100 Reasons Why South Australia is the Best State

by Amelia Warrandyte (subscribe)

1- Wine
The South Australian wine industry produces more than half the total wine made in Australia. Our state has over 200 wineries.

2- White beaches
South Australians are disgusted when they travel to other states and see pebbled shores.



3- FruChocs
Fruit disguised in a yummy chocolate coating. It doesn't get any better.

4- Real Iced Coffee
It's Farmers Union or it's nothing.

5- Cafe lifestyle
South Australia has the highest cafe/restaurant to resident ratio compared to any other state.

6- Festivals
There is always a festival of some sort happening somewhere in Adelaide. We have more festivals on our calendar than any other state.

7- Started with the smartest
When the first settlement began in South Australia, there were no convicts brought to the state - unlike the other colonies on the Eastern coast.

8- O-bahn
A bus on tracks. Revolutionary!

9- Fritz
We don't really know what it actually is. We don't really need to know what it is. But it's great.

10- Villi's
They may distribute world-wide now, but Villi's always has been, and always will be, a South Aussie built company.

11- Tour Down Under
The largest and most prestigious cycling race in Australia is held in South Australia's backyard.

12- Quick travel
Everything is 20 minutes from the city, including the beach, the airport, and most suburbs. Getting to the country doesn't even take an hour.

13- Community vibes
Everybody knows everybody. You're either related somehow or you can bond over mutual friends.

14- Inventions
Adelaide is responsible for the inventions of the Hills hoist and the stobie pole.

15- Celebrities
Adelaide raised some of the greatest and least-troublesome superstars out there. Think of Sia, Hilltop Hoods, Maggie Beer, and Lleyton Hewitt.

16- City parkland
Adelaide is one of few cities to have legitimate parklands dotted all throughout the CBD. There's over 700 hectares of green, actually.



16- Conservation parks
Almost 300 conservation parks! National Parks and Reserves cover over 12 million hectares of the state. The wildlife and nature is unreal.

17- Accent
South Australians do speak posh. And we're proud of it. 'South Australian English' actually has it's own Wikipedia page.

18- Hiker's dream
The Heysen Trail is one of many long, beautiful hiking trails in the state.



19- No cyclones
Hurricanes? Typoons? Cyclones? Never.

20- Islands
How come Queensland is the only state known for islands? Kangaroo Island in SA was voted the most unspoilt island in the country. And what about Granite Island and Wardang Island?

21- Mad March
The Fringe, the Clipsal, WOMAdelaide, Adelaide Cup, Festival of Arts. Mad March should be a month-long public holiday.

22- Socially advanced
South Australia was the first colony to grant women the right to vote.

23- Haigh's
The world's oldest chocolate producer, and the answer for every birthday/Christmas present when you're unsure.

24- Melba's
While we're on the subject of chocolate.

25- Marine life
South Australia has over 370 species of fish. 80% of them can only be found in our waters.

26- Nude beaches
Maslin Beach was the first ever legal nude beach in Australia.

27- Laneways
Every Adelaidian knows that you shouldn't walk past a laneway without looking down it. There's probably a bar, or club, or eatery of some sort down there.



28- Large lakes
Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre), in South Australia, is the largest inland salt lake in Australia.

29- Good-looking library
The State Library of South Australia was in Travel & Leisure's top 20 most beautiful libraries list - higher than any other states' libraries.

30- Whispering Wall
The Barossa's Whispering Wall - where you can whisper from one side of the dam to the other (and be heard). It's the only one like it in Australia.

31- Technologically advanced
Adelaide was the first Australian capital city to be connected to London with telegraph. I guess they liked us more, hey.

32- Pie floater
Iconic.

33- Frog cake
Also iconic.

33- Caves
Wicked cool caves in Naracoorte, Mount Gambier, Swan Reach, Curramulka, Hawker, and more.

34- Churches
You don't have to be religious to love the beautiful architecture.



35- Historic buildings
There are thousands of stunning, heritage-listed houses and buildings in and around Adelaide that date back to the 1800's.

36- Glasshouse
The Adelaide Botanic Garden has the largest and oldest glasshouse in the country.

37- Opal
South Australia is the opal capital of the world. There is more opal here than anywhere else.

38- Indigenous respect
The Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute and the South Australian Museum have the biggest display of Aboriginal Culture and artefacts in Australia.

39- Grid city
Unlike Sydney, Adelaide's city actually makes sense and is easy to find your way around. The streets are in a simple grid-like formation.

40- Markets
Not just the Central Markets. The Flinders Street markets, Gilles Street markets, the markets that pop up in suburbs every weekend all around the city suburbs. And the markets in almost every country town.

41- Zoo
Wang Wang and Funi - the only two pandas in Australia. (Wish they would hurry up and make babies, though)

42- Murray
It's the River Murray, not the Murray River. And it's Australia's longest river. Right here in South Australia.



43- Wetlands
Australian Geographic named the Coorong, Lake Alexandrina, and Lake Albert as the best wetlands in the entire country - all of which are in our state.

44- Nightlife
When you go clubbing in Adelaide, you join a family. You become a part of a community. You will go in with two friends, and leave with ten more.

45- Schnitzels
South Australia takes pride in our schnitzels. It is almost guaranteed that any pub schnitty will be larger than the size of your head and leave you feeling destroyed, yet satisfied.

46- Peninsulas
The Yorke Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, and Fleurieu Peninsula. Everything from fishing, swimming, diving, hiking, boating, driving, dining, holidaying, and everything more.

47- Charlesworth
I don't even think there are other companies that sell nuts in SA.

48- Fashion
Adelaide has some world-leading fashion designers and brands. Paolo Sebastian is an Adelaide-born Oscar and Logies dress designer. Also, don't forget BNKR who sell C/MEO, Finders Keepers, Keepsake and The Fifth Label.

49- Coffee
South Australia takes coffee very seriously. Very, very seriously.



50- Hahndorf
The only authentic German town in Australia. The best place for beer, schnitzels and kransky.

51- Cheaper living
Why live in Sydney, Perth or Melbourne, when you can live in Adelaide for thousands of dollars cheaper?

52- Can deposits
Empty can? That's worth 10 cents.

53- Reusable bags
Other states still use plastic bags! Talk about being behind the times!

54- A.B.
A meaty, saucy, yirosy mess dumped on a pile of crispy chips. The heart attack that you need after a night out.

55- Yo-yo biscuits
It is quite unbelievable that other states have survived without yo-yo biscuits.

56- Orchestra
The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra has been going since 1936, been featured in songs with Hilltop Hoods, and won all sorts of awards.

57- Gold
South Australia has the nation's biggest amount of uranium, copper and gold. We are richer than we think.

58- Cheese
Udder Delights, Alexandrina Cheese Co, Woodside Cheese Wrights. The Cheese Festival. We like cheese.

59- Surf
South Australia has some of the best surf beaches, including Waitpinga and Middleton. Dion Atkinson, from Seacliff, represents Australia in surfing all over the world.

60- Cricket
Sir Donald Bradman and Darren Lehmann, both raised in South Australia, grew up to be famous Aussie cricketers.

61- Central state
South Australia shares borders with every single state in the mainland country. There's no excuse not to travel here.

62- Epic summer
The highest recorded temperature in Australia was in Oodnadatta in SA. It got to 50.7 degrees Celsius. Now, that is beach weather.

63- Rare animals
There are so many interesting animals that mainly live in South Australia. Have you heard of the Adelaide Rosella? They're only found in Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Region. Nowhere else!

64- Bakeries
So many unbeatable bakeries. Port Elliot, Yankalilla, O'Connell, the list goes on.

65- Pizza
Unlike other states, we don't rely on Dominos and Pizza Hut for out pizza. GoodLife was the first certified organic pizza restaurant in the country.

66- Cars
The National Motor Museum at Birdwood contains more than 300 classic vehicles. It is said to be the most important collection in Australia.

67- Cattle
The world's largest cattle station can be found in South Australia. The Anna Creek Station is 24,000 square kilometres.

68- Rocks
There is so much of geological interest in this state. Awesome and rare rock formations can be found in Hallet Cove, Granite Island, Flinders Chase National Park, and Kangaroo Island.



69- Salt
The Pool of Siloam near Beachport in South Australia is one of many salt lakes. This one has been said to be seven times more salty than the ocean and has healing qualities if you swim in it.

70- Sinkhole Garden
A sinkhole in Mount Gambier that has turned into the most picturesque garden in the country. Pretty cool stuff.

71- Thermal Springs
Correct. We do have thermal springs. They might be miles away from Adelaide city, on the edge of the Simpson Desert, but the Dalhousie Springs are still within the SA border.

72- War prepared
The largest firing-range in the entire world is in Woomera, South Australia. The area is about 127,000 square kilometres and is a prohibited area.

73- Pink lake, blue lake
Lake Eyre turns from clear to pink when its salinity increases. Mount Gambier's Blue Lake turns from steel blue to beautiful turquoise blue when… well, we haven't quite worked out the science behind it yet.

74- Top universities
Three quality universities - Flinders University, University of Adelaide, and University of South Australia. All ranking high in worldwide listings.

75- Footy
No state has AFL rivalry like South Australia. You either support Port Adelaide or Adelaide Crows. Take your pick. There's a 50/50 chance I'll be friends with you when you decide. Oh, and expect brutality at a showdown.

76- Snorkelling
Picaninnie Ponds is an underground wetland playground for snorkelers. There's also Port Noarlunga, Whyalla, Rapid Bay.

77- Lookouts
Windy Point and Mount Lofty have an awesome clear view of the city. Perfect for a selfie. Or there's a bazillion peaks along the Heysen Trail. Or Stirling, Penfolds Road, Sunnyside Road, Eagle on the Hill, Montefiore Hill.

78- Aerial skypark
Mega Adventure in West Beach is the first ever ariel adventure park in the country.

79- Art
The Art Festival, The Adelaide Central School of Art, art galleries, our beloved Jam Factory. So much art!



80- Drives
The car scene is massive in Adelaide. And there are so many scenic tourist drives. Greenhill Road up to Mount Lofty is a classic for people who think they're race car drivers.

81- Ghosts
Ghosts in the Old Adelaide Gaol. Ghosts in Adelaide Arcade. Ghosts everywhere.

82- Cycling
Bike lanes on all main roads. Thousands riding to work every day. Free bike hire in the city. Adelaide is cycle central.



83- Kitchener Buns
Creamy, cakey, sugary, glorious buns.

84- Waterfalls
South Aus has some of the most scenic waterfalls in Australia. Morialta Falls, Malloga Falls, Waukarie Falls. Oh, and Waterfall Gully is only a 10 minute drive from the city.

85- Political scene
Christopher Pyne for a laugh. Nick Xenophon for quality.

86- Gardens
Adelaide's mild winters and mild-warm summers are perfect for fauna. There are gardens all over the city and state. The Himeji Japanese Garden, Bonsai Garden, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden.



87- Big things
South Australia is home to 23 of Australia's 'big things'. This includes the Big Rocking Horse in Gumeracha, the Big Oyster in Ceduna, Big Lobster in Kingston, and Big Galah in Kimba.

88- Heritage steam trains
South Australia has a few historic railways. There's the SteamRanger in Victor Harbor, and the Pichi Richi Railway in the Flinders Rangers.

89- Oysters
The Coffin Bay Oyster Farm has arguably (definitely) the best oysters in the world.

90- Rundle Mall
The first of its kind! Rundle Mall was the first ever pedestrian mall in Australia. All the other states' malls are just copies.

91- Ayers Rock
Uluru might not be in SA, but it was named after South Australian premier, Henry Ayers. That counts right?

92- Produce
South Australians love South Australian food. Most of what gets handed out in cafes and restaurants uses SA produce. It's fresh. It's delicious.

93- Foodland
We don't let Woolworths and Coles have all the fun.



94- Riverbank Precinct
The Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide Oval, Festival Centre, Casino, and the new world-class bio-medical research hub - all overlooking the stunning River Torrens.

95- Dry
Adelaide is the driest capital city. That means less rain, and more time to explore the wonderful city.

96- Music
Live music. In almost every pub. Almost every night. It's great. Adelaide has more live music bars and clubs per capita than any other Aussie city.



97- Westfield Marion
The largest shopping complex in South Australia. One of three shopping centres in the country to have all of: David Jones, Myer, Harris Scarfe, Kmart, Target, and Big W.

98- Dolphins & whales
Whales at Victor Harbor and Dolphin cruises at Port Adelaide. Or you'll probably see a dolphin at any beach near the jetty. Dolphins are friendly in South Austraila.

99- Free stuff
There's a whole lot of free stuff you can do in Adelaide. Free bike hire, free city bus loops, free entry to the Art Gallery and Museum and Library, free guided walks around the Botanic Gardens. We are very generous.

100- Heaps good people
Last but certainly not least. Adelaidian's are not precious, or self-absorbed. South Australia has real people. And we will defend our state to the death.

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