8 Best Places To Call Home In South Australia In 2025

South Australia offers a wide range of lifestyles, from windswept coastlines and working harbors to sunlit vineyards and river valleys. Main streets come alive with markets, cafés, and seasonal festivals that bring neighbours together, while nearby parks and conservation areas provide hiking, cycling, and birdwatching opportunities. For retirees, young families, and remote workers alike, these towns pair outdoor pursuits with essential services, cultural events, and tight community networks that shape everyday routines. Discover the landmarks, activities, and experiences that make life in South Australia’s smaller towns distinctive.

Mount Gambier

Mount Gambier serves as the major service center for the Limestone Coast, where residents can enjoy nature within walking distance of town. The city is best known for the Blue Lake/Warwar, a volcanic crater lake whose brilliant colour shifts seasonally, and for the Umpherston Sinkhole/Balumbul, where terraces and hanging vines create a peaceful sunken garden. The local social calendar features the Mount Gambier Farmer’s Market, which is held weekly on Saturday in the Cave Gardens, the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre for local productions, and seasonal festivals that keep community life active.

Healthcare and education services are abundant and accessible, with Mount Gambier Hospital and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) options available, making this a practical move for families and retirees who want reliable services without a capital-city commute. With a median house price of AUD $503,000, it's just a tad higher than the median in the rest of South Australia. Still, for people seeking a balance of striking natural features and the amenities of a regional center, Mount Gambier offers a strong lifestyle for a slightly higher price tag.

Waikerie

Waikerie lies on the banks of the Murray River in the Riverland region. It offers a slower pace balanced with natural beauty and strong local amenities. The median house price in Waikerie is around AUD $387,500, significantly below many regional benchmarks. Residents enjoy spending weekends along the Waikerie Riverfront, which provides walking paths, picnic areas, and opportunities for water recreation such as boating and fishing. Meanwhile, fruit orchards and vineyards, like Freestone Estate, surround Waikerie, with local growers’ markets and scenic drives through citrus groves and stonefruit farms. It's no wonder that the town earned its reputation as South Australia's fruit capital.

For families and retirees alike, Waikerie Health Service provides acute services ranging from in-hospital care to obstetrics, while schools and essential retail services keep daily life comfortable without having to travel far. The dry climate yields stunning sunrises and clear skies, and local festivals—especially Riverland CitrusFest—draw people in to celebrate harvest, food, and local craft. Waikerie appeals to those seeking affordability, river views, agricultural connections, and a strong sense of community.

Whyalla

Whyalla combines an industrial history with coastal living and accessible headland walks that reward people who value outdoor time and ocean air. The town’s working harbour and steelworks are central to local employment, while recreation focuses on coastal and bushland pursuits such as climbing Hummock Hill for panoramic views, visiting the Whyalla Maritime Museum to see the HMAS Whyalla, the first ship built in the local shipyard, and exploring nearby Whyalla Conservation Park for coastal trails and birdwatching. The town supports a network of community groups, sporting clubs, and waterfront facilities, like the bustling Whyalla Foreshore, which features a marina and boat ramp, as well as a café and a swimming beach.

Whyalla’s housing costs remain comparatively low relative to larger South Australian centers, with a median house listing price of $400,000 AUD, which is an important factor for first-home buyers and people seeking budget-friendly options. Residents also benefit from the relatively short travel time to larger regional centers where specialized services are available. The combination of employment options, outdoor scenery, and affordable housing continues to draw people who want a coastal lifestyle without metropolitan hassles.

Port Lincoln

Port Lincoln sits at the tip of the Eyre Peninsula and functions as a lively fishing and service town with easy access to dramatic coastal landscapes. The Neptune Islands Group (Ron and Valerie Taylor) Marine Park is a launching point for marine activities such as shark cage diving, deep-sea fishing, and kayaking, and the town sits on the fringe of Lincoln National Park, where dunes, coastal trails, and wildlife viewing are everyday options for residents. Naturally, seafood is also a major attraction here, and The Fresh Fish Place is the go-to spot for dine-in, take-out, and the daily catch straight off the boat.

Local life centers on the foreshore and marina precinct, and community facilities include the Port Lincoln Hospital (the largest in the Eyre and Far North) and schools that serve families across the district. The seafood industry and associated processing continue to underpin local jobs, while tourism supports hotels, guiding services, and local dining. Though housing prices are a bit higher than South Australian medians at AUD $500,000, they're justified by excellent access to outdoor pursuits and community services.

Port Augusta

Port Augusta sits at the head of the Spencer Gulf and serves as a crossroads between coastal life and the vast Outback. It has a population of around 15,000, and the median house price in is AUD $258,000, making it relatively affordable compared to many other regions in South Australia. Outdoor lovers in Port Augusta can spend time at spots like the Wadlata Outback Centre, which offers interactive exhibits about life in the Outback, regional geology, and the stories of Indigenous Australian peoples. The Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden spreads over 250 hectares, where arid-adapted flora thrives and walking trails offer expansive views across the rugged landscape.

For fishing, boating, and sea views, the foreshore along Spencer Gulf makes for pleasant evenings. Local infrastructure includes schools, health services, shops, and good road connections, making Port Augusta practical for families, retirees, and people working remotely or regionally. Its natural setting, cultural institutions, and affordability blend to give residents space to breathe, adventure, and connect.

Clare

Clare anchors the local wine region and is well known for vineyards and outdoor routes, such as the Riesling Trail, which invites walking, cycling, and long weekends exploring local producers. The town supports tasting rooms at the Clare Valley Distillery and Magpie and Stump, one of South Australia’s oldest pubs, as well as lively food festivals and boutique accommodations, while essential services such as health clinics and schools support long-term residents.

Local landmarks to explore include Sevenhill Cellars, one of the oldest wineries in Australia, and Bungaree Station, a working merino farm with beautiful heritage accommodations. With a median housing cost of around $495,000 AUD, Clare's is consistent with the state average, making it a fantastic choice for those who want countryside amenities and a regionally focused lifestyle.

Port Pirie

Port Pirie blends an active waterfront with a strong sense of local history, and residents enjoy easy access to coastal walks, museums, and community events. The foreshore area and working harbour remain focal points for daily life, and visitors and locals alike take advantage of the opportunity to watch ships and birdlife, or launch small boats for fishing on Spencer Gulf. Art and culture find a home at the Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery and the Port Pirie Regional Tourism & Arts Centre, which host rotating exhibitions, community programs, and information for exploring the wider Southern Flinders Ranges.

Heritage is on display at the Port Pirie National Trust Museum, where exhibits trace the town’s maritime, industrial, and railroad history, and the nearby Solomontown Beach provides a family-friendly stretch of sand for weekend picnics and sunsets. Local events, such as markets, theatre productions at the Northern Festival Centre, and seasonal festivals, help knit the community together, and Port Pirie offers great affordability with median house listing prices of around AUD $450,000.

Bordertown

Bordertown occupies a fertile slice of the Tatiara region near the Victorian border, offering a balance of agricultural rhythms and essential services. The town has about 3,000 people and remains well below many regional housing costs, with a median house price of approximately AUD $307,500.Bordertown's heritage is evident at the Bob Hawke Gallery, which celebrates Australia’s former Prime Minister, born in Bordertown, through photographs, memorabilia, and artwork that preserve his legacy. The Walkway Gallery, also part of the Civic Centre, hosts touring exhibitions and creative programs that keep the arts alive in the community.

Bordertown's proximity to Ngarkat Conservation Park offers outdoor experiences along its multiple walking trails, remote tracks, and lookouts, such as Gosse Hill and Mount Shaugh. Historic architecture appears in preserved buildings in the town centre, such as the Bordertown Railway Station, which reflects Bordertown’s role as a transport and agricultural hub. For those seeking countryside air, community spirit, and a cost of living that leaves room for leisure, Bordertown provides an appealing choice.

Find Your South Australian Lifestyle

Each town offers its own rhythm of life, where mornings might begin with a shoreline walk, afternoons may be spent among vineyards, or weekends could revolve around markets, festivals, and outdoor adventure. Neighbourhoods range from coastal precincts with active harbors to riverfront corridors and the rolling hills of wine country, and each community supports local cafes, clubs, and services that shape everyday routines. In South Australia, finding a place to call home is easy; the challenge is choosing just one.