Beaches
Southern Ocean Coves
The best beaches in Cape Jervis
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
Blowhole Beach
A wild, remote cove inside Deep Creek National Park
A secluded sand-and-pebble cove on the southern Fleurieu coast, reached only by 4WD track or a steep 3km return walk down from Cobbler Hill - and gloriously empty when you get there.
Fishery Beach
A sheltered fishing beach a few kilometres east of Cape Jervis, the site of an 1840s whaling station and the shipping port for the historic Talisker Mine.
Morgan Beach
A small 800m sandy cove beneath 50-metre bluffs near Cape Jervis, popular for fishing, swimming and sunset views past the Starfish Hill Wind Farm.
Rapid Bay
Leafy sea dragons & a legendary jetty
Sheltered bay famous for its old T-shaped jetty, one of the best dive sites in Australia and a reliable place to spot the elusive leafy sea dragon.
Tunkalilla Beach
A wild 5km Southern Ocean surf beach inside Deep Creek National Park, accessible via Tunkalilla Road and the Heysen Trail - one of the most remote beaches on the Fleurieu.
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.