Fleurieu PeninsulaFleurieu Peninsula
Sandy beaches, quality wine, and barely 40 minutes from Adelaide - it’s no wonder the Fleurieu Peninsula is one of South Australia's favourite destinations. Its coastline is its original drawcard: uncrowded beaches protected by ochre-hued cliffs, bushland that tips down rolling hills to the sea and the villages that began as ports and became much-loved holiday towns.
With wide open stretches of sand, Goolwa and Middleton provide the sort of solitude that could turn anyone into a beachcomber, while Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot is a secluded haven for families and couples. On the other side of the peninsula, Aldinga Beach, Port Willunga and Normanville, with crystal blue waters and white sand, are ideal beaches for a romantic refuge.
There’s a bevy of food producers – look for superior fresh produce and inspired regional specialties at the Willunga Farmers’ Market each Saturday morning. Wildlife is abundant – from little penguins on Granite Island to the Southern Right Whales who breed in the waters near Victor Harbor each winter.
Goolwa is the gateway to Coorong National Park – cruises to its protected waters and walks to the rolling surf of the Southern Ocean leave from this historic river port of Goolwa. Hikers, walkers, strollers and cyclists enjoy the many trails along the coast, through the wine country and through conservation parks such as Deep Creek and Newland Head. The most famous of these trails is the Heysen Trail, which begins its 1500 kilometre journey at Cape Jervis. Inland, verdant farmland and forest make for lovely country drives.
Text and images courtesy South Australian Tourism