Surfing & Watersports

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.

Port Elliot's big-wave reef break

A dramatic reef break at the western end of Port Elliot, named for the thunderous sound of its crashing waves. A classic South Australian surf spot for experienced riders.

Kayak tours into the Coorong wetlands

Guided kayak tours from Hindmarsh Island into the Coorong National Park - a Ramsar-listed wetland system of lagoons, sand dunes and waterbirds.

A custom-built charter vessel fishing Backstairs Passage and The Pages from Cape Jervis - seven days a week, tackle provided.

A wide white-sand beach north of Normanville

A wide, flat, white-sand beach stretching 3km along the Gulf St Vincent north of Normanville - safe for swimming, excellent for beach walks and one of the Fleurieu's best family beaches.

A small sand-and-rock beach between Port Elliot and Middleton, best known as one of the most consistent surf breaks on the south coast.

A calm man-made saltwater lake at Encounter Bay with two swim beaches and sheltered paddling for families - one of the safest swimming spots near Victor Harbor.

Electric bike rental along the 31km Encounter Bikeway with pickup at Goolwa, Middleton or Port Elliot - self-guided coastal cycling.

Offshore fishing charters from Wirrina Cove Marina with 30+ years of local experience - two vessels carrying up to 16 passengers, snapper, whiting and tuna grounds.

Eighteen kilometres of open Southern Ocean sand

Goolwa Beach is the southern end of an 18-kilometre stretch of wave-pounded Southern Ocean sand running all the way to the Murray Mouth, with a patrolled swimming area and a legendary (and legal) 4WD beach drive.

A secret cove between the Port Elliot headlands

A tiny tucked-away cove between Rocky Bay and Knights Beach, reached via the Harbourmasters Trail. Calm days bring crystal-clear water for snorkelling; rough days bring dramatic wave shows.

A Goolwa-based surf school running lessons across the Fleurieu - Goolwa Beach, Middleton, Port Elliot and Victor Harbor - run by experienced surf coach Kingo with private and group options year-round.

World-class bodyboarding and a sheltered swim

Knights Beach sits on the eastern edge of Port Elliot's headlands and is rated among the top bodyboarding breaks in the world when a south-southeast swell is running. On smaller days it offers a safer family swim than neighbouring Boomer 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.

Surf beach village between Port Elliot and Goolwa

Small beachside village between Port Elliot and Goolwa on the Encounter Coast, with one of the Fleurieu's most consistent surf breaks and a famous pub.

The Fleurieu learn-to-surf beach

A long, gently-shelving sand beach between Port Elliot and Goolwa, widely regarded as the best learn-to-surf beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

A long, dog-friendly surf beach between Port Noarlunga and Maslin, one of only a few beaches in South Australia where you can legally drive on the sand.

PADI-certified leafy seadragon shore dive tours and learn-to-dive courses, operating from McLaren Vale with regular trips to Rapid Bay, Second Valley and Edithburgh.

Wild, remote surf beach at Newland Head

A wild, remote surf beach at the western end of Newland Head Conservation Park, best known for its powerful reef break and its seclusion.

Half and full day fishing charters and sightseeing sea tours of the Fleurieu coast, Coorong and Encounter Bay from Victor Harbor.

One of the most iconic beaches on the Fleurieu - a long, sheltered bay framed by ochre cliffs, a 1921 timber jetty, and the Port Noarlunga Reef just offshore.

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.

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.

One of Australia's most famous shore dive sites - the new Rapid Bay jetty is the world's leading place to find leafy seadragons in the wild, alongside cuttlefish, blue devils and seahorses.