6 South Australia Small Towns With Unmatched Friendliness
The fourth largest of Australia’s six states, South Australia has garnered a well-deserved reputation for its friendly small towns. In fact, the best of these communities have nurtured their reputations as genuinely hospitable places to visit, promoting their friendly natures along with their scenic settings and fun festivals to present visitors with plenty of awesome excuses to want to linger.
From the Adelaide Hills to the Limestone Coast, the Festival State’s best small towns present the kind of authentic connections with locals that larger tourist spots can only dream of. Whether it's exploring close-knit communities with a rich European heritage or discovering pretty ports with active fishing fleets, South Australia's best small towns will have you feeling like a local in no time.
Hahndorf
Australia's oldest surviving German settlement, Hahndorf, has every visitor feeling like a local in no time, something it achieves through its distinctive blend of Old World charm and Australian hospitality. Located just 28 kilometers from Adelaide, this quaint town was established in 1839 by Lutheran refugees from Prussia. Today, its village-like charm is a huge draw for day-trippers and weekenders from across the state, here to experience family-run establishments like Beerenberg Farm, which has been around since the town was founded and remains popular for its strawberry picking experiences.
Other must-visit places include The German Cake Shop, a local staple for its delicious pastries made from decades recipes passed down through generations; and Udder Delights Cheese Cellar, where friendly staff provide samples while sharing details of the cheese-making process. AutumnFest is a great time to visit, and in addition to traditional music and dancing, it also features authentic German food and drink.
If you do plan to stay overnight, The Lodge by Manna offers comfortable rooms. Tucked behind the historic Hahndorf Inn, built in 1863, you’ll want to sample the Inn’s German-inspired grub. The German Village Motor Lodge is another good option.
Victor Harbor
Only an hour south of Adelaide, the pretty coastal town of Victor Harbor is famous for its unusual horse-drawn tram service. Pulled by handsome Clydesdale horses across the town’s 630-meter causeway to Granite Island, it’s one of the world’s last horse-drawn trams, with volunteer drivers keen to share friendly banter about the region’s fascinating past. For a fun behind-the-scenes experience, visitors can now see these majestic animals up close at the Victor Harbor Horse Drawn Tramway’s new state-of-the-art stables.
A great time to visit Victor Harbor is during Winter Whale Fest in June, a month-long community celebration of Southern Right Whales as they migrate to the Fleurieu Peninsula. Highlights include free guided walks by staff from Fleurieu Marine Education. Be sure to pop into the South Australian Whale Centre near Victor Harbour Artisan Market to learn more about the migration and its influence on the town.
Whale-watching adventures are also an ideal occasion to book a stay at the Anchorage Hotel. Built on the seafront in the early 1900s, this historic guesthouse remains popular for its locally sourced cuisine and classy rooms, all within walking distance of the main street and beach.
Clare
The Clare Valley's reputation for hospitality is closely tied to the area’s many small wineries. Unlike larger wine regions, Clare, a two-hour drive north of Adelaide, is a tight-knit community where you’ll find winemakers running tasting rooms and tours. At Claymore Wines to the south of town, tasting room experiences are always informative and friendly; the same is true of Skillogalee with its historic stone cottages built in the 1850s (both offer personalized tasting experiences).
If you’re a wine fan and foodie, there’s no better time to visit than during May’s Clare Valley Gourmet Week. Considered the pinnacle of local hospitality, area wineries provide music and pairing foods for those wanting to sample local wines. If you can’t make the festival, the new Gourmet Bus Trail features six full hours of curated fun, including transport, food, wine, and exclusive experiences at some of the region’s top wineries and restaurants.
For accommodations, friendly options include The Bentley's Hotel on Clare’s main street (book one of their spa units), or at Skillogalee Estate itself. The latter features charming cottages with breakfast, cheese platters, and wine all included.
Penola
Situated on the state border with Victoria, the Coonawarra wine region is another great place to visit in South Australia. It’s also an important cultural center, with events like the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival each May transforming the historic town into a major creative hub. Highlights include artist workshops, live performances, guided walking tours led by friendly locals, and, of course, the chance to sample Coonawarra's best wines.
Other town happenings include the Coonawarra Vignerons Cup in January. This VIP event, held at the picturesque Penola Racing Club, features a trackside marquee tent with gourmet food offerings paired with Coonawarra wines. Wine’s also on the ticket for October’s Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations, when local makers and food providers put on a three-week extravaganza in honor of one of the region’s most revered varieties.
The Royal Oak Hotel offers cozy rooms reflecting the building's 1872 heritage, all within the town’s compact downtown (it also offers a locally inspired menu in its restaurant). The on-site Bottleshop features an extensive range of the best Coonawarra, Limestone Coast, and interstate wines, with knowledgeable staff eager to explain the region's distinctive terroir.
Robe
The historic seaside port of Robe continues to be an important regional fishing center, with local fishers happy to share details of the day’s catches as you explore the harbor. The friendliest such encounters can be had around the Lake Butler Marina, where the town’s commercial crayfishing fleet docks. If fishing’s your thing, ask nicely and they may even offer advice on the best fishing spots around Lake Fellmongery, Lake Butler, or on Long Beach, all within Robe’s boundaries. These same fisherfolk supply the town's restaurants with fresh local crayfish, including favorites like Sails at Robe and Sky Seafoods.
Robe’s also popular with watersport enthusiasts, with places like Steve's Place surf shop happy to oblige with gear and advice about the best breaks on Long Beach. You’ll also meet many of these same adventurers hanging out at the Robe Town Brewery which features in-house beers, often accompanied by live music.
As for accommodations, the Lakeview Motel & Apartments on the shores of Lake Fellmongery gets great reviews for its friendly staff and proximity to some of the town’s best fishing spots. The newly renovated and family-run Harbour View Motel is another popular spot close to town attractions, restaurants, and yes, great places to fish.
Strathalbyn
Settled by Scottish immigrants nearly 200 years ago, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that Strathalbyn wouldn’t look out of place back in Scotland. It certainly sounds Scottish, too, with Albyn being a variant of the Gaelic name for the settlers’ home country. Known as the unofficial antique capital of South Australia, Strathalbyn's High Street is chock-a-block full of shops like the Antique Bazaar, a well-established business selling quality antiques for over a quarter-century.
The Strathalbyn Antiques and Vintage Fair in August is another good excuse to visit and attracts dealers and shoppers from around the state. The weekend sees two large halls filled with stalls stuffed with everything from glassware to china, jewelry, vintage clothes, books, collectible toys, tools, to name but a few. You can also mix and mingle with the locals during the town’s Great Duck Race. Held each December since 1990, the local Rotary Club releases thousands of numbered yellow ducks down the Angas River, with a carnival atmosphere springing up around Soldiers Memorial Gardens as market stalls and entertainment get underway.
Making a weekend of it? Popular options include the Victoria Hotel and the Strath Motel, both known for their cheery staff and warm hospitality.
The Final Word
South Australia's friendliest small towns have managed to preserve something that’s sometimes seen as a rarity in this day and age… and that’s genuine human connection. Whether you're here to sample fine wines or join in decades-old festivals, you'll discover that South Australia's greatest treasures aren't necessarily found in the state’s big and oft-visited destinations. It can, however, be found in the authentic and always warm welcome you’ll receive in South Australia’s friendliest small towns.
