Things To Do In The Fleurieu Peninsula

THINGS TO DO ON THE FLEURIEU PENINSULA

Things to do on the Fleurieu Peninsula are built around life’s simple pleasures. The kind you might remember from childhood: sandy feet, fruit eaten warm from the sun and the feeling that there’s nowhere else you need to be. Days start at the beach and roll easily into long lunches in McLaren Vale, where vineyards slope toward the coast and wine has been made for generations. Somewhere in between, you’ll pull over at a farm gate, where produce is picked, pressed or poured just metres from where it’s grown.

Beach days, winery afternoons and paddock-to-plate experiences are what the Fleurieu does best. And it works because everything sits close together. Arrive in under an hour from Adelaide, with easy road access and a coastal train line. This is a region made for unhurried days, with plenty of experiences, tours and attractions to explore at your own pace.

A man sits on a deck chair in the sand under a yellow umbrella at Normanville Beach — Normanville

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Beaches & coastline

The Fleurieu Peninsula has been the backdrop to generations of beach days. The kind that starts with towels thrown over shoulders, sand stuck to sun screened legs and a cricket bat pulled from the boot. Stretching more than 140 kilometres, the Fleurieu coast invites slow days hopping from one beach to the next. Paddle the waterline at Horseshoe Bay, pull lunch from the esky beneath Port Willunga’s golden limestone cliffs or call in to Middleton, known for its steady breaks. Between swims at popular Fleurieu Peninsula beaches, the coast opens to clifftop walks, bike rides and, in winter, whale sightings close to shore. It’s easy to stay just long enough to watch the sun slip into the sea — a natural full stop to any proper beach day.

Four people sit on a picnic rug out the front of Dandelion Wines in McLaren Vale — Dandelion Wines

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Renowned wine region

A stop at one of the Fleurieu Peninsula wineries is a chance to taste the region itself. Sun-warmed vineyards stretch to the shore, their grapes drinking in the salty breeze, mixing land and sea. In McLaren Vale, a winemaker leans on a terrace railing as they tell stories about this patch of earth, that has produced wine for nearly two centuries. A short drive away, Langhorne Creek’s vines hug river flats, and cellar doors pour rich cabernet sauvignon and shiraz. Down in Currency Creek, vineyards rest just inland from the Southern Ocean, producing crisp whites that pair perfectly with fresh oysters plucked from nearby waters. Among these vines, grapes grow generously.

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Harvest & herd

Out here, the land is generous — it nurtures fresh food, rich soils and a fair few cute animals. Rolling pastures, fertile river flats and coastal fields shape the region, which is why many of the best things to do on the Fleurieu Peninsula start on a farm. Shaggy highland cows amble over for a scratch, and alpacas eat straight from your hand. In season, you’ll fill buckets with cherries straight from the tree and taste olives pressed just down the road. You might saddle up, ride a quad bike through paddocks or follow a country road to a shed selling milk, horseradish or oil made metres from where it’s grown. Here, the simple pleasure is knowing exactly where it all comes from.

Places to visit on the Fleurieu Peninsula

In Victor Harbor, the horse-drawn tram driver waves as you cross the causeway. In Port Elliot, a surfer nods as you drag your board from the sand. In McLaren Vale, a winemaker laughs as he shares a story. In Carrickalinga, Noarlunga, Normanville and Willunga you’ll find that same friendly demeanor. On the Fleurieu, you'll discover a place where coast, country and community meet.

Planning a Trip?

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