All you need to know about moving to South Australia

We understand that when you’re making the move interstate, your energy supply is just one part of a bigger picture. To help make the move to your new state as easy as possible, we’ve put together this guide. If you’re thinking of buying a house or renting in SA, here’s all you need to know about South Australia in one handy place.

South Australia State Map

South Australia State Guide

Striking South Australia (SA) is best known for its huge desert and outback areas, the dramatic coastline that surrounds the Great Australian Bight and its many fine beaches. Affectionately known as The Wine State, it’s recognised for its fertile vineyards, where more than half of Australia’s wines come from. Relaxed regional towns are focused on agriculture and mining, and the capital, Adelaide, is extremely livable. Christened the City of Churches, Adelaide is full of art, music, culture and a food scene that claims a higher ratio of cafes and restaurants to residents than any other city in Australia. South Australians are fanatical about sports, particularly cricket and Australian Rules Football, which claims the highest playing and attendance rate in the country.

South Australia Fact Box

South Australia Cities

South Australia’s population is the most highly centralised of any Australian state, with more than 75% of South Australians living in the capital, Adelaide. Away from the capital, population centres are relatively small. The 10 biggest South Australian cities by population are:

South Australia Weather

South Australia is known as the driest state in the driest continent, and indeed the northern desert experiences arid conditions with sweltering days and cold nights. The south of the state, however is much more temperate and enjoys a Mediterranean climate with cool wet winters and hot dry summers. Mount Lofty in the Adelaide Hills can get a light dusting of snow in the winter. South Australia can suffer from droughts and bushfires but other severe weather isn’t too common.

Transport in South Australia

Public transport in Adelaide is mostly provided by bus and tram services within the city as well as some limited rail. Adelaide Metro runs the public service and uses both paper tickets and the MetroCARD electronic smartcard ticketing system. MetroCARDS are available to buy and top up at main stations, Adelaide Metro InfoCentres, and certain local retailers. Paper tickets can be purchased on the bus from the driver or from the ticket machines aboard trams and trains. Cars are the most common form of transport in regional areas.

Nature in South Australa

South Australia is a state of contrasts. The rugged outback wildernesses of the Nullarbor Plain and the Simpson, Victorian and Strzelecki deserts turn into fruitful vineyards closer to the meandering Murray River and the coastline, which stretches for more than 3,800km of beach and cliff along the Great Australian Bight. Inland, there’s a system of shimmering fresh and saltwater lakes and the scenic mountains of the Everard and Flinders ranges. More than 20% of South Australia is dedicated to national parks such as the World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves and the Lake Eyre National Park. There’s a whole lot more to see, with highlights including:

South Australia: What You Need to Know

• South Australia postcodes begin with the number 5
• South Australia’s telephone area calling code is 08
• The current Premier of South Australia is Steven Marshall of the Liberal Party
• South Australia celebrates the Queen’s Birthday on the second Monday of June with a bank holiday
• Labour Day is celebrated on the first Monday in October
• There are no toll roads in South Australia
• Free tram and bus services operate within Adelaide’s city centre

South Australia Fun Facts

• South Australia has boundaries with every other Australian mainland state and territory except the Australian Capital Territory
• South Australia’s Olympic Dam is the largest deposit of uranium in the world, and the Coober Pedy mine is the world’s largest producer of opals
• South Australia closed its last coal-powered energy plant in 2016 and now generates its electricity from wind, gas and solar alone 
• South Australia is the leading producer of wind power in Australia
• In 1872, Adelaide was the first Australian capital city to be connected by telegraph with London
• Unlike Australia’s other states, South Australia was established as a freely settled, planned British province
• Because of Adelaide’s beginnings as a city of free settlers, it was believed that there would be very little crime, so the city was originally built without a prison and wasn’t given a police force until several years later.

Moving Checklist

Make sure you’re on track for your move to South Australia.

Handy South Australia Websites