Attractions
There is so much to see and do in this beautiful part of the world that you will never be bored during your visit to Port Elliot and Horseshoe Bay. As events and attractions can be seasonal, the Holiday Park Office offers a wide range of information on activities to keep you occupied.
Swimming
Horseshoe Bay: One of the safest & most picturesque swimming bays in Australia offering swimming & body surfing for all ages. Seasonally patrolled.
Ladies Beach: Secluded sandy beach offering swimming and rock pool exploration just south of the SLSC.
Crockery Bay: Small secluded beach ideal for paddling or shell collecting rather than swimming.Surfing & Body Boarding
Knights Beach: Experienced body boarders or body surfers only.
Boomer Beach: Experienced body boarders or body surfers only.
Fisherman's Bay 'Chicken Run': Board surfing (care needs to be taken).
Horseshoe Bay & Commodore Point: For the more experienced, or further around the Bay (towards the SLSC) for younger children and the less experienced (hardboard surfing not recommended).-
Restaurants / Hotels / Takeaway
Port Elliot has a range of award-winning restaurants offering a fabulous range of tastes and flavours of the Fleurieu Peninsula. The Hotel Elliot is one of our favourites (must try their steaks) and they are open 7 days a week. Information sheets including phone numbers are available from Reception.
Walks
- Take a leisurely stroll for fantastic coastal views along the cliff path, adjacent to the Surf Life Saving Club, passing Ladies Bay and the breakwater, Christmas Rock arriving to overlook Rocky Bay. Enjoy the view before heading to Green Bay and the magnificent rock formations.
- To step back in time take a conducted History Walk from the Railway Station or do-it-yourself following the marked trails around the township with your historic buildings map.
- A network of pathways and tracks winds through the Basham Beach Regional Park joining Port Elliot with Middleton. This Park is full of interpretive signage, has public toilet facilities, an indigenous food and medicine trail, herbarium, dream time murals and shelters. Brochures available from the Park Reception.
- From the Lions Park in Currency Creek a 3km easy walk (great for kids) takes you under the railway viaduct, past an aboriginal canoe tree, into a miners cave and onto the Currency Creek waterfall. Come back the same way but follow the steps up to the cemetery and visit the sites of original settlers and river-boat Captains. A real must!
- The Port Elliot Memorial Gardens, located just above the Flying Fish Café, include a network of 'secret' trails, turnstiles and ponds make these gardens magical for children to explore. On 3 different levels and offering a magnificent view across Horseshoe Bay towards Goolwa
Places to see and things to do
Ride the historic 'Steam Ranger' or 'Cockle Train' which runs from Goolwa through Port Elliot to Victor Harbor throughout school holidays and most weekends over peak season. Timetables are available at the railway and the Park Office.
Urimbirra Wildlife Park is an open-range park where you can see close at hand an impressive collection of Australian wildlife including a Nocturnal House. Open Daily 10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.
For those interested in whale watching, a visit to the Whale Watch Centre, in Victor Harbor is a must. They have the most up to date information as to where the whales can be found and a terrific display of these great mammals and their history in the area.
A day out to Greenhills Adventure Park is almost a guarantee of fun for everyone. Facilities include ˝ court tennis, water slides, 3-par golf and put-put mini golf, climbing wall, canoeing, go-karts, bouncy pillows and water bikes.
Signal Point at Goolwa offers an informative and educational look at the history of the Port of Goolwa and local surrounds.
A trip to Granite Island is a must. Take a walk across the causeway or catch the horse drawn tram. Whether you view the fairy penguins on their nightly pilgrimage or enjoy the walking trail circumnavigating the island, it offers magnificent views of Encounter Bay and the Bluff. The island is a sanctuary and native marsupials are commonly seen.
The Victor Cinema offers latest release films both mid-week and on weekends at very reasonable prices. Please see Reception for Cinema Guide.
Wineries
Port Elliot is only a short drive to many of the Fleurieu Peninsula’s and South Australia’s most recognized wine districts including Langhorne Creek, McLaren Vale and Currency Creek. Please see Reception for more information.
Fishing
Local jetty, rock, and surf fishing spots provide enjoyment for those wishing to try their hand at reeling in that elusive big one. Bait is available at the Holiday Park Office.
Scenic Drives
Take a day trip to Cape Jervis passing through Victor Harbor, Inman Valley, Yankalilla, Normanville, Second Valley, Rapid Bay arriving at your destination for some magnificent views of the Southern Ocean and Kangaroo Island. For those interested in nature Deep Creek Conservation Park, only a few km's away, has walking trails to suit the beginner and the most experienced bushwalker. Alternatively, take the Sealink to Kangaroo Island, known to be an unspoilt natural paradise.
Alternatively historic Strathalbyn with it's pretty parks on the river and home to some wonderful old buildings and churches continuing on to the old town of Milang on Lake Alexandrina. From there you could continue onto Langhorne Creek, home to some delightful wineries or take a short drive around the lake to Clayton, a lovely small town with parks, boating, swimming, and views of the backwaters and Hindmarsh Island.
For an enjoyable day wine tasting and dining why not travel to McLaren Vale. Willunga and their surrounding towns to the home of some of the best wineries in the South. This area also houses some great specialty shops and tourist attractions.