Glacier Rock (Selwyn Rock)

An ice-age landscape on the Fleurieu

Glacier Rock, also known as Selwyn Rock after the 19th-century South Australian geologist Alfred Selwyn, is a spectacular glacial pavement exposed on the bed of the Inman River at Inman Valley. It was formed about 280 million years ago during the Permian Ice Age when a continental-scale ice sheet ground across southern Australia - and it is one of the oldest and most accessible glacial sites anywhere in the country.

What you'll see

Long parallel scratches (glacial striations), polished rock surfaces, crescent-shaped fractures and a variety of rock types carried from afar are all visible on the smooth, sloping river bed. The bedrock itself - into which the glacier carved - is about 510 million years old, so the site preserves two very different chapters of geological time on one outcrop.

Visiting

The site is a short drive or bike ride from Victor Harbor:

• Viewing platform - an easy, elevated platform provides a bird's eye view
• Down to the river bed - a short flight of stairs descends onto the rock itself (very easy, suitable for families and seniors)
• Free entry and parking
• Rock View Cafe and the Inman Valley General Store next door are open daily from 8:30am - 5pm for coffee and lunch
• Public toilets

Getting there

From Victor Harbor, head northeast on Ocean Street which becomes Inman Valley Road (B57) and follow it for about 12km. The Rock View Cafe marks the turnoff.