SOUTH Australia might be known as the festival state and the wine and dine state, but it really is the state of the great outdoors.
Be it hiking, camping, four-wheel driving, cycling or more, there are myriad outdoor activities people can enjoy.
Today, The Advertiser has relaunched its Friday Trader section as Outdoor & Trader, with an expanded focus on all the outdoor fun.
Tourism Minister Leon Bignell says we're spoilt for choice with outdoor experiences in South Australia, with Rawnsley Bluff in the Flinders Ranges one of his favourites.
"The Bluff has incredible views of Elder Range, Red Range and the Chace Range, but there is nothing quite like making it over the top to look down into the magnificent Wilpena Pound," he says. 
"Every time I head up the Rawnsley Bluff I think of the traffic jam of walkers doing Mt Lofty. It would be terrific to see a lot of these people head up to the Flinders Ranges and get a healthy dose of Outback air and isolation to go with their workout." 4WD Adventurers Club of SA president Ian Stanley says four-wheel driving in SA offers a taste of freedom and privacy on unspoiled land.
"The population is sparse, so there is that feeling you are the only ones there that makes the experience so special," he says.
"The state has history, whether it be the Markers on the Woomera Rocket Range Centreline, surveyed by Len Beadell in the '50s.
"Or the ghost town of Johnburg north of Orroroo, or the historic ruins such as those at Burra, or the myriad other places where activity in the state was born.
"This history is from a population which was not convict-based but rather free men working in these harsh and at times unforgiving environments to eke out a living, sometimes with success and often being defeated, such as those places above the Goyder Line, where the rainfall makes cropping a tenuous affair." More than 20 per cent of South Australia's land mass is covered by national parks and reserves and 36 of the state's 300 parks and reserves offer camping facilities.
Cycling SA chief executive Peter Macdonald says Adelaide is great for uninterrupted rides into beautiful and peaceful hillside country within 20 minutes of the city.
"Our hills have light traffic flows and range from gentle to steep, each offering a different experience for riders," he says.
He recommends the Riesling Trail in the Clare Valley or the Amy Gillett Bikeway from Oakbank to Mt Torrens.
"Both are on old railway lines so gradients are gentle, scenery spectacular and there are lots of places to stop and enjoy local produce and tourist attractions," he says.
Barossa Valley Caravan & Camping Club's Chris Parry and her husband have travelled all across Australia but always have a special place in their hearts for the remoteness of the Flinders Ranges.
"Given the chance my husband will take the 4WD and a swag and just camp under the night skies," she says. Now Mrs Parry, 70, uses a caravan to get to some of her favourite spots such as Beaumont Park and Broughton River.
"It's a getaway from civilisation," she says.
"It's nice to have people around but we'd like to have space and peace and quiet." For Mrs Parry it's not merely camp fires and barbecues - the couple hunt for some of the best gourmet food around the state.
"Smoky Bay has the best oysters," she says, also pointing to beautiful cuisine at Mt Bryant pub right across from a caravan park.
From beach breaks at Moana and Southport to the reef breaks at Seaford, surfers can take joy in travelling a mere 45 minutes to find rarely crowded swells of great power.
Veteran surfer Luke Horlin-Smith says SA has waves all the way from Mt Gambier and Robe to the southern Fleurieu, Yorkes to Cactus on the West Coast.
"The beauty of surfing in SA is that we have such a huge range of spectacular coastline with great waves - you just have to be willing to travel and search for your wave."
TOP 10 SA CAMPING SPOTS 1 Brachina East camp ground in Flinders Ranges National Park There are separate 4WD and 2DW sites. Excellent hiking trails, incredible scenery and plenty of wildlife. Best seasons to visit are spring (lots of wildflowers), autumn or winter. Campfires are allowed outside of fire danger season. No facilities.
2 Loch Luna Game Reserve On the banks of the Murray River backwaters between the main river and Lake Bonney, featuring popular "canoe trails" over many kilometres. There are numerous sites to choose from, most with access to the water and shade. Yabbying and fishing are also popular. No facilities.
3 Stringy Bark camp ground, Deep Creek Conservation Park A popular site which can be busy. Great shady sites. Has an amenities block and campfires are allowed outside of fire danger season in designated areas. Excellent choice of walking trails and beautiful scenery of Backstairs Passage, Kangaroo Island and rugged coastline. Wildlife is plentiful. Spring and autumn are the best months.
4 Shell Beach, Innes National Park A small camp site with eight spots only. A short walk to a beautiful little beach which is ideal for fishing, swimming and snorkelling (on calm days). Camp site is within a short driving distance of Browns Beach, a well-known salmon fishing beach.
5 Simpson Desert National Park High on the bucket list of most four-wheel drivers, crossing the Simpson Desert is a must-do. Incredible night-time skies and complete isolation. Careful planning and preparation are a must.
6 Mambray Creek, Mount Remarkable National Park A large camp ground, popular with families and school groups at times. Has showers, toilets and designated fire areas for outside of fire danger season. Excellent sites among red gums and alongside a wide, shallow creek (which very rarely has water in it). Lots of local wildlife.
7 Gleesons Landing Right at the foot of Yorke Peninsula, Gleeson's Landing is a popular spot for surf fishermen. Camp sites are varied, but all are close to the beach. No facilities. Beautiful beach with spectacular sunsets. Best in autumn and winter.
8 MacLaren Point In the Lincoln National Park, MacLaren Point requires a four-wheel drive to access and the camp sites are basic. However, crowds are unlikely, the small beach is great for fishing and swimming and a walk around the headland will reveal a length of amazing coastline. Nice to visit all year round.
9 Chowilla Game Reserve Numerous sites all on the banks of creeks that eventually flow into the Murray River itself. Excellent canoeing, fishing an yabbying. Shady sites and can be accessed in a two-wheel-drive vehicle. However, after heavy rain, all sites are inaccessible. No facilities but very relaxing.
10Cullyamurra Waterhole, Innamincka Regional Reserve Outback camping at its best. Alongside a remote waterhole with the corellas making sure you're up early. Good fishing and yabbying at times. No facilities and good preparation necessary.
List compiled by Steven Pyke fromcampingsouthaustralia.com