Coastal Experiences
With more than 4800 kilometres (2893 miles) of coastline, South Australia provides a great range of coastal experiences.
There are many tours available that allow visitors to get into the water to encounter sea lions, dolphins, sharks, tuna, cuttlefish and more. Watch dolphins tagging alongside the boat on the Eyre Peninsula. At Port Lincoln visitors can swim with sharks and sea lions. Get up close and personal with rare Australian sea lions at Seal Bay Conservation Park on Kangaroo Island or cruise with Temptation Dolphin Swim in Glenelg to witness dolphins off Adelaide’s metropolitan coastline.
The Eyre Peninsula is Australia's Seafood Frontier, follow the stunning coastline on a seafood safari. The Limestone Coast townships of Robe and Beachport are also well-known for exceptional seafood. The 145 kilometre (90 mile) long Coorong is a wetland of international importance offering excellent camping sites, fishing, beaches and birdwatching.
Beaches
Adelaide’s metropolitan coastline offers safe swimming beaches, and there are many ‘footprint free’ beaches along the Limestone Coast, Fleurieu, Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas. Here the beaches are uncrowded and there are good surf beaches for the novice and reef breaks for the more experienced. Surf lessons are available in Moana, South Port and Middleton.
Diving and Snorkelling
South Australia, with its pristine, temperate, uncrowded waters and unique marine environment, is undoubtedly a diver’s paradise. The marine life is unique – the Leafy Sea-dragon and Australian sea lions are among the stars and there are tours for an exclusive experience to swim with giant cuttlefish during their breeding season. Then there are the magical caves below ancient limestone, and countless shipwrecks off its coast and marine heritage trails between Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island.
One of South Australia’s most famous dive sites is on the Fleurieu Peninsula. The ex HMAS Hobart in Yankalilla Bay was scuttled in 2002 and, unlike other scuttled ships around Australia, the majority of the former battle ship is accessible to divers.
The Limestone Coast is home to some of the finest freshwater sinkhole and cave diving in the world and attracts enthusiastic cave divers from many countries. The Tank Cave, at over seven-kilometres (four-miles) long, is one of the most spectacular water filled caves in Australia. Permits are required to cave-dive in some areas.
Canoe and Kayaking
One of the best ways to explore South Australia’s beautiful coastline is on a canoe or kayaking tour. Some of South Australia’s most unique ecosystems can be explored without impacting the natural ecology of these pristine areas. Options include paddling through 10,000 year old mangrove forests with Dolphin Sanctuary Kayak Tours. As the name suggests you also have a fantastic opportunity to get up close to the resident bottlenose dolphins that live in the area. Another option is Canoe the Coorong where it is time to explore the internationally recognised wetlands, rolling sand dunes and enjoy some of the delicious local produce. This area is also a bird watching paradise with many unique species calling the Coorong home along with migratory species transiting through the area.
If you prefer to head inland for your canoeing jump on the Murray River Safari tour with Murray River Trails to explore some the rivers backwaters or Canoe Adventures, these tours are designed for wildlife viewing at a relaxed pace while you enjoy the serenity that only being immersed in nature can provide.
Wildlife Cruises
Fleurieu Peninsula
Experience a spectacular ocean adventure with Big Duck Boat Tours, just 60 minutes from Adelaide. See seals, sea lions, dolphins, whales, beautiful islands and coastline. Spirit of the Coorong offer four and six hour cruises across the Murray River Mouth into the unspoilt wetland wilderness and protected waters of the Coorong National Park.
Kangaroo Island
To meet up with local dolphin pods and other wildlife book a Kangaroo Island Marine Adventure or Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari cruise.
Whale watching (May to October)
On the Nullarbor Plain, visitors can watch the whale migration just metres away on viewing platforms built above the towering 60 metre-high (197 feet) Bunda Cliffs at Head of Bight. On the Fleurieu Peninsula, the mighty mammals can be seen from land-based vantage points around Encounter Bay and Big Duck Boat Tours offers tours in season. Visit the South Australian Whale Centre at Victor Harbor to learn more about the Southern Right whale.