Fleurieu Peninsula Guides Attractions Events in South Australia

Cape Jervis is the jumping off point for daily car and passenger ferry services to Kangaroo Island. It's a 45 minute journey that reveals the spectacular coastline of this part of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Cape Jervis is a popular base for fishermen, with good boat, jetty and beach fishing. Climb aboard a fishing charter or take a cruise along the coast. Bushwalkers can stretch their legs through nearby Deep Creek Conservation Park or start out on the four day Heysen Trail walk to Victor Harbor.

Cape Jervis is on Tourist Route 52 and part of the Fleurieu Way Tourist Drive.

You'll also find holiday unit and cabin accommodation there.

See more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots. It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Enjoy some of the best produce and vineyards in Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to some prestigious winemaking regions, including McLaren Vale. The history of winemaking in this region goes all the way back to 1842, and it consistently produces some of the best drops you'll ever taste.

There's also national parks, golf courses, top quality cuisine and more.

Carrickalinga is a tiny coastal village that's become a popular holiday retreat, thanks to its white sandy beach and fabulous views over Roma Mitchell Bay and Yankalilla Bay.

The HMAS Hobart was sunk nearby and is an exciting diving attraction. It was originally one of Australia's great naval destroyers, and is now Australia's most accessible war wreck. A short 10-minute boat ride from Marina St Vincent, the Hobart enjoys underwater visibility of more than 10 metres most of the year.

You'll find plenty of quality coastal accommodation in Carrickalinga. It also offers reef snorkelling and fishing, making Carrickalinga a treasured location. The best approach is from the north via Myponga Reservoir to enjoy dramatic coastal views.

See more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots.

It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Enjoy some of the best produce and vineyards in Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to some prestigious winemaking regions, including McLaren Vale. The history of winemaking in this region goes all the way back to 1842, and it consistently produces some of the best drops you'll ever taste.

There's also national parks, golf courses, top quality cuisine and more.

Christies Beach is one of Adelaide's popular family beaches.

It provides safe swimming for all ages, with a large foreshore reserve for picnics, gatherings and other outdoor activities.

A well used, all season boat ramp provides access to many good fishing grounds near to Christies Beach. There's also a large shopping precinct providing an extensive range of services nearby.

The town of Clayton hugs a small, shallow bay dotted by reedy islands. More experienced boat owners and fishermen head for the open waters of Lake Alexandrina, just minutes away.

Clayton is perched across the river from the north-east tip of Hindmarsh Island on the Murray River, Lake Alexandrina, the Coorong Waterway and the myriad of protected creeks and channels which surround the islands of the Mundoo Hindmarsh Island system.

It's home to the Clayton Bay Classic Picnic - an annual casual gathering for those interested in classic motorcars, sailing boats, aeroplanes, model trains, motorcycles and other vehicles. People are invited to bring a picnic to Clayton Bay for a day of show and tell on the foreshore.

See more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots.

It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Enjoy some of the best produce and vineyards in Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to some prestigious winemaking regions, including McLaren Vale. The history of winemaking in this region goes all the way back to 1842, and it consistently produces some of the best drops you'll ever taste.

There's also national parks, golf courses, top quality cuisine and more.

A well-established wine region with several popular wineries and cellar doors, Currency Creek was once muted as a site for the South Australian capital.

Currency Creek is also well known for its creek, sidewalks, Aboriginal scar trees, railway viaduct and jet sprint racing. Its cemetery is the final resting place of many of the captains from the River Murray steam powered paddleboats.

One of five wine regions making up the Fleurieu zone, Currency Creek has been forging a strong reputation for fine wine over the years. Stretching from the coastal village of Port Elliot in the west to Lake Alexandrina in the east - and all within an hour or so of Adelaide - it's a great spot for tasting wines all morning and watching whales from the coastline or hundreds of species of birds at Coorong National Park in the afternoon.

The climate is Mediterranean, but temperatures are moderated by the surrounding waters of the Southern Ocean and Lake Alexandrina. About 560 hectares are under vine, to grape varieties including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

Work off the calories with a three-kilometre hike around the heritage-listed Black Swamp wetland, home to many rare and endangered bird species such as the Mount Lofty Southern Emu Wren.

While you're here, cruise The Coorong to see Australia's largest breeding colony of pelicans, wander through antique shops in the historic town of Goolwa, or see scarred trees used to make Aboriginal canoes.

Currency Creek was named after Currency Lass, the first vessel to negotiate the Murray Mouth, the area lies six kilometres north of Goolwa on the road to Strathalbyn.

It's little wonder Australia's richest landscape art prize is staged on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

This holiday destination offers beautiful hills sweeping down to sun-drenched sandy beaches. Wineries, orchards and pastures are patch-worked between bushland, and roads lead to alluring cellar doors where you can sit back and take it all in.

And it's all on Adelaide's doorstep.

Jump in the car, travel south on the Fleurieu Way and within the hour you can be swimming, surfing, hiking or fishing on long, sandy beaches. The Fleurieu Peninsula is the holiday destination for your next coastal adventure, offering freedom from the everyday.

Drive straight down the coast to dive on the former warship HMAS Hobart at Yankallila Bay, or begin the 1500 kilometre Heysen Trail at Cape Jervis, weaving your way through the dense bushland of Deep Creek Conservation Park.

Further around the coast you'll find Victor Harbor, South Australia's most popular seaside town with its horse-drawn tram to Granite Island, the historic Cockle steam train and whales playing just offshore in the winter months. Then it's round to the pretty, historic river port of Goolwa, Hindmarsh Island and the mighty Murray River mouth and the internationally renowned Coorong National Park.

Wine Country:
All over the peninsula you’ll find seriously good wine country (there’s more than 50 cellar doors in the McLaren Vale wine region alone) plus enough great restaurants, produce outlets and markets to break even the strictest diet. McLaren Vale is undoubtedly the most famous wine region, but there's also Southern Fleurieu, Currency Creek and Langhorne Creek – home to the Brothers In Arms winery, which won the prestigious George Mackey Memorial Trophy for most outstanding export wine in 2003-2004.

Blessed Cheese:
Home of the McLaren Vale Wine and Cheese Trail, the Blessed Cheese is one of the most awarded cafés on the Fleurieu Peninsula and supplies cheese for lovers of McLaren Vale wines. There is a fully licenced café stocking local cheese, as well as wines from smaller producers that you will not find anywhere else in the world. If you have time, book into one of their home cheesemaking workshops.

Granite Island:
A stone’s throw from Victor Harbor, the compact Granite Island is home to 2,000 Little Penguins, dolphins and an oceanarium. It's also an excellent location for whale watching in winter. Take a penguin tour at dusk, or a dolphin cruise. To get there, walk the causeway (about 600 metres) or catch the heritage double-decker tram that’s drawn by obliging Clydesdale horses.

Strathalbyn:
Settled in 1839 and retaining much of its Scottish flavour, Strathalbyn boasts a long boulevard of heritage buildings housing antique shops, galleries and cafes. Among its most beautiful buildings are the Police Station and Court House Museum, the old school and the gasworks. There's a lovely manicured park beside the Angas River and it's just a short drive to the wineries of Langhorne Creek.

Fabulous Food:
Along with fabulous wines, the Fleurieu Peninsula is famed for its olives and olive oil, almonds and cheeses. You'll find gourmet bread, regional lamb and venison and great seafood from the oceans and the Murray River. A growing number of restaurants, farmers markets, cellar doors and speciality stores are devoted to regional fare and October is Fiesta, an annual celebration of the new season’s olive oils and wines. Discover more about the region's restaurants, chefs, seasonal calendar and harvests by visiting Fleurieu Peninsula Food.

Cruise the Coorong

Catch a Spirit of the Coorong cruise from Goolwa into the shallow lagoons of the Coorong National Park. It’s a fragile 120 kilometre strip of coastal wilderness, home to wader and waterfowl birds. The cruise lands at places accessible only by boat, and expert guides take you to spectacular dunes and across the Younghusband Peninsula to the Southern Ocean. The park and its adjacent wetlands host the annual Meet the Waders festival where the arts, nature conservation and the environment are celebrated in gallery exhibitions, bushwalking, painting and bird watching excursions.

Fleurieu Artificial Reef:
The former Navy ship HMAS Hobart was scuttled off the Fleurieu coast near Yankalilla in November 2002 – creating one of the best dive sites in Australia. More than 7,000 divers have explored the submerged vessel, which remains largely intact. You'll still find everything from the engine room, smoke stacks, to missile launchers and gun turrets.

Deep Creek Conservation Park:
Encounter echidnas, kangaroos and sea eagles in the spectacular setting of Deep Creek Conservation Park, nestled against the rugged southern coastline of the Fleurieu Peninsula. Hike the Heysen Trail or follow the extensive network of coastal trails for views out to Backstairs Passage and Kangaroo Island.

French Connection:
Among the first travellers to cruise South Australia's coast were explorers Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin. Although their respective nations, England and France, were at war at the time of their encounter in 1802, the pair swapped notes before peacefully going about their business to map the southern coast of Australia. It's thanks to Baudin that today we have the Fleurieu Peninsula (honouring French politician, Comte de Fleurieu). Learn more about the historic meeting at Victor Harbor's Encounter Coast Discovery Centre.

The Fleurieu Peninsula: Get into it!

Historic Goolwa stands at the mouth of the Murray River on Lake Alexandrina and derives its name from an aboriginal word meaning elbow.

Every type of water sport is available in Goolwa, and if you don't own a boat you can always hire one. Hindmarsh Island and the Coorong provide kilometres of unspoiled wetlands and at the end of the day you can enjoy award winning local wines. It's an ideal destination, just over an hours drive from Adelaide through breathtaking countryside.

The nearby Murray Mouth is renowned for its mulloway fishing, while surf fishing from Goolwa Beach is usually rewarding for the angler. The lakes are a haven for boating enthusiasts. With both fresh and salt water, Goolwa is a Mecca for the keen fisherman and the Murray Mouth is not only a great place to fish but also a remarkable feature of the landscape.

Goolwa hosts a variety of exciiting events, including freshwater boat racing, air shows, and golf tournaments. And there's plenty of local accommodation.

The first part of Goolwa was surveyed in 1840. With the introduction of paddle steamers to the river in 1853, Goolwa became the first major shipping port in the state, with produce from the interior being barged down the Murray system for loading onto overseas vessels.

The subsequent silting-up of the Murray Mouth led to the port becoming inaccessible to the larger ships. As a result, the first railway line in South Australia was opened between Goolwa and Port Elliot in 1854, the latter then becoming the overseas port. Early in the 1880s the Morgan railway took away most of the trade by directing it through Adelaide, and by 1890 shipping was virtually finished at Goolwa. Today Goolwa is a popular, fast-growing tourist resort offering quiet, relaxing all-year-round recreation with its historic buildings greatly enriching the town's interest.

Hindmarsh Island is the site of the southern hemisphere's largest freshwater marina development.

It's a river bound island, connected by a bridge from Goolwa, a boatie's haven. This is where you can find cruises into the Coorong National Park, bare boat and skippered yacht charters.

Hindmarsh Island offers you the chance to marvel at the Murray Mouth, impeded by a twisting, shifting mass of sand dunes.

There is a range of accommodation available and marsh land on the eastern end of Hindmarsh Island has been incorporated into the Coorong National Park. Recognising good aquatic bird habitats, the island is popular with bird watchers. Local Ngarrindjeri people have particular interests in the island.

See more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots.

It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Enjoy some of the best produce and vineyards in Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to some prestigious winemaking regions, including McLaren Vale. The history of winemaking in this region goes all the way back to 1842, and it consistently produces some of the best drops you'll ever taste.

There's also national parks, golf courses, top quality cuisine and more.

Located 86 kilometres south of Adelaide, Inman Valley is part of the wonderful journey that leads to the seaside town of Yankalilla.

The Inman Valley Road is lined with majestic gum trees and sits between the river environment of the Coorong and bushland of the south-western Fleurieu Peninsula.

Bushwalkers love this region, while amateur and professional geologists head for Selwyn's Glacier Rock, one of the world's largest glacial relics dating back to when the region was covered with ice. You can also enjoy a local golf course.

Inman Valley was settled before 1842. In 1839 it was described officially as "a lovely valley, ranging from two to six miles in width, well watered and rich in soil for agriculture and herbage for pasture".

See more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots.

It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Enjoy some of the best produce and vineyards in Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to some prestigious winemaking regions, including McLaren Vale. The history of winemaking in this region goes all the way back to 1842, and it consistently produces some of the best drops you'll ever taste.

There's also national parks, golf courses, top quality cuisine and more.

On the northern edge of the Fleurieu Peninsula close to the Adelaide Hills, Kangarilla is an outpost of the McLaren Vale wine growing area with several highly reputed wineries and vineyards.

Kangarilla is surrounded by many small farms. The historic township features several buildings of South Australian and local heritage significance dating back to the mid 1800s. Sheep graze nearby while you cook a barbecue and enjoy the countryside amid century old gum trees.

The Kangarilla Road Vineyard and Winery is one of the few wineries in Australia to produce the Californian red variety Zinfandel, a spicy red similar to Grenache or Shiraz. Visit the contemporary cellar door, with fabulous views of vineyards through to Blewitt Springs.

See more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots.

It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Enjoy some of the best produce and vineyards in Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to some prestigious winemaking regions, including McLaren Vale. The history of winemaking in this region goes all the way back to 1842, and it consistently produces some of the best drops you'll ever taste.

There's also national parks, golf courses, top quality cuisine and more.

Langhorne Creek is a wine region nestled among gum trees on the Bremer and Angas rivers. It’ll take you less than an hour’s drive from Adelaide to escape to picturesque vineyards, where you can spend a day among the vines tasting sumptuous food, drinking premium wines and chatting to talented winemakers.

Langhorne Creek boasts a wine history dating back to 1850 and is traditionally a red wine grape region known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. The region also produces exceptionally flavoured white and fortified wines.

Regarded as one of the best-kept secrets in Australian viticulture, Langhorne Creek is one of Australia's oldest and most significant wine regions.

To mingle with the magic-makers, head to the Jazz on the Bremer every October long weekend. Annually, Langhorne Creek also hosts the Langhorne Creek Winemakers’ Showcase Tasting in May, and converges on the Strathalbyn Racecourse for the Langhorne Creek Vignerons’ Raceday in November.

McLaren Vale offers exceptional wines, regional produce and beautiful scenery nestled between the Mount Lofty Ranges and beaches of Gulf St Vincent.

Best known for its wineries and welcoming cellar doors, McLaren Vale also produces fruits and is an extensive almond growing region. Little wonder that it has an abundance of cafes and restaurants whose chefs happily showcase local produce.

The main street of McLaren Vale is a charming showcase of cellar doors, local produce, art and craft stores, cafes and more.

The first McLaren Vale vines were planted by John Reynell in 1838 and by 1850 the well known Hardy and Seaview wineries were in operation.

Walk or cycle along the old railway alignment between Willunga and Seaford - through vineyards, wild olives and old gum trees - to get a feel for this gorgeous countryside.

The McLaren Vale region is dotted by more than 50 wineries, most of which are small to medium-size boutique operations but also including such major Australian players as the BRL Hardy group and Rosemount. About 270 independent grape growers can also be found here.

Shiraz is a specialty, as are Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, while Merlot is becoming increasingly popular as a varietal. Chardonnay dominates the white varieties but Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling are also gaining kudos, and experimentation is taking place with Viognier, Marsanne and Sangiovese.

With dozens of cellar doors, you'll be spoilt for choice in McLaren Vale. Among the best are Coriole Winery, d'Arenberg Vineyard and Winery and Wirra Wirra Vineyards and Cellars.

Meadows boasts several historic buildings, craft shops, a winery and excellent bakery. It is a thriving community with a wonderful lifestyle.

Every year, the town hosts the popular Meadows Country Fair and Meadows Easter Fair, and a country market is held monthly.

Nearby Prospect Hill Museum tells the story of the regional dairy industry and includes a re-created milk room, which is open Sundays from 2pm - 5pm. Or head to the 5000 hectare Kuitpo Forest for bushwalking, cycling and horse riding.

The Meadows Monthly Market is held on the second Sunday of each month and features stalls inside and outside with a wide variety of local produce including vegetables, fruit, jams, honey and eggs, plants, books, crafts and collectables. There are displays and demonstrations, which vary from month to month.

And there's more to discover in the Adelaide Hills.

It's the home of boutique wineries, art galleries and charming villages. It's also the place for romantic weekends away, cosy pub meals, scenic drives and nature walks.

Children love the Adelaide Hills's giant rocking horse, National Motor Museum and wildlife parks.

Located only 20 minutes from Adelaide's central business district, the Adelaide Hills provide a wonderfully refreshing change from the pace of the city.

Middleton is a popular spot for surfers and fishermen with its spectacular beach.

Middleton is also known for its bakery, bed and breakfasts, beaches, swimming and holiday opportunities. The Southern Right Whale can often be seen off the low cliffs during June to September, with the most common location being off Middleton Point. For about 90 per cent of the time, the whales are spotted at Basham's Beach between Middleton and Port Elliot.

The beaches are great for kite flying. Encounter Pathway is a shared bike path running along the foreshore, connecting through to Victor Harbor, and the stretch between Middleton and Port Elliot is its most spectacular.

You can also take surfing lessons here, with local surf schools.

The town's name is believed to have been derived from 'Middle Town' - the town half way between Goolwa and Port Elliot on the railway line, which opened in May 1854. When the single track railway was built it was necessary to provide loop lines for the carriages to pass. It was from one such loop and siding that the township developed.

When the railway was extended to Strathalbyn in 1869 the residents of Middleton were able to persuade the authorities to make their town the junction for the new line.

During the early days of the settlement the beach extended more than 400 metres from the ocean to the sand hills. Suddenly, the ocean encroached on the beach and came up to the sand hills, believed to have been caused by an offshore movement on the ocean floor.

Every summer, Middleton hosts a jazz festival. Enjoy foot tapping rhythms, with excellent food accompanied by quality wines specially selected from the Fleurieu region.

Milang is a peaceful coastal town offering a laid-back lifestyle that suits the many families, windsurfers, anglers or bird watchers who enjoy it today.

The town has many charming old buildings, including heritage workmen's shacks on the foreshore and other reminders of a bygone paddle steamer era.

Milang was once an active river port of South Australia, where paddle steamers would unload their cargo for transport overland to Adelaide, Port Adelaide and the world, first by bullock dray then by steam train. The history of the town can be seen everywhere you look, and the local Progress Association and Historical Society are continually helping to preserve this aspect of Milang. You can visit the museum or browse through the Port Milang railway station complex.

Come to Milang for Australia's biggest freshwater boat race - the Milang Goolwa Freshwater Classic, which began in 1966. After the race, join the party at the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club.

Stay at the Milang Lakeside Caravan Park with its many trees and abundant bird life. Enjoy the park's tranquil surroundings, with its many trees and abundant bird life in a birdwatchers paradise, overlooking Lake Alexandrina.

Milang is a short drive to the Fleurieu Peninsula's wine growing districts of Langhorne Creek and Currency Creek.

See more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots.

It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Enjoy some of the best produce and vineyards in Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to some prestigious winemaking regions, including McLaren Vale. The history of winemaking in this region goes all the way back to 1842, and it consistently produces some of the best drops you'll ever taste.

There's also national parks, golf courses, top quality cuisine and more.

Mount Compass is the home of Australia's only cow race!

This fun event, held every February, is a great way of celebrating the dairy heritage of the region.

Mount Compass is a rural hub surrounded by hills and a bounty of local produce including delicious red strawberries, cheese, pheasants and venison. Here, you can walk a wetland boardwalk, bird watch, play golf, fish for trout or pick your own seasonal fruit. There are alpaca, deer, assorted berries and protea farms to visit as well.

From Mount Compass follow the trail of fresh local produce through Nangkita, Tooperang, Yundi and Ashbourne.

You'll find a variety of local accommodation, including cottages and cabins.

See more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots.

It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Enjoy some of the best produce and vineyards in Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to some prestigious winemaking regions, including McLaren Vale. The history of winemaking in this region goes all the way back to 1842, and it consistently produces some of the best drops you'll ever taste.

There's also national parks, golf courses, top quality cuisine and more.

Mount Jagged is a small commercial district in the centre of Fleurieu Peninsula en route to Victor Harbor, fast gaining recognition for its scenery and food and wine experiences.

Mount Jagged has a cheesery and cellar doors open to the public.

Mt Jagged Wines is on the Main Victor Harbor Road. Chardonnay and Semillon are harvested in April, with the red varieties of Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon completing the harvest by the middle of May.

Alexandrina Cheese Company is situated on a working dairy farm in Mount Jagged. The company makes cheeses and other dairy produce using the highest quality milk produced by Jersey cows. Visitors are welcome to visit on weekends and public holidays - the cafe is a great stop for an Alexandrinashire Tea, espresso coffee, milkshakes and cheese platters and more.

See more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots.

It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Enjoy some of the best produce and vineyards in Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to some prestigious winemaking regions, including McLaren Vale. The history of winemaking in this region goes all the way back to 1842, and it consistently produces some of the best drops you'll ever taste.

There's also national parks, golf courses, top quality cuisine and more.

Myponga is at the centre of rich grazing and dairy country, where herds of Friesian cows are often joined at dusk by mobs of grey kangaroos. The town is 58 kilometres south of Adelaide in the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges.

Head to Myponga via Carrickalinga and enjoy views of the coast from hilltop lookouts - some of the best in South Australia. There's a good weekend craft and produce market, and a boutique brewery.

Many years ago, large gum trees were felled here and prepared for use in the Broken Hill mines. A cheese factory was also established and its produce was noted for its high quality, much of which was exported. In the early 1950s uranium was discovered and mining prospects investigated, however no mines were developed. The name derived from the Aboriginal word maippunga meaning locality of high cliffs.

See more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots.

It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Enjoy some of the best produce and vineyards in Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to some prestigious winemaking regions, including McLaren Vale. The history of winemaking in this region goes all the way back to 1842, and it consistently produces some of the best drops you'll ever taste.

There's also national parks, golf courses, top quality cuisine and more.

Beachside Normanville has become a mecca for many holiday makers because of its close proximity to Adelaide. It's just one of the peaceful and picturesque coastal hamlets to be found along the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Normanville boasts a safe swimming beach with expanses of white sand, a jetty to amble along, and a charming beachside cafe and store. Normanville is great for swimming, fishing and beach activities. Families enjoy staying at the friendly beachside caravan parks. It's a fantastic base to discover the delights of the region, including the wildlife, country markets, galleries, or just making castles on the sand.

The town is 75 kilometres south of Adelaide. Mr Robert Norman planned the town in 1835 and gave it his name.

See more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots.

It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Enjoy some of the best produce and vineyards in Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to some prestigious winemaking regions, including McLaren Vale. The history of winemaking in this region goes all the way back to 1842, and it consistently produces some of the best drops you'll ever taste.

There's also national parks, golf courses, top quality cuisine and more.

One of the sweetest beach settings in South Australia, Port Elliot is a popular tourist destination.

Port Elliot is a model seaside village, with cafes, antique and gift shops along The Strand. Feel the sand between your toes at picturesque Horseshoe Bay - its large beach and safe swimming conditions making it a favourite venue for families. The surfing fraternity is well accommodated at Boomer Beach, which lies on the western edge of the town.

Jump aboard the Cockle Train to nearby Goolwa or Victor Harbor - other popular seaside destinations - or try the cliff-top walking path for stunning views of the coast. The Encounter Bikeway weaves its way through Port Elliot's streets.

Port Elliot has a wealth of holiday accommodation to relax in.

Port Elliot was selected by Governor Sir Henry Edward Fox Young in 1850 as the site for the ocean port of the Murray River trade. He named the place after his friend, Sir Charles Elliot. The township was proclaimed in 1854, the same year in which the first railway line in South Australia was opened between Goolwa and Port Elliot, this being constructed to convey the produce to the overseas port. However, the Governor's choice was unfortunate as the bay was not well enough protected, and following several shipwrecks, the anchorage was transferred to the lee of Granite Island at Victor Harbor in 1864.

Port Noarlunga is a popular family destination, with gorgeous beach and great fishing opportunities for all ages who take advantage of the jetty.

Port Noarlunga is just 34 kilometres south of Adelaide. Low tides expose a nearby heritage-listed reef that provides a unique natural marine reserve, perfect for safe aquatic exploration.

More intrepid walkers can head for the river estuary and Onkaparinga River National Park.

The village itself provides great coffee and interesting shopping, along with a hint of what the old port would have looked like more than a century ago.

Don't miss the nearby adventure playground - a fort-like construction that enthralls children with its mazes, towers and high walls. The community came together to build this facility with voluntary labour and it has won numerous prizes.

Port Willunga is a coastal village on Fleurieu Peninsula, home to ancient shipwrecks and seaview restaurants.

The remains of the Star of Greece, a three mast, iron cargo ship wrecked here in 1888, provide a poignant reminder of the storms that can sometimes disturb this normally placid coastline near Willunga.

Jetty pylons are all that remains of Port Willunga's early days as a grain port. The soft, sandy beach is now greatly valued as a safe family swimming haven, overlooked by cliffs where fishermen once carved out caves to store their boats and nets.

Now the closest some people get to the local squid and garfish is in a popular restaurant overlooking the beach.

See more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots.

It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Enjoy some of the best produce and vineyards in Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to some prestigious winemaking regions, including McLaren Vale. The history of winemaking in this region goes all the way back to 1842, and it consistently produces some of the best drops you'll ever taste.

There's also national parks, golf courses, top quality cuisine and more.

Nestled between a long sandy beach and towering cliffs, Rapid Bay is 105 kilometres south of Adelaide and reached by a steeply descending road from the main Normanville-Cape Jervis Road.

Rapid Bay is well known for its very long jetty. While the original jetty built in 1940 is closed to the public, a new jetty (opened in early 2009) is now available for use. Take a stroll along the jetty and enjoy fishing or the beautiful views.

At Rapid Bay, you'll also find an important South Australian landmark - a boulder on which Colonel Light carved his initials after he first stepped ashore. It's reported that he said "I have hardly seen a place I like better".

Rapid Bay was named after the brig HMS Rapid in which Colonel Light and his staff came to South Australia, discovering Rapid Bay in 1830 en route to Glenelg. The HMAS Hobart was scuttled off Rapid Bay in November 2002 which has created an even more exciting dive experience for dive enthusiasts.

See more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots.

It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Steep coastal cliffs, old boat sheds and fascinating geological formations help make Second Valley unforgettable.

Second Valley's protected waters provide scuba divers with memorable diving experiences as they encounter fur seals and leafy seadragons.

Located 91 kilometres south of Adelaide, Second Valley is divided into two parts - the old mill on the main road and, down the valley to the sea, a tiny coastal port reminiscent of a Cornish fishing village. You'll also find local accommodation.

See more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots.

It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Enjoy some of the best produce and vineyards in Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to some prestigious winemaking regions, including McLaren Vale. The history of winemaking in this region goes all the way back to 1842, and it consistently produces some of the best drops you'll ever taste.

There's also national parks, golf courses, top quality cuisine and more.

Strathalbyn is one of South Australia's prettiest towns, where history is a part of contemporary daily life.

Strathalbyn has a thriving arts community with studio galleries and an ever changing display of original art in local cafes and the Stationmaster's Gallery. There are more than 30 attractive, heritage listed buildings to admire. Stroll along Albyn Terrace, famous for its historic architecture, or High Street, which features antique, craft and specialty gift shops. Don't miss the district museum in the original police station and courthouse.

Share a picnic with the ducks in the Soldier's Memorial Gardens beside the tranquil Angas River or walk through some of the narrow lanes, admiring the architecture and gardens. Watch out for the roving resident Town Crier.

Harness, flat horse racing and dog racing tracks draw large crowds to their regular country meetings. The Fleurieu Way passes through Strathalbyn from Langhorne Creek, with fuel and machinery servicing available.

See the Strathalbyn National Trust heritage museum, comprised of the Old Court House and Police Station. There are several rooms set out in the style of the Victorian era. Displays in the courtroom focus upon the lives of the original inhabitants and the settlers. You can also see farm machinery from the past and a blacksmith's shop.

Every August, Strathalbyn hosts the Collectors, Hobbies and Antique Fair. Local halls are filled with antiques, craft and memorabilia. Dealers from around Australia attend this event.

Find the Fleurieu Peninsula town of Tooperang by following Cleland Gully Road and the Tookayerta Creek east of Mount Compass as it winds though rolling hills and scrub.

Tooperang offers bed and breakfast accommodation, trout farm fishing, venison and other produce sales, and local crafts. This is where you can turn south on Deep Creek Road to reach Scott Conservation Park.

It was the local spring water-fed creeks that gave this area its name, derived from an Aboriginal word for “much water”.

You can try bait fishing and private secluded fly-fishing at the Tooperang trout farm, a great attraction for young and old. See trout in all their stages of development, have a picnic, barbecue a trout, or try a delicious smoked trout ready to eat.

And see more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots.

It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Enjoy some of the best produce and vineyards in Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to some prestigious winemaking regions, including McLaren Vale. The history of winemaking in this region goes all the way back to 1842, and it consistently produces some of the best drops you'll ever taste.

There's also national parks, golf courses, top quality cuisine and more.

Victor Harbor is all about the sun, surf, sand, stunning views and intimate wildlife encounters.

It's here that you'll find the Little Penguins of Granite Island, Southern Right Whales blowing into Encounter Bay, and some of South Australia's best surf at beaches like Petrel Cove, Chiton Rocks and the Dump.

Granite Island can be reached via a 600 metres causeway from Victor Harbor. Take a Clydesdale-drawn tram or walk across and absorb the stunning sea views.

Victor Harbor features outstanding early colonial architecture, good pubs, cafes and restaurants, and plenty of accommodation and fun events to attend.

Visit the South Australian Whale Centre or climb aboard the Cockle Train for a steam rail experience along the cliff tops to Port Elliot and Goolwa. Find your own fun at Greenhills Adventure Park, the Dunes Mini Golf Course and Urimbirra Wildlife Park.

Generations of South Australians have made Victor Harbor their summer holiday destination - and it's easy to see why.

If you're looking for a quiet country haven, Yankalilla is for you. Set in the peaceful valley of the Bungala River, it's overlooked by the wooded hillsides of the southern Mount Lofty Ranges.

Yankalilla is surrounded by old stone farmhouses, stockyards and gum trees. The bakery and Bavarian wursthouse are renowned for their produce. Stroll along the main street to see cottage architecture and lovingly maintained gardens.

The nearby coastline offers plenty of sea scenery and Yankalilla is not far from seaside havens such as Normanville, Carrickalinga and Myponga Beach. Yankalilla is home to a number of quality bed and breakfast establishments, perfect for a romantic getaway.

In August 1994 an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared on the wall of the Anglican church in Yankalilla. Since 1996 pilgrims have been coming to this church from all over the world. Yankalilla is the world's newest Marian Shrine. It is also the second known apparition of Mary in an Anglican church.

See more of the Fleurieu Peninsula – a coastal playground famed for its laidback lifestyle, beach breaks for surfers of all levels of experience, and top fishing spots.

It's a paradise for divers and snorkellers, with dramatic shipwrecks and stunning marine life, including the famed Leafy Seadragon.

Enjoy some of the best produce and vineyards in Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula is home to some prestigious winemaking regions, including McLaren Vale. The history of winemaking in this region goes all the way back to 1842, and it consistently produces some of the best drops you'll ever taste.

There's also national parks, golf courses, top quality cuisine and more.