Only an hour’s drive from Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula is a prime destination whose richness is worth staying for a day or more, or spending some time for travelers on the way to Kangaroo Island, Coorong National Park, or the Great Ocean Road. On the to-do list: a visit to the charming and high-quality vineyards of McLaren Vale or Langhorne Creek, lovely beachside towns from Sellicks Beach to Victor Harbor and Goolwa, and beautiful nature spots with plenty of wildlife like Deep Creek Conservation Park and Onkaparinga River National Park.
The Fleurieu is particularly renowned for its food and wines. It's no wonder that every year, in August, the Fleurieu Food Festival features dozens of culinary events across the Peninsula for a month, including masterclasses, tastings, and gourmet feasts in cafes, restaurants, wineries, and farms, all highlighting the region’s local producers.
Among the many wineries on the Peninsula, Beresford Estate, in the heart of McLaren Vale, is a great place to stop, enjoying the 70 acres of vineyards surrounding this family-owned property, and tasting some wines. The estate also offers lovely Villas & Suites accommodations, with in-room massages, secluded pools facing the surrounding vineyards, next to the Wines Tasting Pavilion. Its Vale Restaurant includes a state-of-the-art micro-brewing facility, a bar, and a restaurant, set among vineyards with breathtaking views overlooking the region.
About 8 kilometers away, the Never Never Distilling Co, located atop Chalk Hill, offers great guided tours of gin production before tasting a few. You can then enjoy Italian street food at Cucina di Strada or some wines from the family-owned winery Chalk Hill, with nice panoramic views of the surrounding vineyards.
About fifty kilometers further, Victor Harbor, along Encounter Bay and the Southern Ocean, is one of the best locations to spot whales during their winter migration from May to October. The beach town is also home to the South Australian Whale Centre. The coastline offers many other places to see those spectacular animal, such as picturesque Port Elliot, Middleton, and Goolwa, all facing the Encounter Marine Park, one of Australia’s best-preserved ocean environments and a vital sanctuary zone for native fish to shelter and breed.
Only a short walk from this coast, McCracken Resort is a perfect place to stay, offering a range of accommodation options, including villas and spa suites, all with views of an 18-hole championship golf course. The resort features also a bar & grill, gym, indoor pool, sauna & spa, and tennis courts.
Numerous trails also allow exploration of the Peninsula. The most famous begins at the western tip of the Fleurieu, at Cape Jervis, about sixty kilometers west of Victor Harbor. The site is not only the departure point for the ferry to Kangaroo Island but also the start of the Heysen Trail, South Australia’s 1,200-kilometer hike that traverses coasts, bushlands, gorges, forests, vineyards, farmlands, and villages to reach the Flinders Ranges. The full trek offers a challenge for experienced hikers, but walking short sections of the trail can be a beautiful way to spend a day or even just an afternoon. A true paradise for nature lovers with amazing landscapes and wildlife.
