While South Australia boasts some of the best beaches in the world, there are other places to cool down on a hot summer's day. Think sinkholes, rockpools and natural springs off the beaten track.
The SA Tourism Commission has come up with six lovely spots sure to help you beat the heat:
Dalhousie Springs - On the edge of the Simpson Desert, this is a network of more than 60 springs fed from the artesian basin. The main spring offers the best swimming opportunities, sitting at about 38 degrees year-round. Spanning more than 50,000 hectares, the natural wonder is home to rare aquatic life. Tucked in Witjira National Park near the border of SA and the Northern Territory, you can visit the springs on the final SA stretch of the Explorers Way road trip. There is also a campground.
Coward Springs - This oasis on the Oodnadatta Track is the perfect way for travellers to refresh. The springs, arguably one of the most remote in the country, are attached to a campground.
Little Blue Lake - This Limestone Coast sinkhole-turned-swimming hole boasts of being one of the state's most picturesque swimming spots. Fifteen minutes from Mount Gambier, the lake is surrounded by sheer 10-metre limestone walls and beckpons with crystal clear fresh water.
Pool of Siloam - Seven times saltier than the sea, the waters at this Beachport beauty are incredibly buoyant. Just a short stroll away you'll find some of the best beaches in SA - the 600m-long curving shores of Salmon Beach. Sheltered by a rock reef, a relatively calm ocean lagoon is perfect for swimming.
Blue Hole - This rock pool at Shell Beach in Innes National Park on the tip of the Yorke Peninsula is a beachside oasis. Wait for low tide and then dive in to explore an underwater world of fish, coral, crabs and starfish. There's a campground tucked just off Shell Beach.
Blinman Pools - This unlikely watery wonderland lies in the shadows of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. It is only accessible via a 12km-return hike from Angorichina Village along the banks of Parachilna and Blinman creeks. Two spring-fed creeks keep the main pool filled with water year-round. Keep an eye out for kangaroos, wallabies and an astounding array of birdlife that cool off and drink at the pool's edge.
Find more great places in SA to cool off HERE.
