contemporary expression of South Australian winemaking with its cool-climate varietals and focus on creating wines that highlight the region’s unique growing conditions.
Located at one of the highest points in the area, the modern tasting room offers majestic panoramic views overlooking 25 hectares (approximately 36 football fields) of vineyards stretching across rolling hills and valleys, creating a breathtaking backdrop for wine tasting.
Intimate luxury retreats nestled in nature
If you want peace and serenity and plan to stay at Adelaide Hills, Sequoia Lodge, an adults-only sanctuary with 14 suites, is a good option.
Perched on the highest point of Mount Lofty Estate, it offers panoramic views across the Piccadilly Valley. Rejuvenate in thermal spring-fed hot pools after a long day out, indulge in treatments using indigenous botanicals at the day spa, or simply observe native wildlife at dawn and dusk.
This connection to nature can also be experienced at Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island – guests usually fly into the island’s Kingscote Airport and take an hour’s drive to the lodge.
Rebuilt after the devastating 2020 bushfires, this retreat represents the pinnacle of South Australia’s approach to luxury accommodation – architecture that frames rather than competes with the landscape.
Positioned on coastal cliffs, Southern Ocean Lodge offers suites with breathtaking ocean views. PHOTO: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TOURISM COMMISSION
Each of the 25 luxurious suites, as well as the exclusive Bailie Pavilion set atop the limestone cliffs, offers breathtaking ocean views through floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a personal connection with nature without sacrificing comfort. As evening falls on Kangaroo Island, guests at Southern Ocean Lodge gather to watch wallabies emerge from the native bushland.
For those drawn to wine country, Kingsford The Barossa – 50 minutes from Adelaide – occupies a meticulously restored 1856 homestead surrounded by vineyards. With just 13 suites – capable of hosting only 32 people – the property offers an intimacy that larger hotels cannot match.
Kingsford The Barossa’s fireside experience lets you savour exceptional vintages in tranquil luxury while surrounded by pristine nature. PHOTO: KINGSFORD THE BAROSSA
Nearby, Le Mas Barossa presents a sophisticated farmhouse retreat inspired by Provencal aesthetics.
A stay at Le Mas Barossa allows guests to enjoy life inspired by the French countryside, while enjoying the natural beauty of the Barossa Valley. PHOTO: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TOURISM COMMISSION
This boutique property combines French countryside charm with Barossa Valley hospitality, offering intimate accommodations surrounded by landscaped gardens, lavender fields and olive groves.
Both Kingsford and Le Mas place guests at the epicentre of one of the world’s great wine regions.
In an increasingly connected era, uninterrupted tranquility has become the rarest luxury of all – something South Australia offers in abundance.
Immerse in unique landscapes
South Australia’s landscapes tell ancient stories, with geological formations that inspire awe and provide extraordinary settings for relaxation and rejuvenation.
The Umpherston Sinkhole in Mount Gambier, for example, represents nature reclaimed through human intervention.
A hidden oasis in Mount Gambier, the Umpherston Sinkhole is the perfect place for quiet strolls and verdant escapes. PHOTO: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TOURISM COMMISSION
Once a limestone cave formed through erosion, its roof collapsed thousands of years ago, creating a massive sinkhole that later transformed into a sunken garden. Visitors can descend into this verdant oasis to discover ferns, hydrangeas and palms thriving in the unique microclimate.
On Kangaroo Island, the Remarkable Rocks stand as nature’s sculpture gallery. These massive granite boulders, shaped by 500 million years of erosion, balance dramatically on a dome of lava overlooking the Southern Ocean.
Viewed best at dawn or dusk when the orange-hued granite glows against the Southern Ocean, Remarkable Rocks have been sculpted by wind and sea for around 500 million years. PHOTO: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TOURISM COMMISSION
The orange lichen that covers the rocks creates an otherworldly contrast against the deep blue of the ocean, particularly striking at sunrise and sunset.
This sense of timelessness also extends to South Australia’s scenic drives and walks. The Dudley Tree Arches on Kangaroo Island form a natural cathedral-like passage of ancient, twisted eucalyptus.
These spectacular arches of narrow-leaf mallee trees, endemic to the eastern part of the island, create natural tunnels along the roads of the Dudley Peninsula, perfect for a leisurely scenic drive.
For a scenic drive with a difference, head to the Dudley Tree Arches on Kangaroo Island where local eucalyptus trees create natural tunnels over winding coastal roads. PHOTO: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TOURISM COMMISSION
Flinders Chase National Park encompasses over 74,000 hectares of wilderness with diverse landscapes from dense forests to coastal heathlands – windswept expanses where hardy shrubs and wildflowers cling to shorelines.
For those seeking an immersive walking experience, the Southern Ocean Walk offers a four-day guided hike limited to just 10 guests. The 40km-long journey traverses Deep Creek Conservation Park before following dramatic coastal cliff tops with views across to Kangaroo Island.
Evenings feature chef-prepared meals showcasing local produce and wines in comfortable eco-sensitive accommodations.
Wind through Flinders Chase National Park’s scenic drives to discover pristine wilderness, dramatic coastal vistas, and abundant wildlife. PHOTO: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TOURISM COMMISSION
In a world increasingly defined by speed and spectacle, South Australia presents the discerning traveller with an antidote to modern excess – not over-the-top luxury, but meaningful experiences characterised by authenticity, exclusivity, and a deeper connection with a destination.
Here, the freedom to move at your own pace is not just permitted; it is encouraged. And that might be the greatest luxury of all.
Getting there
To truly appreciate what the region offers requires time – ideally six to eight days minimum. This allows for an exploration that does not sacrifice depth for breadth, beginning with Adelaide’s refined urban pleasures before venturing to world-class vineyards, dramatic coastal landscapes and exclusive wilderness retreats.
Singapore Airlines makes this escape readily accessible with direct flights operating 10 times weekly from Singapore to Adelaide. Business Class passengers can begin their epicurean journey before even landing with the airline’s signature Book the Cook service, selecting from a curated menu that provides a fitting prelude to South Australia’s renowned culinary scene.
Plan your unhurried escape to South Australia here and book your direct flight on Singapore Airlines.
