9 Best Small Towns To Retire In South Australia
In South Australia's small towns, a retiree's calendar fills up quickly. Seniors here volunteer at heritage museums, catch rotating gallery exhibitions, and turn out each spring for rose gardens and country shows. Victor Harbor is the state's premier retirement community. It offers an excellent golf club and farmers' market, along with breathtaking natural beauty. Clare is a wine capital of South Australia, with several high-quality wineries, making it a great place to meet fellow retirees who share similar interests. And Renmark sits by the Murray River, with ample fishing opportunities for Murray cod. Here are nine of the best small towns to retire in South Australia, and what makes each one worth settling into.
Victor Harbor
Victor Harbor is South Australia's best retirement community, thanks to its natural beauty and established retirement community. Seniors over 65 make up more than one-third of the population of the town, meaning you will find plenty of people to spend time with during your golden years. Many seniors gather at the Victor Harbor Golf Club and hold memberships there. The course offers 18 holes with the coastline and town as a backdrop for an excellent game of golf. Saturdays are the best days in Victor Harbor when the Farmers Market is open. Local farmers and artisans sell their products, from hand-picked veg to cakes and coffees.
If you're outdoorsy, Victor Harbor has plenty to offer to get out in nature. Urimbirra Wildlife Park. The park is open-range and home to over 400 Australian animals. It's just five minutes outside of town, and a great way to spend a day with the grandchildren. In town is Soldiers Memorial Gardens, a town park by the water, great for a walk or reading by the water.
Port Lincoln
Anyone who loves the sea will enjoy retiring to Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula. The town styles itself as Australia's seafood capital in part due to its annual Tunarama Festival in January. The event is the biggest in town, with a parade, live music, and the always-memorable tuna toss. It's a fun time by yourself, with fellow retirees, or your grandkids.
Anglers will enjoy retiring to Port Lincoln for its fishing, with the chance to catch salmon, snapper, garfish, whiting, and more. The Port Lincoln Town Jetty is one of the best fishing spots, getting anglers out on the water. If enjoying the art of the ocean is more to your taste, there's the Nautilus Arts Centre. The center hosts local artists' work and has a built-in theatre for live performances and concerts that keep visitors coming back year after year.
Clare
Clare is an excellent retirement town for retirees who want a quiet life with access to high-quality wines. Clare sits in the heart of one of South Australia's best wine regions, with several local wineries. Sevenhill Cellars was the first winery built in the valley and offers plenty of history to match its wines. Locals can join their 1851 Club to get a discount on wines and bottles delivered to the door. For more wine, there's Jim Barry Wines on the outskirts of town. They also offer a wine club and an extensive collection of wines, including their signature "the Armagh."
Clare is also home to the Riesling Trail, a former railway now popular for walking and biking. The trail has a gentle grade and runs 35 kilometers, so it suits all skill and fitness levels.
Robe
Robe has about everything a retiree could want from a small town. The town is famous for its fishing, with plenty of spots for anglers to cast a line for salmon or flathead. Long Beach, just north of town, offers plenty of space for fishing, as it stretches 12 kilometers. The best fishing is from the 3rd ramp to Boatswain Point. After a day of fishing, take a trek on the Robe Coastal Walk. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half and takes travelers past the ruins of the Old Gaol.
Robe also has an active beer and wine scene that will appeal to retirees who enjoy unwinding with a drink at the end of the day. Robe Town Brewery offers a core range of stouts and ales, plus seasonal beers that match the weather. Karatta Wines also offers a tasting room and gallery where you can sample their sparkling, red, and white wines.
Mount Gambier
Not far from the border with Victoria is Mount Gambier, South Australia's second-largest city. Despite its size and population of nearly 27,000, Mount Gambier is best known for its natural areas, which make it a popular retirement destination. Blue Lake/Warwar is the gold standard among them. The lake gets its name from its striking turquoise color, which develops in November and lasts until the end of February. A walking trail around the lake offers great views of the water and light exercise. Another natural highlight is Cave Garden/Thugi. It sits in the center of town and is a beautiful garden surrounding a sinkhole.
But it isn't just the natural beauty that attracts retirees; the town also has a strong arts scene. Right next to the garden is the Riddoch Arts & Cultural Centre. It features artwork by famous Australian artists like Rodney Gooch and Cathleen Edkins and hosts exhibitions highlighting Aboriginal voices. Mount Gambier is also home to the annual Generations in Jazz festival, where aspiring young jazz musicians get a chance to show off their skills.
Strathalbyn
For more art, there's the town of Strathalbyn, only 60 kilometers from Adelaide. Many seniors put down roots here to enjoy the Stationmaster's Art Gallery and the many art festivals throughout the years. The gallery is artist-led, with exhibitions that change every two months, ensuring there's always something new to see. Art fans will enjoy the Plein Air festival every year in October. The town invites 15 artists to draw inspiration from the area's natural beauty, and spectators can watch their process and see who wins.
Strathalbyn also has an excellent antiquing scene. The Antique Bazaar of Strathalbyn offers antique furniture and collectibles, and the store is so large that you'll never see everything in one go. For a different kind of antiques, there's Gilbert's Motor Museum. Inside, it houses vintage cars and motorcycles that showcase Australian car culture and some of its defining vehicles.
Kingscote
Want to get off the mainland and enjoy island living? The town of Kingscote on Kangaroo Island may be the perfect retirement destination for you. The town is home to many artisans who make high-quality goods, including its famous honey. Island Beehive is a well-known honey farm in Kingscote, and they offer guided tours of the farm and fresh Ligurian bee organic honey and other honey-based products. The honey is better than anything you'd find in a supermarket and pairs well with tea or baked goods. And all the local producers come together in October for the annual Kingscote Show. Vendors sell produce and agricultural products during the event, and farmers compete in livestock judging.
Much like Clare and Robe, Kingscote also boasts an excellent alcohol scene. Kangaroo Island Brewery is open daily and offers a wide selection of beverages, including craft beer and ciders. They also serve some of the town's best food, with a seasonal menu using fresh produce from Kingscote farmers.
Renmark
Renmark is a retirement community that is defined by its proximity to the Murray River. The river gives the town its character and also provides excellent angling opportunities. The river supports a healthy population of Australian gamefish, including Murray cod, golden perch, and freshwater catfish. You'll find plenty of spots along the river to cast a line along the banks of the river. And the town celebrates its natural beauty each year during the Riverland Rose and Garden Festival in October. The festival takes visitors through gardens to welcome spring and blooming flowers, with events and booths throughout town.
Renmark also has a diverse range of local businesses that attract many seniors to spend their golden years in the area. The Renmark Club sits on the shores of the Murray River and is open seven days a week. It offers many Australian favorites, including fish and chips and steak, as well as vegan and gluten-free options. If you like making coffee at home, Arrosto Coffee offers freshly roasted beans for the perfect cup.
Wallaroo
Like Renmark, Wallaroo offers plenty of opportunities for fishing and spending time by the water. It sits on the Spencer Gulf, separating it from the Eyre Peninsula and Port Lincoln across the water. The Wallaroo Jetty extends out 869 meters into the water and gets anglers closer to the snapper, flathead, and salmon in the gulf. The jetty sits right next to Office Beach, which makes for a great place to enjoy the water after a day at the jetty.
The town's past as a copper-smelting hub lives on at the Wallaroo Heritage and Nautical Museum. Beyond artifacts from the town's boom in the 1800s, it also has one of South Australia's more unique exhibits. "George the Giant Squid" is a preserved five-foot-long squid found in a whale's stomach off the coast. Many seniors in town choose to become museum members or volunteer to support its work.
Towns In South Australia That Make Your Golden Years Worth It
When you pick the right town to retire in, every day feels like a dream come true. So whether you're looking forward to spending your golden years by the water doing some fishing, exploring what's new at local art galleries and museums, or celebrating seasonal festivals, it's out there at one of these nine best small towns to retire to in South Australia.
