Wildlife & Nature
Whales, Penguins & More
The best wildlife & nature in Inman Valley
From southern right whales calving in Encounter Bay to the little penguins of Granite Island and the leafy sea dragons of Rapid Bay, the Fleurieu is one of Australia's richest wildlife destinations.
The Fleurieu Peninsula is one of the best places in South Australia to get close to wildlife in the wild. Each year between roughly May and October, southern right whales travel to the sheltered waters of Encounter Bay off Victor Harbor to calve — you can often spot them from clifftop lookouts at the Bluff and Granite Island without ever leaving land.
Beyond the whales, the peninsula's natural diversity is remarkable for its size. The Coorong, at the southern edge near Goolwa, is an internationally significant wetland alive with pelicans, black swans and tens of thousands of migratory shorebirds. Deep Creek and the southern conservation parks shelter kangaroos, echidnas and a rich birdlife, while little penguins, New Zealand fur seals and bottlenose dolphins patrol the granite islands and reefs of the coast.
Spring carpets the bushland reserves in native wildflowers and orchids, and the rock pools of Aldinga Reef and the western beaches reveal their own miniature worlds at low tide. Whether you're whale watching, birdwatching or simply walking quietly through the bush, the Fleurieu rewards anyone who slows down and looks closely.
Browse wildlife & nature by area
9 places
Cox Scrub Conservation Park
A 563-hectare bushland park near Mount Compass with three quiet walking trails through native scrub - one of the best birdwatching reserves on the Fleurieu.
Finniss Conservation Park
A walk-in-only bushland reserve north-east of Mount Compass, on the Heysen Trail - one of the quieter walking destinations on the central Fleurieu.
Glacier Rock (Selwyn Rock)
A 280-million-year-old glaciated river bed
A Permian-era glacial pavement carved into 510 million year old bedrock on the floor of the Inman River - one of the oldest and most accessible glacial sites in Australia.
Mount Billy Conservation Park
A high-rainfall conservation park in the Inman Valley protecting some of the last Fleurieu Peninsula swamps and a network of bushwalking tracks through tall stringybark forest.
Mount Magnificent Conservation Park
A 90-hectare conservation park north-east of Mount Compass with a 3.5 km Heysen Trail summit loop offering big views to Lake Alexandrina, the Coorong and the coast.
Pear Tree Hollow
$$$Settler cottage and bell tents in Inman Valley
An early settler homestead turned boutique accommodation on Nosworthy Road: a romantic cottage, a glamping bell tent and a simple forest tent - all for couples.
Spring Mount Conservation Park
A 270-hectare bushland reserve south-east of Myponga, on the Heysen Trail, with diverse native bird and mammal habitat and quiet bush walking.
Stipiturus Conservation Park
A 68-hectare reserve protecting the Fleurieu's largest peat swamp and one of the major remaining populations of the endangered Mt Lofty Ranges Southern Emu-wren.
Tooperang Trout Farm
A long-running family fish-your-own trout and yabby farm in the hills above Mount Compass - one of the more unusual family attractions on the Fleurieu.