Beaches
Discover the Best Beaches in South Australia, McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Coast
McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Coast is home to some of the most pristine beaches in South Australia, each with their own spectacular coastline and seaside charm.
Aldinga, Christies, Maslins, Moana, Port Noarlunga, Port Willunga, Seaford, Sellicks, and South Port beaches all offer some of the best sand experiences in the land.
Whether you have a small family, a group of friends or just love the escapism and long strolls where the water laps at your feet, we have the beach just for you.
There are lots of great spots for swimming, building sandcastles, shell spotting, explore rockpools, beach cricket and frisbee fun, just to name a few.
There’s also surf lifesaving patrols at Aldinga, Moana, South Port, Port Noarlunga, and Christies Beach for during the warmer months for that extra piece of mind when in the water.
If you are up for some adventure, you can snorkel or scuba dive on a reef or wreck, surf (or learn to surf), enjoy boogie boarding, a paddle-board, paddling a kayak, or dropping a line from a jetty or fish off the beach – these are only a few suggestions!
The region is also home to a few beaches where you can drive your car onto the sand, which is popular with the locals and visitors alike.
Beach access ramps may be monitored during December and March each year.
Cars can only access the beach if drivers show a current beach permit or pay the vehicle access fee of $12. This ramp fee can be paid via cash or card. Permission is granted under clause 9.6.2 of the Foreshore By-law.
All are perfect for a BBQ picnic, or there are plenty of great seaside eateries waiting to welcome you for breakfast, coffee or light lunches.
There’s no doubt that McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Coast beaches are second to none… no wonder the locals never leave and visitors keep coming back!
So grab your towel and soak up the beauty.
Willunga
Quaint and quintessentially quirky are words that immediately spring to mind when wandering around the leafy streets of Willunga.
A stone’s throw from McLaren Vale, Willunga is a town where history and heritage blend perfectly with hipster cool and hippy vibes.
Willunga is also part of the Nescafe limited edition collection of Nescafe Blend 43 tins, designed to celebrate true community spirit.
Willunga is known for their friendliness, which kicked off in 2007, where they came up with the idea of hosting the Fleurieu Folk Festival (held each year in October) where everyone would be welcomed, showing their true community spirit. and with only a few thousand residents, community spirit is hugely important in this wonderful township.
Events in Willunga
PGA Webex Players Series Golf Tournament
The Webex Players Series South Australia is a mixed-gender professional golf tournament attracting leading male and female golfers from across the country as well as other international golf tours that sees them line up in one field, playing for the same prize purse.
It will be held at Willunga Golf Course from October 19 - 22 and is open for spectators to enjoy a great event.
Entry is free for spectators across the four days of the tournament and a two-day live broadcast will take place on Fox Sports & Kayo in Australia plus throughout New Zealand.
History and heritage at every turn
Throughout the township, historical buildings can be seen at every turn with many homes, churches and buildings providing a glimpse of the past.
The heritage charm also extends to street sculptures, furniture and art including historic brass footpath inserts that reference the Willunga Courthouse and Slate Museum at the top of High Street.
Art, dine & drink
For those who love to peruse, galleries and studios are brimming with mosaics, glass, silver jewellery, and furniture abound. Meanwhile, op shops and other stops, featuring vintage bric-a-brac, retro clothing and curios await discovery.
Foodies can rejoice with cafés, pubs, restaurants, acclaimed pizzerias, providores, a gourmet general store, bakery, cake shop, and a chocolatier all catering to the hungry. For the thirsty, a boutique bottle shop, cellar doors, breweries, pubs and bars have your favourite tipple covered.
Willunga is also home to many beautiful parks and playgrounds within close distance to the main town centre, they are particularly stunning when the almond blossoms trees are in bloom. Download the Blossom Tour Map and enjoy a picnic lunch and day out with family.
To put you in a festive mood, they also host the Almond Blossom Festival in July of each year, the Fleurieu Folk Festival in October and a stage of the Santos Festival of Cycling in January of each year.
To market to market – home to SA’s best farmers market
However, where Willunga outdoes itself is with its markets. The famous weekly Saturday morning Willunga Farmers Market at the temporary site of Willunga High School is renown throughout the state with thousands attending rain, hail or shine.
More than 80 farmers and artisan food producers from the region sell fresh produce that includes meat, poultry and seafood, fruit and vegetables, dairy and bakery items, drinks, artisan goodies and condiments and garden products.
Other markets include the Willunga Artisans & Handmade Market and Willunga Quarry Market every second Saturday.
Stretch your legs and extend your stay
There’s also plenty for those who wish to stretch their legs with an 18-hole golf course and many walking trails — including the start (or finish) of the Coast to Vines Rail Trail. There’s even an App called Willunga Walks produced by the National Trust of South Australia that gives walkers a choice of two interactive historical strolls around the town.
Afterwards, weary walkers can rest up at one of the many parks, gardens and funky street seats. But for the young and young at heart, more adventure awaits at the local sports grounds, skate park, or BMX track.
Accommodation is diverse and plentiful with options in the town and nearby making it an easy decision to spend a couple of days exploring everything this pretty little village offers.
Old Reynella
Old Reynella is a busy urban village brimming with pioneering and wine making heritage awaiting discovery as part of your visit to McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast.
A name famous in the region is the Reynell family, as the area was the site of the first plantings of grapevines in South Australia.
Local landmark St Francis Winery Resort, was once home to three generations of Reynell family winemakers and the legacy of what is now Hardy’s Wines.
To discover more and unlock the heritage and stories of the Reynell family and their contribution to the wine industry, head to the aptly named John Reynell Park (did you think it would be called something different?) and enjoy a picnic.
If you enjoy a leisurely stroll or ride, you can head along the Panalatinga Creek and link up with the popular Coast to Vines Rail Trail.
The main street is also definitely worth a wander, with businesses that will surprise and delight. Think health and wellness shops, cafés, restaurants, fashion house, and even a very quirky garden accessory centre. Just a little bit curious? Explore and enjoy all things Old Reynella.
What's Open for Business?
Need to know what’s open in McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast? From McLaren Vale wineries, spirit and gin distilleries and craft breweries to coastal dining sensations we have you covered.
To make things easy, we have developed an extensive list just for you, on what’s open each day in Old Reynella.
Discover what's open on:
Whether you are looking for breakfast, brunch, lunch, regional platters or dinner, our cafes, restaurants and cellar doors are ready to welcome you.
Don’t worry, we have all your McLaren Vale wine, brewery and distillery experiences covered too. Our McLaren Vale cellar doors, taphouses and distillery cellar doors are waiting to be discovered. Check out our brewery trail too, with some of the best ales around!
Don’t believe us, you will just have to try for yourself!
To ensure you have the best experience, we strongly suggest you make a booking with your chosen café, restaurant, brewery, distillery or cellar door.
We look forward to welcoming you to the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast. This is where you'll find the good life!
Port Noarlunga
Port Noarlunga is the perfect spot for fun in the sun, where the Onkaparinga River meets Gulf St Vincent (patron saint of wine!). Where swimming, paddling a kayak, snorkelling, reef diving, surfing and fishing are part of the good life, however there’s so much more to see and do in this quintessential seaside village.
Beach fun aside, Port Noarlunga glistens as a perfect place to spend the day exploring one of McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast’s most adorable main streets with its quaint collection of shops and eateries. For wanderers and browsers, grab a coffee and discover antiques, bric-a-brac and curio stores, quirky plant offerings, boutiques, a cellar door, and hair, health and beauty salons.
The heart of arts
Art lovers won’t be disappointed with Port Noarlunga with an amazing arts hub featuring a Regional Arts Centre, plus galleries and street art.
Be sure to keep an eye out for the many street murals and funky public art pieces. In particular, take an alternative look at the local marine life through the giant goggles on the deck in front of the jetty - spectacular when lit at night.
The Port Noarlunga Arts Centre is the arts jewel in the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast’s crown, offering three dedicated gallery spaces, a performance space and a visual art studio. It is also home of the Port Noarlunga Visitor Information Outlet, so if you’re looking for more opportunities to immerse yourself in the region’s art and culture, this is a great place to start.
Another ‘must-visit’ for art lovers is just a short walk away. Sauerbier House is an innovative art space showcasing established and emerging contemporary artists, situated on the banks of the Onkaparinga River. It’s common to find an artist at work as part of the Gallery’s commitment to its artist in residence program.
Spectacular seaside dining
Port Noarlunga’s sea air breeds a healthy appetite, offering a range of seaside inspired dining options. Choose from cafe’s, restaurants, pubs, burger bars, fish and chips, bakeries, pizzerias, dessert bars and much more.
Fun in the sun
One of the most spectacular and peaceful ways to enjoy Port Noarlunga is by canoe, kayak or paddle board. Hire one or bring your own, to paddle along the Onkaparinga River and venture into the Onkaparinga National Park – the transition from coast to gorge is amazing.
If being beachside is more your thing, Port Noarlunga and South Port beaches offer safe swimming, patrolled by the local surf life-saving clubs in the warmer months. There are also a couple of great surf breaks close by – The Hump and Trigs – the locals know these well as do the surf schools offering lessons.
Port Noarlunga is also home to one of South Australia’s most iconic dive sites - the Port Noarlunga Aquatic Reef Reserve, which is a mecca for snorkelers and divers alike. The reef is highly visible from the end of the jetty and also hosts an underwater dive trail across 12 marked sites.
More ways to play
Port Noarlunga’s Jubilee Park Adventure Playground is one of South Australia’s best playgrounds – just ask the kids! Where imagination and little legs run wild, featuring a giant, multi-level wooden fortress, bridge, tunnel, toddler area, play equipment, sandpit, wheelchair-friendly carousel and all sorts of things to climb up, in, over and around – smiles all round are guaranteed. Be sure to grab a selfie with Geronimo, the life-sized giraffe!
Stay and relax
If you want to stay and relax, there’s a great range of local accommodation. From self-contained holiday homes, to motel style there is something to suit every taste and budget.
For magnificent water views and value to boot, you can’t go past the Coast Motel and Apartments – receiving two ‘2020 Travelers Choice Awards’ by Trip Advisor being #1 Hotel in Australia for 'Best Service' and #3 in Australia in the 'Top 25 small Hotels in Australia Category'. Your local hosts are great ambassadors of the region and before you know it, you will be spending a week (you can’t say you weren’t warned!).
Port Noarlunga’s beautiful beaches, reef, shops, eateries, activities and experiences make it a great place to lose yourself in the ambience of this picturesque coastal village.
Discover more villages
Whether you are looking for breakfast, brunch, lunch, regional platters or dinner, our cafes, restaurants and cellar doors are ready to welcome you.
Don’t worry, we have all your McLaren Vale wine, brewery and distillery experiences covered too. Our McLaren Vale cellar doors, taphouses and distillery cellar doors are waiting to be discovered. Check out our brewery trail too, with some of the best ales around! Don’t believe us, you will just have to try for yourself!
To ensure you have the best experience, we strongly suggest you make a booking with your chosen café, restaurant, brewery, distillery or cellar door.
We look forward to welcoming you to the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast. This is where you'll find the good life!
Old Noarlunga
Cosily nestled on the banks of the Onkaparinga River, Old Noarlunga invites visitors to rediscover nature and soak up the history and heritage of this unique little village.
With a past celebrated by the many old stone buildings and preserved areas throughout the township, visitors can step back in time and imagine Old Noarlunga as a bustling and significant township servicing the Fleurieu with its Market Square stockyard, steam-driven Flour Mill, Post Office, Blacksmith, Milliner and row of shops and residences.
Parks, picnics and paddling
Today, as the Onkaparinga River winds through the township, Market Square is a beautiful reserve and a great spot for visitors and locals too.
You can enjoy a picnic or BBQ or keep things simple by grabbing a great coffee just across from the park at Long Shot & Co, while the kids can play until their heart’s content at the playground. Look out too for the family of resident ducks, always a winner with big kids and little kids alike. There’s also a beautiful memorial fountain for the late Princess Diana, the People’s Princess.
For paddlers, to discover the river and enjoy its true beauty, a little further downstream at Perry’s Bend there are some great kayak or canoe launching facilities.
A short stroll from Market Square is Winnaynee Horseshoe Inn Reserve, home of the Old Horseshoe Inn, a popular landmark in the area until fire claimed it in 1987. It also acknowledges the importance of Onkaparinga River in Kaurna Aboriginal People’s culture.
Walk on the wild side
For those whose passion is walking and hiking, Old Noarlunga is a fabulous gateway into the Onkaparinga River National Park.
A pedestrian footbridge over the Onkaparinga River invites stunning views of the river and provides access to some of SA’s best walking/hiking trails including trekking the two and a half hour Old Noarlunga Hike.
If you still want great views into the Onkaparinga River National Park, but not so much of a walk, enjoy a couple of dining hidden gems accessible from Victor Harbor Road.
Varney Wines offers premium tastings tastings and offers an elevated look across the hills.
An oldy but a goody
The surprisingly modern touch in amongst its surrounds is the Old Noarlunga Hotel (the Oldy).
Catering for locals, visitors, and perpetually thirsty, the (very busy) Oldy recently received a face lift and is looking spectacular.
A few wrinkles may be smoothed, but you can’t take the atmosphere or the good old Australian country pub out of the Oldy!
What's Open?
Need to know what’s open in McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast? From McLaren Vale wineries, spirit and gin distilleries and craft breweries to coastal dining sensations we have you covered.
To make things easy, we have developed an extensive list just for you, on what’s open each day in Old Noarlunga.
Discover what's open on:
Whether you are looking for breakfast, brunch, lunch, regional platters or dinner, our cafes, restaurants and cellar doors are ready to welcome you.
Don’t worry, we have all your McLaren Vale wine, brewery and distillery experiences covered too. Our McLaren Vale cellar doors, taphouses and distillery cellar doors are waiting to be discovered. Check out our brewery trail too, with some of the best ales around!
Don’t believe us, you will just have to try for yourself!
To ensure you have the best experience, we strongly suggest you make a booking with your chosen café, restaurant, brewery, distillery or cellar door.
We look forward to welcoming you to the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast. This is where you'll find the good life!
