Beaches
Southern Ocean Coves
The best beaches in Fleurieu Peninsula
From the turquoise coves of Second Valley to the wide drive-on sands of Aldinga and the sheltered cup of Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot, the Fleurieu's beaches are as varied as its landscapes.
The Fleurieu Peninsula has two very different coastlines, and that's what makes its beaches so good. On the sheltered Gulf St Vincent side you get calm, swimmable water and long stretches of sand — Aldinga, where you can still drive onto the beach, plus Sellicks, Maslin, Moana and the dramatic cliffs and jetty ruins of Port Willunga, home to the wreck of the Star of Greece.
Around the southern tip and along the Encounter Coast, the wild Southern Ocean takes over. This is the surf and big-sky country of Goolwa Beach, Middleton, Waitpinga and Parsons Beach, where the swell rolls in uninterrupted. In between sit the gentle, family-friendly coves: Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot, Normanville, Second Valley and the rock pools of the western beaches.
Before you go, check the tides and conditions — the Gulf beaches are best around high tide, while many surf beaches have strong rips and are unpatrolled. Plenty of beaches are dog-friendly and have easy parking, making the Fleurieu one of the most rewarding stretches of coast in South Australia for a swim, a surf, a walk or simply a sunset.
Browse beaches by area
36 places
Normanville Beach
Wide white sand just an hour from Adelaide
One of the longest, safest swimming beaches on the Fleurieu - a broad arc of white sand backed by dunes and a historic jetty.
O'Sullivan Beach
A quiet, rocky cove and boat ramp between Christies and Hallett Cove - the last of the metropolitan beaches before you enter the Fleurieu proper.
Parsons Beach
Wild, remote surf beach at Newland Head
A wild, remote surf beach at the western end of Newland Head Conservation Park, best known for its powerful reef break and its seclusion.
Port Noarlunga
One of the most iconic beaches on the Fleurieu - a long, sheltered bay framed by ochre cliffs, a 1921 timber jetty, and the Port Noarlunga Reef just offshore.
Port Willunga Beach
Limestone cliffs & the Star of Greece jetty ruins
One of the Fleurieu's most photographed beaches, framed by golden limestone cliffs and home to the haunting remains of the 1864 cargo jetty.
Pullen Island
A small offshore granite island just off Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot - a defining feature of the bay's view, accessible to experienced swimmers in calm conditions.
Rapid Bay
Leafy sea dragons & a legendary jetty
Sheltered bay famous for its old T-shaped jetty, one of the best dive sites in Australia and a reliable place to spot the elusive leafy sea dragon.
Second Valley Beach
Sculptural cliffs, a jetty & crystal water
A tiny sandstone cove flanked by dramatically folded cliffs and a heritage jetty, and one of the most photographed coastlines in South Australia.
Sellicks Beach
A long sweep of sand below the cliffs
A wide, family-friendly drive-on beach at the southern end of the metropolitan coast, famous for its cliff-backed sands and clifftop sunsets over Gulf St Vincent.
Tunkalilla Beach
A wild 5km Southern Ocean surf beach inside Deep Creek National Park, accessible via Tunkalilla Road and the Heysen Trail - one of the most remote beaches on the Fleurieu.
Waitpinga Beach
A wild, exposed surf beach inside Newland Head Conservation Park. No swimming, no facilities, and often empty - one of the most dramatic beaches on the south coast.
Yilki Store
$Beachfront cafe and store on Franklin Parade
A beloved Encounter Bay beachfront cafe, grocery and takeaway - open from 6am for breakfast, coffee, burgers and famous fish and chips.