Port Augusta in South Australia is two things - a coastal city that is one of the largest in South Australia, and the gateway to the outback. It has a natural harbour, making it a popular seaport. It is an established tourist centre, and renting a car in Port Augusta is a good option for those wanting to explore the city and parts of the outback. There is a tourist centre that provides information about the outback, and also where you can also buy the necessary kit should you decided on hiring a car in Port Augusta and sampling the great outdoors.
Hiring a car in Port Augusta and heading to the outback is a great thing to do, but make sure you know the score first. The outback is a beautiful but potentially dangerous area, and the Wadlata Outback Centre in Port Augusta is dedicated to educating people about the outback so that they can enjoy what it has to offer safely. If you think that renting a car in Port Augusta should be for retail rather than adventure, then Commercial Street is the main shopping area in the city.
Driving any distance out of Port Augusta means entering the outback, where you can explore vast areas of varying countryside - however there isn't much in the way of organised activities. Closer to the city, there is The Lookout Tower, which was built in 1882, and offers fantastic views of Port Augusta, and the Flinders Mountain Range. A short drive over to the Trooper's Barracks, and you'll soon be in Gladstone Square, named by our former Prime Minister in 1883. It has a gorgeous Rotunda, and an ornate drinking fountain, as well as lovely green areas that are great for a picnic after a few days exploring the outback.
