LOCATION SPOTLIGHT: ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S VERSATILE CAPITAL

Make it in South Australia

SAFC latest locations reel

From salt lakes to moonscapes and dense green forests to rugged desert ranges, dramatic coastlines, beaches galore and a sophisticated CBD with spectacular heritage buildings, it’s all on the doorstep of South Australia’s capital city, Adelaide.

Adelaide city Rundle Mall — Adelaide city, Rundle Mall

Glenelg Beach, just 15 minutes from Adelaide CBD

Whatever look your project needs, you’ll find it in South Australia.

Endless possibilities

The city’s backdrop features heritage sandstone, ultra-modern architectural design and gritty urban laneways, while just a 20-minute drive away you’ll find rugged coastline, rural settings and dramatic bushland and forests.

Picturesque farmland in Burra, two hours’ drive from Adelaide

An hour’s drive north, south or east of Adelaide sit famous wine regions – the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley, or venture further and explore the world-renowned Flinders Ranges, Kangaroo Island, Limestone Coast, Coober Pedy and the Murray River.

*Dramatic, rugged landscape of Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges*

What do filmmakers say about South Australia’s locations?

“There’s something about the city of Adelaide that has this really beautiful grit and authenticity to it. There’s no visual fatigue, everything feels really new. Our production designer kept saying ‘we could never do this in LA!’. (The film) is going to be epic, because of what’s here.”
Simon McQuoid, Director of Mortal Kombat (2021 release)

“Some of the things we’ve found in South Australia and Adelaide with locations – Port Adelaide, Leigh Creek, Coober Pedy, up in Mt Crawford where we made a 14th-century village – it really gave us a lot of expanse in the film. When people go to the theatres and see the movie they’re going to say ‘that’s South Australia?’,” – E. Bennett Walsh, Executive Producer, Mortal Kombat (2021 release).

*On set of New Line blockbuster Mortal Kombat in Mount Crawford, just an hour’s drive from Adelaide city centre*

“Filming on location in South Australia is dead easy, you can get a variety of looks from the majestic Flinders Ranges, to the rugged coastline of Maslin Beach, to the vineyards of the Adelaide Hills, and in the city, there is such a depth of architecture from old blue sandstone that can look like Europe, to modern metropoles, to suburban streets. Being able to travel quickly between different locations sets SA apart from, say the eastern states, where you have to travel considerable distances to get different looks,” – Lisa Scott, Producer, Wolf Creek (2015), Pine Gap (2018), The Hunting (2019)

Kati Thanda – Lake Eyre National Park, photo by Grant Hunt Photography

“The ability of South Australia to offer dramatic, unique and stunning landscapes, mixed with towns of distinctive original character, all supported by world-class facilities, was a major part of our decision to shoot in South Australia.”
Liz Watts, Producer of The Rover (2013)

For more information

For more information about filming in South Australia, and to view an interactive locations gallery visit the SA Film Corporation’s website:

SAFC