Fleurieu

Difficulty: Difficulty 1/5 Suitable for: 4WD AWD 2WD Caravan Camper Motorhome Bike 
Fleurieu This trek covers the eastern, southern and western coastal regions of the peninsula and offers a variety of contrasts of wild beaches, excellent coastal scenery, great family seaside towns, rolling pastoral land and a taste of a popular wine region.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesGoolwa
FinishMcLaren Vale
Distance178.79 kmMinimum Days1
Average Speed61.02 km/hrDriving Time2 hrs 55 mins
Article By: Member - Sand Man (SA) | Page Updated: 12 Mar 2008

In this TrekNote

Description
Preparation
Trek Feedback
Interactive Route Map
Camp Sites & Accommodation
Related Travel Journals
Permits
Environment
Related Pages
Things to See & Do
Driving Directions
Related Shop Items

Go to top Description

This trek begins in Goolwa, more or less at the beginning of the Fleurieu Peninsula. Goolwa itself is quite a big town near the mouth of the Murray River, basically situated on a big inlet with a new bridge connection to the mainland to Hindmarsh Island.

From Goolwa its approximately 17kms to Victor Harbour, a pretty town with quite a lot of history and a good spot for whale watching between June and October. It’s also a good place to stock up on fuel and food before continuing on.

16kms from Victor Harbour, you come to Newland Head Conservation Park and Waitpinga Beach and Parsons Head. Waitpinga has a good campground ($6 per site per night run by SA Parks) for tents but not so good for camper trailers/caravans. Its also a good spot for surfing and well recognised as an excellent salmon fishing beach. From Newland Head the road continues inland and we're heading for the turn-off to Deep Creek Conservation Park, 26kms along a sealed road. The unsealed road continues west and a day pass for Deep Creek CP is $7.50 unless you intend to camp. Tapanappa Hill is the first turn-off you come to followed by the turn-off to Tent & Cobblers Hill, approx 5kms from the Tapanappa turn-off. The drive is quite a pretty one passing through a shady forest section.

Once at the turn-off to Tent and Cobblers Hill, you head south. If you're looking for a place to camp, Trig (at Tent Hill) camp was the best option with more shade and a couple of good walks to Deep Creek Cove and Deep Creek Waterfall and is $6 per night per site. None of the camps have access to the coast without a few kms walk and the eastern side is really the "wild" side of the peninsula. There are good views across to Kangaroo Island from here.

Our trek heads from the Deep Creek CP (where the unsealed road ends) out to Cape Jervis approx 14kms away. Cape Jervis is one of the ferry points to Kangaroo Island and is the western most tip of the peninsula. From here you may want to extend your trek to Kangaroo Island. Its not a cheap exercise however and costs (as at March 2001) $64 per person return and $138 return for vehicles up to 5 metres. There are day packages from Adelaide which maybe a cheaper option if you're just going for the day.

From Cape Jervis we head to the western side of the peninsula. It’s 11kms from Cape Jervis to Delamere and then only another 1km to the turn-off to Rapid Bay. Rapid Bay is a little town with a small council camping ground but has probably the best (definitely the longest) jetty you're likely to find on the peninsula. Back on the main road, you wind your way back out to the coast and its 25kms to Normanville. Normanville is a pleasant seaside town catering to tourists, so it has the usual shops/bakery etc and a couple of nice caravan parks situated right on the water's edge. This is a really good place for families and boats as the water is really lovely and calm and a good place to relax for a while.

From Normanville, passing a few smaller wineries on the way, the trek heads past Willunga and ends approx 40kms later at McLaren Vale. As good a spot as any to finish a trek and enjoy some wine tasting!

Go to top Interactive Route Map

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Fleurieu Help

From: Goolwa
To: McLaren Vale

This trek supports moving map, to take a virtual tour click on the Play button.
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Go to top Permits

Newland Head and Deep Creek Conservation Parks require day pass. If intending to enter Deep Creek CP, a once off Park Entry fee of $7.50 (car) is applicable plus camping fees if planning to stay overnight. (Trig, Tapanarra, Cobbler Hill - $5.00 per night, Stringybark - $15.00 per night.) Self registration stations are located at various access points and the Ranger's Headquarters. Travelling along the trek route does not require any fee payment at all.

Go to top Things to See & Do

Go to top Preparation

No specific preparation required. The trek should be regarded as a “day trip” excursion, primarily on sealed (bitumen) roads. It is within easy reach from Adelaide requiring a drive to Goolwa of less than a couple of hours.

Route is suitable for 2WD vehicles, however in extremely wet conditions the unsealed section via Deep Creek may present problems. An alternative route on sealed roadways to Cape Jervis is available.

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolGoolwa, Middleton, Victor Harbor, Cape Jervis, Normanville, Willunga, McLaren Vale Diesel4cyl 25 litres ULP4cyl 29 litres LPG4cyl 36 litres
6cyl 27 litres6cyl 32 litres6cyl 31 litres
8cyl 27 litres8cyl 30 litres
Usage is averaged from TrekFuel (* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.

Best Time To Visit

Mid winter may bring brisk conditions along the coastal regions. In extremely wet conditions the unsealed section into Deep Creek CP can be bypassed by staying on the sealed highway.

Closest Climatic Station

Kuitpo Forest Reserve
Distance from Trek Mid Point 21.28km N
 JanFebMarAprMayJun JulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C 26.126.023.219.6 16.013.012.313.5 16.018.221.723.5
Mean Min. °C 14.114.112.511.1 9.37.36.66.8 7.98.911.112.4
Mean Rain mm 21.718.732.162.0 86.1108.5100.483.0 71.156.941.433.2
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Goolwa, Middleton, Port Elliot, Victor Harbor, Cape Jervis, Normanville, Willunga, McLaren Vale

Go to top Camp Sites & Accommodation

If you are a visitor to the area, consider a one or two night stay at Goolwa to explore this town and environs. Several days could be spent in and around Victor Harbor with a leisurely walk or horse drawn trip across the causeway to Granite Island and whale watching excursions in season.

There is a wide range of choices to choose, be it hotel/motel, Bed & Breakfast, or camping. The Beach Huts at Middleton provide a unique and alternative method of accommodation. Camping is available in all the major tourist areas, or for a more secluded stay, Deep Creek Conservation Park has several campground areas to choose from and great walking trails to explore the flora and fauna of the area.

Go to top Environment

The environment experienced during the trek is predominately rural dairy cattle farming, mild to hot in summer months and cool to cold in winter.

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Go to top Driving Directions

Time
Direction
Distance
Goolwa to Beach Huts 5.42 km W 265° 4 min
Beach Huts to Middleton 0.18 km NW 304°
Middleton to Port Elliot 5.51 km SW 239° 5 min
Port Elliot to Lookout - Granite Island & The Bluff 4.02 km W 253° 4 min
Lookout - Granite Island & The Bluff to Victor Harbor 1.87 km SW 230° 2 min
Victor Harbor to Waitpinga Beach 16.73 km SW 230° 16 min
Waitpinga Beach to Deep Creek CP Ranger's HQ Access 39.59 km W 278° 36 min
Deep Creek CP Ranger's HQ Access to Main South Rd (B23) & Three Bridges Rd 8.48 km W 269° 8 min
Main South Rd (B23) & Three Bridges Rd to Cape Jervis 7.45 km W 271° 7 min
Cape Jervis to Main South Rd (B23) & Three Bridges Rd 7.45 km E 91° 7 min
Main South Rd (B23) & Three Bridges Rd to Delamere 5.5 km NE 40° 4 min
Delamere to Rapid Bay 5.47 km N 351° 5 min
Rapid Bay to Lady Bay 21.41 km NE 57° 19 min
Lady Bay to Normanville 3.41 km NE 39° 2 min
Normanville to Yankalilla 3.14 km E 111° 3 min
Yankalilla to Myponga 14.01 km NE 54° 12 min
Myponga to Main South Rd (B23) & Biscay Rd 15.01 km N 12 min
Main South Rd (B23) & Biscay Rd to Victor Harbor Rd & Aldinga Rd 6.03 km E 88° 5 min
Victor Harbor Rd & Aldinga Rd to Willunga 1.56 km E 85° 1 min
Willunga to McLaren Vale 6.53 km N 350° 5 min
Goolwa to McLaren Vale 178.79 km     2 hr 55 min
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.
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