Each year in South Australia, towns of all sizes are nominated for Top Tourism Town awards, and winners are recognised for their strong commitment to tourism and excellence in visitor experiences.

The 2024 winners have just been announced and they all have attractions which make them unique and deserving winners.

Taking out the Top Tourism Town was the Fleurieu Peninsula’s Victor Harbor, with awards also given to Coober Pedy as the small tourism town and the tiny tourism town winner was Burra, which also won the People’s choice award.

Victor Harbor’s recognition comes at a perfect time with winter whale watching season in full swing. These majestic animals have made their annual return to the coastal waters of Victor and surrounds and with that, comes the Winter Whale Fest.

The festival runs all through June and celebrates the annual migration of the whales and includes walking tours, coastcare talks, art exhibitions, films, markets and science forums. All the info on the festivities can be found here.

Burra is also a town I can definitely recommend to visit and when you do, make sure you stay for a few days so that you can include taking the Burra Heritage Passport tourist drive. The self drive tour lets you access historic building and sites around the town at your leisure and it’s unlike anything other historic tour, where you are in control of the tour. It’s no wonder this town won the People’s Choice Award, with its friendly atmosphere and history at every turn.

At close to 850 kilometres north of Adelaide, Coober Pedy is in the heart of outback South Australia and is the opal capital of the state. It is truly unique in that much of the town can be found underground, including some accommodation, tours, churches and art galleries.

More than half the town’s families live underground where temperatures are a consistent 23-25 degrees, something that is necessary in the soaring heat of summer in this desert town.

Keep these towns on your must visit list, when you’re touring South Australia.

Happy touring

Glenys