South Australia punches well above its weight for places to stay. The CBD has accumulated a run of interesting hotels with distinct personalities. Kangaroo Island has one of Australia’s most celebrated lodges, fully rebuilt and better than before. The Barossa has wine country stays that justify the drive. The Adelaide Hills have two adults-only escapes worth the premium. The Murraylands have a safari resort an hour from the city. And the Flinders Ranges — five hours north — have one of the most exclusive outback stays in the country.
Here’s the best of where to stay in South Australia, by region.
The best hotels in Adelaide
Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets
rom the colour-blocked tiling and neon lights of the Merrymaker Rooftop Bar — Adelaide’s highest — to the sea-green tiles in the terrazzo pool and the eclectic artwork in each of the 145 rooms, this stay packs a punch. The heated 13-metre outdoor pool and 24-hour gym sit on level four with city views. To top it off, you’re in the heartland of the Adelaide Central Market, so why not eat your way through artisan bakeries, cheese stalls and more.
The Playford MGallery
On North Terrace, The Playford is Adelaide’s Art Nouveau standard-bearer. The 182 rooms range from king guestrooms to New York-style loft suites with mezzanine bedrooms above ironwork staircases. Luma Restaurant & Bar holds Two Chef’s Hats in the 2026 Australian Good Food Guide. Heated indoor pool, sauna and 24-hour gym on site. It sits directly opposite Adelaide Oval, the Convention Centre and the Casino.
Hotel Alba Adelaide
On the southern side of the CBD, this chic stay embodies long summer days on the Mediterranean — and it all starts with the dazzling rooftop pool. The 99 rooms each have a private balcony facing either the city or the southern parklands. The Mediterranean inspiration continues at Ela Restaurant, dishing up fragrant lamb koftas and tiramisu prepared to perfection using locally sourced South Australian produce.
Oval Hotel Adelaide
Australia’s first stadium hotel, and there’s nothing else like it. The 136 rooms and two suites wrap around the eastern facade of Adelaide Oval, each with parkland views and in-room tablet technology controlling climate, lighting and room service. Complimentary access to the neighbouring Next Gen Health & Lifestyle Club covers pool, gym and spa. Take your stay to new heights by climbing to the top of the Oval to see this hallowed sporting ground in its full glory and all the way out to the Adelaide Hills.
Stamford Grand Adelaide Hotel
Adelaide might not be the first place you think of for a beachfront stay, but the Stamford Grand in sunny Glenelg will change your mind: from your window it’s just Gulf St Vincent ocean for as far as the eye can see. The 220 rooms and 31 suites span 12 floors, with a heated outdoor pool, spa and sauna on level two. A highlight is the Horizons Cocktail Lounge — an oceanfront bar with a Singaporean snacks menu of curry puffs and spicy chicken satay that pairs perfectly with seasonal cocktails. The Glenelg tram stops outside.
The best hotels on Kangaroo Island & Eyre Peninsula
Southern Ocean Lodge
Rebuilt and reopened in December 2023 after the Kangaroo Island bushfires, Southern Ocean Lodge is back — and by most accounts, better. Every one of the 23 chic suites faces the Southern Ocean, each with a private deck, EcoSmart fireplace and sink-in bathtub. The rebuilt Southern Spa runs three treatment rooms, gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge pools. Fully all-inclusive: dining, beverages, guided experiences and airport transfers are all covered.
Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge
The Mercure sits in the small fishing village of American River, between Eastern Cove and four acres of native bushland where kangaroos graze the garden and glossy black cockatoos feed in the trees. The 38 rooms all have pool or water views; eight new Luxury Villas, opened December 2025, take things up a level with 60sqm of floor-to-ceiling glazing, king beds and private decks facing the bay. Reflections Restaurant is considered one of Kangaroo Island’s best public dining venues for local produce, and a saltwater pool, tennis court and nature trail are all on site.
Rumi on Louth
Private island luxury can be found close to home at Rumi on Louth, a gem on Louth Island in the Eyre Peninsula — five rooms, total seclusion, the whole island to yourselves. We cannot talk about Rumi without bringing up Samphire, the fine dining restaurant from Executive Chef Jono Sweet, awarded a 2025 Chef’s Hat by the Australian Good Food Guide. The four-course tasting menus are a celebration of local produce: king prawns, kingfish tartare and wagyu eye fillet cooked to perfection.
The best hotels in Barossa Valley & McLaren Vale
The Louise
Perched on a vine-lined hillside in Marananga, The Louise has 15 suites each opening onto a private courtyard with vineyard views, plus an infinity pool, sauna, fitness centre and bikes for the estate. The driving reason to stay is Appellation — 48 seats, daily-changing seasonal degustation, 80 per cent of produce from within 50 kilometres. Rates include nightly dinner at Appellation.
Novotel Barossa Valley
The vineyards of Jacob’s Creek provide a vivid backdrop for Novotel Barossa Valley, a charming stay in the heart of this beloved wine country. Outdoor pool, tennis courts, gym and day spa on site. This is one for golf lovers, with the undulating fairways of the 18-hole par-72 Tanunda Pines Golf Club just a hop, skip and a jump from the front door.
CABN X Seppeltsfield
Going off-grid doesn’t mean compromising on style and comfort. Each CABN has cloud-like bedding, a freestanding bathtub, private sauna, fireplace and enormous windows opening to the Seppeltsfield estate vines. Fino at Seppeltsfield restaurant and the centennial wine tasting room are a short walk away. Bring your favourite furry companion — dogs are welcome.
The best hotels in the Adelaide Hill
Mount Lofty House
Despite being the sister hotel of Sequoia Lodge, it could not be more different. The former summer house of barrister and keen botanist Arthur Hardy and his family, the estate retains an old-world charm. Venture down to the 19th-century wine cellar to take a gander at the more than 1300 bottles, play a round of pool in the elegant Arthur Waterhouse Lounge & Billiard Room, or take a seat in the restored Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant for a stacked degustation menu overlooking the Piccadilly Valley.
Sequoia Lodge
Cocooned by trees within 30 acres adjoining the Adelaide Hills Botanic Gardens, this adults-only oasis has just 14 suites — each with a king bed, sunken lounge, private balcony with treetop views and a deep soaking tub. Sequoia guests get exclusive access to a private lounge and artesian spring-fed hot pool, plus Mount Lofty House’s outdoor pool, spa and three-hatted Hardy’s Verandah restaurant across the estate. Supercar fans, listen up: with the Prancing Horse experience, you can drive a Ferrari F8 Tributo, Lamborghini Huracán or McLaren 570S through the Adelaide Hills.
The best safari and outback stays
Monarto Safari Resort
An hour from Adelaide in the Murraylands, Monarto Safari Resort has 78 rooms and suites with waterhole views, two outdoor pools, the Marula Day Spa and Kutjera Restaurant. The recently opened Safari Lodge takes things further — 20 luxury tents in the Wild Africa precinct, each with a private deck overlooking a waterhole where giraffe, zebra and eland roam freely, with a sunset Landcruiser safari and multi-day park pass included in every stay. A portion of every booking goes to Zoos SA’s wildlife conservation.
Arkaba
A private wildlife conservancy in the Flinders Ranges — a former sheep station transformed into a 60,000-acre sanctuary — with just five guest rooms in the beautifully restored 1850s homestead and a maximum of ten guests at any time. All meals, wine and daily guided activities are included: 4WD safaris, wildlife walks, geological tours, and access to the ancient amphitheatre of Wilpena Pound on the property’s northern boundary. The Arkaba Walk — a four-night guided overland expedition sleeping in swags under the stars — is one of the Great Walks of Australia.
Discover South Australia
Feature image: Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets, an IHG Hotel.
