6 South Australia Towns With Unforgettable Main Streets
Ranging from sunny coastlines to vine‑covered valleys, South Australia (SA) condenses a surprising amount of history, scenery, and hospitality into a state that’s easy to get around. Within a half‑day drive of Adelaide, the state capital, you’ll find yourself sipping delicious local wines one minute and getting in some whale watching the next. Best of all, these and so many other great things to do are all easily accessible from some of the prettiest main streets in a region known as the “Festival State.”
Spread across the magnificent scenery of places like the Adelaide Hills and the Eyre Peninsula, the best of these destinations deliver an authentic taste of all that’s great about Australia. Find out more with this list of six of South Australia’s most memorable main streets.
Hahndorf
An easy 30‑minute drive east of Adelaide, Hahndorf is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. Here, the State‑Heritage‑listed strip of Mount Barker Road still follows the original survey lines laid down by Lutheran migrants in 1839 and leads to one of the prettiest downtowns in the state. Park the car and walk past attractive old half‑timber shopfronts until you find the Hahndorf Inn, a charming place to stay that serves authentic Bavarian dunkel beer and tasty dishes. You’ll also see the excellent German Arms Hotel, originally licensed in 1853 and still a great place to eat, drink, and be merry.
Art and history also converge on Mount Barker Road. Visit the Hahndorf Academy, a former Lutheran schoolhouse that’s now home to rotating art exhibits as well as an interesting German‑migration museum. The downtown is also a community hub for events like December’s Hahndorf Christkindlmarkt, an authentic European celebration of the season complete with lanterns and traditional holiday foods and drinks.
Victor Harbor
The 60‑minute coastal drive from Adelaide makes Victor Harbor a superb choice for a day trip or overnight getaway. The main drag here, the aptly named Ocean Street, funnels visitors to the waterfront and the pretty Warland Reserve. Here you can pick up the town’s famous Horse Drawn Tramway for a delightful ride across the causeway to Granite Island. Ocean Street and the downtown core are also fun to explore with their mix of cool patios at places like The Anchorage Hotel and Hotel Victor, both of which are great places to stay near the main street.
A short walk away is Coral Street, home to the Coral Street Art Space. Located in the town’s Old Post Office building (circa 1878), it’s a venue for community events and the work of local artists. The best time to visit Victor Harbor? If you’re interested in whale watching, July and August are great as southern right whales skirt Encounter Bay on their way back from Antarctica. Reputable local companies such as Big Duck Tours will get you out to sea, where you might also spot humpback whales and New Zealand fur seals.
You can find out more about these amazing creatures at the South Australian Whale Centre adjacent to the Victor Harbor Visitor Centre. And just a few steps away, the historic Cockle Train offers fun steam train rides along the coast to neighboring Goolwa.
Port Lincoln
Although a seven-hour trip by road, you might want to consider the shorter 40‑minute plane ride to Port Lincoln, Boston Bay’s seafood capital. Here, Tasman Terrace and Mortlock Terrace are very much center‑stage. Start your main street adventure with a selfie at the life‑size Makybe Diva statue, a tribute to the locally owned three‑time Melbourne Cup winner. The monthly Lincoln Family Market on nearby Hallett Place is a great time for a visit, especially if you’re into fresh seafood like Coffin Bay oysters.
Bigger‑ticket events include the Port Lincoln Tuna Classic in March, with Boston Bay becoming the scene for big fish fans. If you’re a food and wine junkie, January 2026 sees the return of the popular Tunarama Festival complete with its quirky Tuna Toss (really, it’s a thing!) and sampling of fresh caught seafood. A short drive from the action takes you to the Axel Stenross Maritime Museum with its large collection of classic old vessels, many of which still sail.
Robe
Although a four hour drive south-east of Adelaide, Robe’s charming downtown is well worth experiencing. Here, the action takes place along Victoria Street, which runs down to the waterfront where it meets Mundy Terrace. The views over Guichen Bay from the wide, sandy Town Beach are superb (and bring a towel). For a truly memorable main street experience, book a stay (or at least pop in for a drink or afternoon tea) at the storied Caledonian Inn. Just steps from the beach, this historic hotel opened in 1859 and features local brews in its multiple pubs overlooking the bay.
Other must-dos on or near Victoria Street include treating yourself to a great gelato at the Robe Ice‑Cream shop (the fresh‑churned fennel is a favorite, as are their donuts and milkshakes), washed down with an espresso from Mahalia Coffee. Walk it all off afterward with a 25‑minute clifftop stroll to the red‑and‑white Cape Dombey Obelisk. Built in 1855, this 40‑ft navigation marker offers superb views over the waters of the Great Australian Bight.
Burra
Head two hours due north of Adelaide and you’ll find yourself in Burra, a 19th-century copper boom town with a main street that seems frozen in time. Start by picking up a Heritage Passport key at the Burra & Goyder Visitor Information Centre on picturesque Market Square; it provides easy access to 11 historic attractions around town. Key in hand, head to Market and Commercial Streets to see quaint old stone cottages that once housed miners from Cornwall in England, the ornate 1884 Post Office, and the National Trust‑owned Bon Accord Mine Museum. Highlights include artifacts and memorabilia connected to the area’s copper mining past, as well as a vintage firetruck.
May 2025 is a great time to visit as the town is marking its 180th birthday with a “Monster Month” of celebrations including markets, walking tours, and a series of pop‑up concerts. Regular favourites include the Burra Country Music Festival in November at the town’s showgrounds. For great places to stay, the charming Paxton Square Cottages features several restored old miners’ cottages that can be rented.
Tanunda
Located in the heart of South Australia’s Barossa wine country and only an hour from Adelaide, Tanunda has much to offer curious travelers. Murray Street, its main drag, has managed to retain its charming village feel and is a delight to wander, especially if you stop at Apex Bakery to fortify yourself with baked goods (it has been around since 1924). From here, it’s just a short stroll to the Barossa Regional Gallery, home to the wonderful 1877 Hill & Son Grand Organ (demonstrations available).
A great time to get acquainted with the town and Murray Street is during the Barossa Vintage Festival. Held every other year (2027 is the next edition of this popular event), the fun spills onto Murray Street with food and drink samplings, with area wineries like Château Tanunda hosting special events to mark the occasion. Murray street is also home to some memorable places to stay, including the recently refurbished Barossa Weintal Hotel. Set back from the street behind mature gum trees, it’s just a short stroll from Tanunda’s top nightspots.
The Final Word
There’s no doubt the beautiful state of South Australia rewards slow travel, especially if you add a few small towns to your travel itinerary. Better still, book a night or two in a quaint old hotel on any one of these historic main streets and you’ll enjoy some of the most memorable main streets in the Southern Hemisphere. And having visited this beautiful region myself, I can vouch for the fact that you won’t find a friendlier, more welcoming bunch of people on the planet.
