South Australia made it onto Lonely Planet’s Top 10 list… and here’s why!

Global travel guide, and endless source of inspiration, Lonely Planet has released its Top 10 travel rankings for the year and the under-rated, but absolutely gorgeous, state of South Australia has made it into the top 10 regional destinations list, coming in at number five.

Locals and travellers are no doubt unsurprised about the inclusion, but it is a nice nod from the travel industry, especially since the entire state missed out on appearing in the Lonely Planet’s Best of Australia Guide earlier this year. Now, that didn’t go down too well with the locals! 

Home of the city of churches, the Adelaide hills, cultural events and Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, the city of Hahndorf, South Australia is a hit for local travellers, but it’s nice to see the region receive some global attention.

The other areas that made it into the top 10 include, Choquequirao, Peru, Taranaki, New Zealand, The Azores, Portugal and North Wales in the UK.

If you’ve yet to explore the state of South Australia, then you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. Well, here are just 15 reasons South Australia made it onto the Lonely Planet’s top 10 list.

Read more: Hidden gems in Australia you haven’t seen yet but should

1. The hundreds of kilometres of white sandy beaches

2. The friendly locals

3. Deliciously fresh seafood

4. Colourful parks like Veale Gardens in Adelaide

5. Sunsets like this one

6. Endless roads in the Adelaide Hills, perfect for road trips

7. Fishing opportunities galore

8. Hidden gems like Port Germein

9. Natural fauna and flora, including many kangaroos

10. Cultural events like Womadelaide

11. Coastlines like you’ve never seen before

12. A bustling city that is the only Australian capital established by free settlers, back in 1836

13. Spectacular landscapes like this one

14. The many wineries to choose from

15. The small towns and cities that will have you falling in love in no time

Have you fallen in love with South Australia yet? What else would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments section below.