5 adventures to have in Australia (part 3: NT, SA)

1  Litchfield camping, NT

One of the easiest and most enjoyable micro-holidays is a weekend of camping, and the best place to pitch a tent near Darwin is popular Litchfield National Park. The park is home to waterholes you can swim in during the dry (April to October) and at the top of your list should be Florence Falls. The small, 4WD-only campground nearby promises back-to-basic magic.

2   Alice Springs oasis, NT 

If you’re keen to see the Outback, but want the comfort of travelling with a trusted company, check out AAT Kings. Most of its tours are upwards of 10 days, but they also have one-day add-ons. So, if you’re in Alice Springs (or you plan to be), join the Palm Valley Outback Safari by 4WD. You’ll follow Finke River, visit an Aboriginal community and see the spectacular valley oasis. 

3  Mount Lofty nature escape, SA

The best thing about micro-adventures is that they can be as simple and small as you want, and Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is the perfect morning destination for anyone in Adelaide. There are numerous walking trails across the 97ha, as well as a lake that makes an idyllic picnic view. Lakeside Trail is an accessible route with sculptures, Braille and an audio story.

4  Kayak through a ships’ graveyard, SA

Paddle through the remains of at least 40 abandoned vessels hidden within the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, only 20 minutes’ drive from the CBD. The Garden Island Ships’ Graveyard Maritime Trail is the largest and most diverse ship graveyard in Australia and includes a variety of sailing, steam and motor vessels, barges, pontoons and dredges. If you’re lucky you might even spot some of the resident bottlenose dolphins swimming by your kayak.

5  Dive with great white sharks, SA

An experience like no other. Get up close and personal with an apex predator – the great white shark – from the safety of a protective cage in the Neptune Islands Conservation Park. Watch them tranquilly glide past in what is a premier ethical wildlife experience.