Southern Seas
South Australia
Great Whites • Sea Lions • Leafy Sea Dragons • Giant Cuttlefish
Duration: 9 days
Departs: May to August
From: 8.900 AUD / 5.200 EUR pp
Subject to seasonal availability, flight schedules, accommodation category, and final itinerary design.
Along the southern edge of Australia, where the continent meets the open sea, the coastline turns wild and untamed. It is a place of cliffs, islands, and cold blue water that holds some of the most extraordinary marine encounters on Earth. From great white sharks and playful sea lions to the rare leafy sea dragon and the dazzling cuttlefish migration, this journey captures the power and beauty of South Australia’s southern seas.
It begins in Port Lincoln, a small harbour town that feels close to nature in every direction. Offshore lie the Neptune Islands, one of the few places on the planet where you can safely come face to face with great white sharks. From the cage you will see them rise from the deep, calm and powerful, their size almost unreal. A day later you will meet the ocean’s friendliest residents, Australian sea lions, whose curiosity and grace make them a joy to watch underwater.
As the journey continues north, the landscape changes. The coast opens to wide gulfs and sandy bays where thousands of giant cuttlefish gather each winter to breed. Their colours shift and pulse in patterns that seem alive with electricity, a sight found nowhere else in the world.
The final days trace the limestone coves of the Fleurieu Peninsula, where the elusive leafy sea dragon hides among swaying seaweed forests, and end on Kangaroo Island, a place of wild beaches, wind carved rocks, and native wildlife.
This is South Australia at its most vivid, remote, authentic, and full of life from the ocean floor to the forest canopy.
Every Strada Expeditions journey can be customised. These itineraries are starting points, the best way to find inspiration. The best way to build yours is to reach out and tell me what you would like to experience, and I will design the perfect trip to your taste.
All itineraries are the intellectual property of Strada Expeditions and cannot be reproduced or distributed without our consent.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in South Australia
Arrive in Adelaide and take a short flight to Port Lincoln, a relaxed coastal town known for its seafood and clear Southern Ocean views. Settle into your hotel and enjoy dinner by the marina as fishing boats return with the day’s catch. The adventure begins quietly, surrounded by the scent of salt and sea.
Day 2: Depart Port Lincoln – Journey to the Neptune Islands
In the morning, board your liveaboard vessel and begin the cruise through Thorny Passage toward the Neptune Islands Marine Park. As the coastline fades, dolphins and seabirds often follow in the wake. After lunch, enjoy your first introductory dive or snorkel and a safety briefing on the shark operations ahead. Anchor overnight near the islands and enjoy dinner on deck under the stars.
Day 3: Great White Shark Diving – First Encounters
Wake to calm southern waters and prepare for your first full day of shark diving. Surface cages are lowered into the water, offering close yet safe encounters with great white sharks as they patrol the area. Watch them rise from the blue with effortless control: a moment that’s as humbling as it is exhilarating. Between dives, relax on deck, share photos, and enjoy freshly prepared meals while keeping an eye out for dolphins and sea birds.
Day 4: Shark Diving and Ocean Exploration
Another full day dedicated to diving and observation at the Neptune Islands. Divers may rotate between the surface cage and the deep-water ocean floor cage for a completely different perspective. Visibility here is exceptional, and each dive brings new encounters , from the same great whites returning from the depths to curious seals cruising past the boat. Evenings are relaxed and social, with dinner served as the sky turns orange over the ocean.
Day 5: Final Dives and Return to Port Lincoln
Enjoy your final morning of diving before beginning the journey back toward Port Lincoln. Often the crew schedules one or two last cage sessions before lunch. As the vessel heads through Thorny Passage, look for pods of dolphins riding the bow waves. Arrive in Port Lincoln by late afternoon, where you’ll disembark and continue your journey north toward Whyalla.
Day 6: Giant Cuttlefish Aggregation
From May to August, the shallow waters near Whyalla become the stage for an extraordinary event. Thousands of giant Australian cuttlefish gather to mate and display their shifting colours and patterns. Whether diving or snorkelling, you will move through a living kaleidoscope of light and movement found nowhere else in the world.
Day 7: Rapid Bay and the Leafy Sea Dragon
Continue south toward the Fleurieu Peninsula, where limestone cliffs drop into turquoise coves. Dive or snorkel beneath the old jetty at Rapid Bay, one of the best places in the world to see the elusive leafy sea dragon. Floating among the soft corals and kelp, you may spot these delicate creatures drifting like pieces of seaweed brought to life.
Day 8: Fleurieu Coast to Kangaroo Island
Follow the coast through small fishing villages and stop for oysters or local wine before taking the short ferry to Kangaroo Island. On arrival, check into your lodge surrounded by bushland and sea views. The island feels peaceful and untouched, a world away from the mainland.
Day 9: Kangaroo Island and Return to Adelaide
Spend the day exploring the island’s wild landscapes and native wildlife. Walk among sea lions at Seal Bay, visit the Remarkable Rocks at Flinders Chase National Park, and spot koalas resting in the trees. In the afternoon, return to Adelaide with the sense of having seen a coastline few travellers ever truly experience.
Optional Extensions
This journey can be extended with any of the experiences and destinations offered by Strada Expeditions. You might combine it with a major city stay or an iconic Australian destination to create a seamless journey from coast to outback.
Strada takes care of every detail from the moment you land in Australia to the moment you depart, including accommodation, transfers, domestic flights, and hand-picked experiences. Every element is coordinated to create a smooth and memorable journey that feels effortless from start to finish.
Visit the Experiences page for inspiration, or reach out directly to Strada Expeditions to share your interests, travel dates, and preferences. Together we will design a complete itinerary tailored to you, ensuring every part of your trip captures the best of Australia.
The Arkaba Walk
For those who want to see another side of South Australia, The Arkaba Walk is the perfect continuation of this journey. Located in the ancient Flinders Ranges, it is a four-day guided walk through one of the country’s most spectacular outback landscapes. Each day covers around ten to fifteen kilometres through dry creek beds, red sandstone bluffs, and open grass plains alive with kangaroos and emus.
Evenings are spent in comfort at Arkaba’s private camps, each with open-air swag decks for sleeping under the stars. The experience ends with a stay at the beautifully restored Arkaba Homestead, where fine food and wine are shared with views over the ranges.
More than just a walk, Arkaba is an immersion into the land’s history and ecology. Guides share stories of the region’s geology, wildlife, and conservation projects that are helping to rewild this once pastoral landscape. It pairs perfectly with the marine adventures of the southern coast, offering the complete South Australian experience, from the depths of the ocean to the heart of the outback.