A Road Tripper’s Guide to South Australian Wildlife

Combine sensational scenery with curious creatures on this exciting guide to road tripping around South Australia. We’ve found all the best animal experiences across the state, from koalas and wallabies to sea lions and sharks, so all you have to do is grab the keys to your Thrifty rental car and get going. 

Adelaide’s Hidden Wildlife Gems 

While the big smoke might not be the first place you think of when you think of South Australian wildlife, it certainly is chockfull of incredible creatures. If you’re landing at Adelaide airport, the city also makes for a convenient hub to explore a dose of the amazing wildlife on offer before you venture further throughout the state. Just a cruisy 45 minute drive east of the airport, Cleland Wildlife Park offers a melting pot of all of Australia’s most iconic creatures. Get a selfie with the sleepy koalas or get up close and personal with the spiky echidnas - don’t get too close, though, or you’ll find yourself in a prickly situation! This awesome wildlife park is also perfect for families, with guided day tours in which even the littlest of animal enthusiasts can feed the kangaroos. Just a fifteen minute drive down the road, you’ll also discover Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary - another centre of iconic Aussie creatures. Learn about the majestic reptiles that have walked the earth for millenia and have dinner with the dingoes. Better yet, all the activities at Warrawong are free with the price of general admission, so you can save a few bucks while having a heap of fun. 

Venture Into the Red Dust of the Outback 

If you’re really wanting to get amongst the sensational range of unique creatures that are found all across South Australia, then it’s time to go bush. In the heart of Flinders Ranges - about five hours from the state’s capital - you’ll come across Ikra-Flinders National Park. This outback gem is home to scenery straight out of a movie - boasting calming creeks, sweeping mountain ranges and dramatic gorges. There’s an abundant wildlife population across the region, however the animal you’ll want to really keep your eyes peeled for is the rare yellow-footed rock wallaby. Make sure to pop by Brachina and Wilkawillina gorges for your chance to catch it in action. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, why not venture further into the red dust plains to Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary. This sanctuary - colloquially known as the Ark - is a two and a half hour drive from Ikra-Flinders National Park, serving up a real taste of the rugged outback. Here you’ll discover hundreds of species, from an assortment of reptiles (keep an eye out for the red-barred dragon!) to a bunch of mammals. Remember to also look up to the sky - the wedge-tailed eagle is known to keep watch on the adventures down below.

Swim with Sea Creatures at Port Lincoln 

Get back on the road, wind the windows down and take in the epic scenery - the next stop we’re heading is the seaside city of Port Lincoln. Eight hours from Arkaroola, Port Lincoln provides the perfect contrast to the red dust of the outback. Prepare for endless blue shimmering oceans and sea creatures up and down the entire coast. Before you head out into the ocean, make sure to stop by Mikkira Station Koala Sanctuary to visit Australia’s furriest (and friendliest) creature. Mikkira even offers affordable camping and guided tours, so you can really make the most of this spectacular sanctuary. Next, make a splash in the ocean and go swimming with some curious animals off the coast of Port Lincoln. South Australia is amazingly home to almost three quarters of the country’s sea lion population. Not only can you visit them in Port Lincoln, but you can even get in the water right beside them. Calypso Star Charters offer a range of exciting adventures with the sea lions, as well as some epic shark dive experiences. The waters around Port Lincoln’s Eyre Peninsula are about the same temperature all year round, so any time is a fantastic time to road trip to this coastal paradise. From Port Lincoln, the closest Thrifty hub to drop off your rental car is Whyalla, about two and a half hours drive, which is also home to one of the largest regional airports in South Australia. 

From swimming with the sea lions to spotting rare wallabies amongst the red dust of the outback, there’s no doubt about the incredible range of wildlife that can be found all across South Australia. Make the most of all the curious creatures on offer with an epic road trip in your Thrifty rental car.