The best things to do on the Fleurieu Peninsula
Whales, wine, beaches, heritage trains and national parks - 15 ideas for your next trip
An hour south of Adelaide, a whole peninsula to explore
The Fleurieu Peninsula packs an improbable amount into an hour or two south of Adelaide: world-class cellar doors, surf and swimming beaches, whale watching, heritage trains and trams, waterfalls and wild national parks. You can taste Shiraz at a McLaren Vale cellar door at lunch and watch whales off a granite headland by afternoon.
This is our pick of the best things to do across the Fleurieu, from the must-see icons to the quieter corners worth the detour. Mix and match them into a day trip or a long weekend - most sit within a 45-minute drive of each other.
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1
Victor HarborSouth Australian Whale Centre
Between May and October, southern right whales cruise into Encounter Bay to calve, and Victor Harbor is the best place in the state to see them. Start at the South Australian Whale Centre, a three-storey gallery on the foreshore that tracks the latest sightings.
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2
Victor HarborGranite Island
Walk or take the horse tram across the causeway to Granite Island, a rocky reserve circled by a scenic loop track. At dusk you might spot little penguins, and the granite boulders glow at sunset.
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3
Victor HarborVictor Harbor Horse Drawn Tram
Ride the only horse-drawn tram still working in Australia, clip-clopping across the causeway to Granite Island since 1894. It is gentle, nostalgic and a hit with kids.
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4
McLaren Valed'Arenberg
No Fleurieu trip is complete without a day in the McLaren Vale cellar doors. d'Arenberg pairs its famous Shiraz with the mind-bending five-storey Cube, and dozens more cellar doors sit within a short drive or a ride along the flat Shiraz Trail.
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5
Port ElliotHorseshoe Bay
Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot is a near-perfect cove of sheltered sand framed by sandstone headlands, and one of the safest swimming beaches on the coast. Grab a pie or an ice-cream from the heritage main street and make a day of it.
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6
Aldinga & Port Willunga
Port Willunga Beach
Port Willunga is the Fleurieu's most photographed beach, with the weathered pylons of an 1860s jetty rising beneath golden cliffs and fishermen's caves cut into the rock. Time it for sunset and a meal at the cliff-top Star of Greece.
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7
GoolwaSteamRanger Cockle Train
The Cockle Train follows one of Australia's oldest railway routes along the surf coast between Goolwa and Victor Harbor, via Port Elliot. The vintage carriages and sea views make the journey the attraction.
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8
Cape JervisDeep Creek National Park
Deep Creek is the Fleurieu's wildest corner, a national park of eucalypt gullies, waterfalls and clifftop trails above the Backstairs Passage. Walk down to Blowhole Beach or just keep an eye out for echidnas and kangaroos.
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9
Myponga & Second ValleySecond Valley Beach
Tiny Second Valley is a sandstone cove flanked by dramatically folded cliffs and a heritage jetty, perfect for a swim, a snorkel or simply a photo. It is one of the prettiest spots on the western coast.
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10
Victor HarborThe Bluff (Rosetta Head)
Climb Rosetta Head, known as The Bluff, a 97-metre granite dome with a short steep trail to sweeping views over Encounter Bay. In winter it doubles as a free whale lookout.
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11
Aldinga & Port WillungaAldinga Reef Aquatic Reserve
Just off Aldinga Beach lies one of the most accessible snorkelling reefs near Adelaide, protected since 1971. Slip in on a calm morning to find seagrass meadows, reef fish, rays and the occasional wobbegong.
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12
GoolwaMurray Mouth
At Goolwa, Australia's longest river finally meets the sea at the Murray Mouth, gateway to the vast Coorong lagoon. Cross to Hindmarsh Island for the view, or take a canoe or boat tour into the wetlands.
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13Willunga
Willunga Farmers Market
Every Saturday morning, Willunga hosts one of Australia's best regional farmers markets, with Fleurieu growers, bakers and makers gathered on the grounds of Willunga High School. Come hungry and early.
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14Victor Harbor
Big Duck Boat Tours
Hop aboard the Big Duck for a small-group wildlife boat tour from Granite Island, nosing along the coast to spot dolphins, seals and seabirds, and whales in season. It is the best way to see the bay from the water.
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15
Normanville & YankalillaIngalalla Falls
For an easy nature stop, Ingalalla Falls is a tiered waterfall and rockpool a short stroll from the carpark near Normanville, with a picnic ground and free entry. A lovely leg-stretch on the way down the coast.
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