Whether you want to watch the world go by in a cosmopolitan, inner city café, walk along a secluded white beach, enjoy some of the world's best wines or dive with Great White Sharks, South Australia is the place to go.

Adelaide

The State's capital, Adelaide, is a sophisticated and vibrant city of over one million people. When the early colonists began building Adelaide they built with stone, constructing a solid, dignified city that is civilised and calm.

The solidity goes further than architecture, for Adelaide was once regarded as a city of conservatism and was renowned chiefly for its disproportionately large number of churches. These days, the churches are outnumbered by pubs and nightclubs, and there is no denying that the city has a superb setting - the centre is surrounded by green parkland, and the metropolitan area is bound by the hills of the Mt Lofty Ranges and the waters of the Gulf St Vincent.

South Australia is world-famous for its wine and most of the State's wine districts are within easy reach of Adelaide. The Barossa Valley is probably the best known, but there are also the fine Clare Valley, Coonawarra and McLaren Vale districts.

Port Lincoln

Port Lincoln is located on the Spencer Gulf of South Australia, which empties into the Southern Ocean, one of the world's last true marine wildernesses. Some of the rarest and most spectacular of the world's sea creatures such as the blue whale, giant squid and Australian sea lion, live in those waters. More importantly, it is the home of 'Carcharodon Carcharias' the majestic and respected Great White Shark.

Port Lincoln is one of South Australia's earliest settlements and at one stage was considered for the state capital. It is located on Boston Harbour, a superb deep-water natural harbour. Whaling and sealing was undertaken here last century. Not far from Port Lincoln is a spectacular coastline called Whalers Way. The coastline here is rugged and faces into the Southern Ocean, where seals can be observed.

Port Lincoln is widely regarded as the tuna-fishing capital of Australia and huge seal colonies are nearby. Another claim to fame for Port Lincoln are Great White Sharks, the real shark scenes for "Jaws" were shot near here. Once feared, but now protected and revered for their primal beauty, the Great Whites attract many visitors who dive with the magnificent animals from the protection of a cage.

How To Get There

Port Lincoln is at the southernmost end of Eyre Peninsula, 662 km from Adelaide by road (there are 3 coach services daily) or 250 km by air (There is one one-hour flight per day between Adelaide and Port Lincoln).

Visitors can easily reach Kangaroo Island by sea or air. A short 30 minute flight from Adelaide brings visitors to Kingscote Airport on Kangaroo Island. The airport is located 13 kilometres from Kingscote. Transport is available, but arrangements should be made at the time of booking.

Ferries operate from Cape Jervis on the mainland. Coach connections are available between Adelaide and Cape Jervis.

Climate

Diving with Great White Sharks is usually confined from April to September, when water temperatures are at their coolest. Water temperature is usually a bit above 16°C (60°F) during the operating season.

The warmest water temperature is from January to February at 19-20°C (68°F). The temperature then gradually drops down to 15-16°C (60°F) until August/September. Sea Lions can be seen on Kangaroo Island usually during March.

Diving

The scenic offshore islands off Port Lincoln are the breeding grounds for 1,000's of New Zealand Fur Seals and the rare Australian Sea lion, a natural feeding ground for the Great White Shark. To see a Great White Shark in the wild is absolutely grand and rare but to come face to face with one underwater (from the protection of a cage) is one of the most exciting experiences available to divers today! These trips have been described as the ultimate adventure that Australia has to offer.

Kangaroo Island is home to one of nature's beautiful small creatures, namely the Leafy Sea dragon, regarded by many as being rare and extremely difficult to find. It is also home to some of the most prolific areas of soft coral, sponges and gorgonians found in temperate waters.

Dive Operators

• Rodney Fox's Great White Shark Excursions