Kangaroo Island and Coober Pedy, South Australia

South Australia is home to some unique towns and pretty islands, all with their own particular local charms. Conscious of how big a part of the annual income tourism makes up, Australians are inclined to be very friendly and open to well behaved guests from all countries of the world.

What to See and Where to Go

Coober Pedy is a community, renown for its underground homes where inhabitants enjoy low cooling and heating bills by copying the style of the earliest settler’s dwellings. The area is also known as the opal capitol of the world, famous for its many opal mines, several of which are open to visitors. Mel Gibson showed off the some of his country’s most spectacular scenery to the world when he starred in the Mad Max series of films, all shot in the local desert and around the eerily shaped rock formations.

• Stay in an underground motel to get a feel for the local style of housing.
• Play golf at night on desert sands, using glow-in-the-dark golf balls and a portable tee.
• Attend an underground church service.
• Buy an opal, the jewel of fire, as a special memento of the trip.

Kangaroo Island

This island is so well preserved that the unique Australian species live undisturbed by guests and carry on with their lives as if they did not exist. This peaceful way of life makes for great observation opportunities of koalas dozing in the trees, wallabies and kangaroos leaping across the landscape and streams where a platypus or two gather to drink.

What to See and Where to Go

See the first place European settlers called home, on Reeves Point. This historical site is well preserved and rich in artifacts from Australia’s earliest days. Count the species at the Kangaroo Island National Park.

South Australia Travel Savings Tips

• To make sure enough time is allowed to see all this region has to offer, combine hotel stays with cheaper accommodation, such as youth hostels, which are plentiful in the area.
• Pay as you go when staying in a hotel, to avoid large additions by charging items to your room bill. Stop at a local convenience store to buy plenty of snacks and soft drinks to stock the room refrigerator and remove the temptation to use the mini-bar, as all foods and drinks are charged at premium rates.