6 Fairy-Tale Small Towns In South Australia

Germanic buildings, abandoned farmhouses in rolling plains, whimsical boat and rubber duck races: these towns in South Australia just might introduce you to new visions of what a fairytale town can look like. South Australia spreads out from our outback to our southern coastline. Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria border it. Established in 1836 as a planned British colony, South Australia’s towns grew from mining, migration, and river trade, and many of them remain close-knit and quiet, with stone streets, strong customs, and seasonal local festivals. Their landscapes blend old stone, wind-swept shores, and interesting history. If you’re looking for towns that still feel personal, with a touch of surreal, these six towns in South Australia would make a worthwhile trip.

Hahndorf

South Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement’s beauty still catches the eyes of visitors. Begin at the Hahndorf Academy, a 19th-century structure transformed into a gallery and museum featuring local art and colonial history. Then take a stroll in the Heritage Walkway through Hahndorf’s nineteenth-century streetscape, where trees planted in 1885 cast their shade over stone cottages and former lanes. Envision wagonloads rolling through rutted dirt, cattle being led to pasture, and riders on horseback below the same trees.

You’ll then visit Hans Heysen - The Cedars, the former home and studio of the famed artist, surrounded by native bushland and gardens. Finally, top your day off at Hahndorf Hill Winery for the ChocoVino experience of wine and chocolate on a quiet hillside deck with glorious views.

Robe

Robe combines seaside history with one of the most scenic beaches in the region. Kick your morning off with a strong roast from Mahalia Coffee, a local goodie pouring up cozy brews. From there, make your way to the coast for a look at the Robe Obelisk to warn vessels of the shoals. Then, head to the Old Gaol Ruins where you imagine prisoners looking out to sea as the waves crashed against the rocks. Then, keep walking to the Robe Customs House Maritime Museum, full of artifacts from shipwrecks, smugglers, and the trading days of Robe.

In the afternoon, drive down to Nora Creina Beach, a less-traveled and little-known stretch with turquoise water and sandstone bits. If you’re there in October, check out the Robe Home Brew and Craft Beer Festival, a casual gathering of brewers, locals, and bands.

Burra

This dusty hamlet hides fairy tales in stone and rust. Start your day at Burra Mine, a scenic lookout with rust-colored earth and relics from the copper boom. Then, use the Burra Heritage Trail Tourist Drive 16 to see miners’ cottages, stone ruins, and underground houses dug into creek banks. Don’t forget to capture the Midnight Oil House, a weathered cottage known across Australia from the band's "Diesel and Dusk" album cover. Afterward, stop at the St Just Café for a coffee and cheese toastie, housed in a 1870s hall.

Every March, locals gather for the Burra Burra Yacht Club Boat Race, where entrants sail homemade boats down Burra Creek. No one will win, of course, but it’s the hilarity that brings people out for a weekend of laughter, music, and a slice of life in a town that never takes itself too seriously.

Loxton

Loxton glows like a storybook village along the River Murray. Begin with a stroll through the Loxton Community Conservation and Heritage Park, then get immersed in Riverland history at Loxton Historical Village. Key sites include the Carpenter’s Workshop, Nitschke’s Shoe Store, the Thatched Shed, and the Settler’s Hut. Afterward, walk through The Pines, a historic house museum full of antique furniture, crockery, silverware, and Ella’s original wedding dress. She was the last resident of the home.

Next, head down East Terrace, the Riverland’s best shopping strip, and stop in at The Country Bakehouse for flaky pies and baked sweets. If you come in December, make sure you check out the Loxton Lights Festival, where rooftops, yards, and trees all over town turn into glowing holiday scenes by nightfall.

Strathalbyn

Influenced by Scots and rooted in Ngarrindjeri land, this town is definitely legendary. Start at the Strathalbyn Soldiers Memorial Gardens, with bridges spanning the Angas River and old stone buildings rising behind the willows, and walk the River Angas Walkway through the gardens. Head to High Street to visit the Antique Bazaar of Strathalbyn, which has a wonderful collection of antique furniture, collectibles, and curiosities. Just up the street, visit the Stationmaster’s Art Gallery, which is run by the community, showcasing works of local South Australian artists.

If you happen to be visiting in December, there is the Strathalbyn Rotary Duck Race, where hordes of people flock to the riverbank to cheer on hundreds of rubber ducks as they race downstream in a unique and fun annual event.

Goolwa

In Goolwa, you walk between parachutes and pelicans. Get started with a hands-on experience at the Goolwa Animal Farm, where children can meet goats, lambs, and kangaroos. Then head to local creativity at Art@Goolwa in a cozy environment. Stop by the Goolwa Barrage, a historic water-control structure that highlights the meeting of fresh and salt water, and is a favorite spot for pelicans.

Looking for some adrenaline? SA Skydiving Goolwa offers tandem jumps with some of the best views over the coast. Plan your timing to join in the fun at the South Australian Wooden Boat Festival, as locally crafted vessels dock right on the wharf, and the whole town virtually gets involved in maritime fun.

No Spells Needed, Just Raw Beauty

These towns are clearly not made to impress, but they impress nevertheless. Inherited stone walls, dry winds, streets that seem to stall time. Nobody is trying to win history back here. They just didn’t let it go or let it change. The local festivals are not designed for tourists; they are designed for the locals. History is not a display case; it is how people live. Whether you are at cave cliff-side obelisks or riverbank art trails, antique shops, or a beach that doesn’t mind who’s watching, that’s the kind of beauty that doesn’t ask for a gaze. And that is why it remains. These towns aren’t pretending it’s a fairy tale. It is a fairy tale.