Beaches
Southern Ocean Coves
The best beaches in Aldinga & Port Willunga
From the turquoise coves of Second Valley to the wide drive-on sands of Aldinga and the sheltered cup of Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot, the Fleurieu's beaches are as varied as its landscapes.
The Fleurieu Peninsula has two very different coastlines, and that's what makes its beaches so good. On the sheltered Gulf St Vincent side you get calm, swimmable water and long stretches of sand - Aldinga, where you can still drive onto the beach, plus Sellicks, Maslin, Moana and the dramatic cliffs and jetty ruins of Port Willunga, home to the wreck of the Star of Greece.
Around the southern tip and along the Encounter Coast, the wild Southern Ocean takes over. This is the surf and big-sky country of Goolwa Beach, Middleton, Waitpinga and Parsons Beach, where the swell rolls in uninterrupted. In between sit the gentle, family-friendly coves: Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot, Normanville, Second Valley and the rock pools of the western beaches.
Before you go, check the tides and conditions - the Gulf beaches are best around high tide, while many surf beaches have strong rips and are unpatrolled. Plenty of beaches are dog-friendly and have easy parking, making the Fleurieu one of the most rewarding stretches of coast in South Australia for a swim, a surf, a walk or simply a sunset.
Browse beaches by area
5 places
Aldinga Beach
Drive-on beach of firm beige sand
One of the few South Australian beaches where you can legally drive your car onto the sand, a broad flat stretch perfect for kite-flying and sunset-watching.
Aldinga Reef Aquatic Reserve
One of South Australia's most accessible snorkelling reefs
A protected limestone reef system off Aldinga Beach and Port Willunga, fully protected since 1971 and home to wobbegongs, blue devils, schools of reef fish and dolphins.
Maslin Beach
Towering ochre cliffs & Australia's first legal nude beach
Sweeping beach beneath dramatic multi-coloured ochre cliffs, famous for its unbroken length and for being the first legal clothing-optional beach in Australia.
Port Willunga Beach
Limestone cliffs & the Star of Greece jetty ruins
One of the Fleurieu's most photographed beaches, framed by golden limestone cliffs and home to the haunting remains of the 1864 cargo jetty.
Sellicks Beach
A long sweep of sand below the cliffs
A wide, family-friendly drive-on beach at the southern end of the metropolitan coast, famous for its cliff-backed sands and clifftop sunsets over Gulf St Vincent.
Beaches in Fleurieu Peninsula - frequently asked questions
What are the best beaches on the Fleurieu Peninsula?
Favourites include the sheltered Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot, the long drive-on sands of Aldinga and Sellicks, the turquoise coves of Second Valley and Rapid Bay, family-friendly Normanville and Carrickalinga, and the surf at Boomer and Middleton.
Which Fleurieu beaches can you drive on?
Aldinga Beach and Sellicks Beach are among the few South Australian beaches where you can legally drive onto the firm sand, subject to posted speed limits and seasonal rules. Always check conditions and tides before driving on.
Which Fleurieu beaches are best for families and swimming?
Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot is one of the safest swimming beaches on the coast, while Normanville, Carrickalinga and Victor Harbor offer broad, gently sloping sand. Patrolled beaches operate in the summer season.
Where can you snorkel or surf on the Fleurieu?
For snorkelling, the Aldinga Reef Aquatic Reserve is the most accessible spot near Adelaide, with Rapid Bay and Second Valley also popular. For surf, head to Boomer Beach, Middleton, Waitpinga and Parsons Beach.