Fancy sampling some of the world's best wines in the picturesque Barossa Valley? Or perhaps strolling along a white, sandy beach is more your style. If it's adventure you're after, you could venture over to Kangaroo Island where you'll come face to face with an abundance of wildlife, or maybe you'd just like to relax in one of Adelaide's many cafés. Whatever sort of holiday experience you're after, South Australia is a good place to find it.

Adelaide is a cosmopolitan city of around one million people, and it is well known for its popular dining strips in Rundle Street, Gouger Street and O'Connell Street. Adelaide also has a penchant for cultural festivals ­ in fact South Australia hosts 500 or so festivals every year, ranging from international arts festivals to smaller regional events. Every two years in March, the entire city becomes a stage for the Adelaide Festival of Arts and its quirky sister the Adelaide Fringe.

In Spring, Adelaide stages its annual gay and lesbian cultural festival, Feast, featuring theatre, concerts, film, exhibitions and, of course, a party or two. One of Australia's most well-known wine regions, the Barossa, is only one hour's drive from the city. The Barossa is home to nearly 50 wineries ranging from small family outlets like Henschke and Bethany to household names like Orlando and Penfolds. An overnight stay in the region is highly recommended. An easy 40-minutes' drive north of the Barossa is the cool-climate region of Clare Valley, home to around 30 wineries, including Sevenhill Cellars, established by the Jesuits in 1848. Lunch at Skillagalee Winery is a must.

South of Adelaide, in the McLaren Vale, there are another 40 wineries or so, and further afield lies the Coonawarra wine region ­ renowned for producing excellent red wines, and a perfect place to stop for those travellers entering South Australia via Victoria. This region is an area of significant natural beauty, with World Heritage-listed caves, secluded beaches, rugged coastline and mysterious Blue Lake.