Port Noarlunga

The beach at the Onkaparinga mouth

Port Noarlunga is where the Onkaparinga River meets Gulf St Vincent. The long, sheltered curve of sand is protected from the south by a sandstone headland and from the west by the Port Noarlunga Reef - a 1.6km offshore reef that's a protected aquatic reserve and one of the best shore-based snorkelling sites in South Australia.

The jetty and the reef

The Port Noarlunga jetty, originally built in 1855 and rebuilt in its current form in 1921, stretches out to the reef. You can walk the length of it for the view back to the cliffs, or drop in a line off the end. Underwater, the reef is home to leafy seadragons, blue groper, schools of old wives and the occasional Port Jackson shark.

Swimming and families

The beach itself is patrolled by the Port Noarlunga SLSC in season, has a kiosk, playground and picnic shelters at the northern end, and a long walking path along the top of the cliffs toward Christies Beach.