South Australia is home to a treasure trove of stunning beaches, each with its own vibe and charm. Here are 25 of the best spots (in alphabetical order) to soak up the sun and sea!
1. Almonta Beach – Eyre Peninsula
Known for its sapphire waters and pillowy dunes, Almonta Beach is located inside the Coffin Bay National Park, and is a great spot for those wanting to see stunning scenery and even some native wildlife.
>> Almonta Beach is a 7 hour and 45 minute drive from the CBD.

2. Carrickalinga Beach – Fleurieu Peninsula
Carrickalinga Beach, famous for its crystal-clear waters and beautiful rock pools, is a popular spot for swimming and fishing on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Known for its heart-shaped rock pool and stunning views, the beach, with its white sand, has been named Australia’s top beach by Lonely Planet previously.
>> Carrickalinga Beach is a 1 hour and 15 minute drive from the CBD.
3. Dolphin Beach – Yorke Peninsula
Dolphin Beach in Innes National Park is an 800-metre stretch of golden sand and tranquil turquoise waters, frequently visited by dolphins (hence the name). A popular spot for fishers and swimmers, it’s a peaceful spot, with only a few visitors on busy weekends. During quieter times of the year, you can have the chance to have the beach all to yourself.
>> Dolphin Beach is a 3 hour and 39 minute drive from the CBD.
4. Ethel (Wreck) Beach – Yorke Peninsula
Ethel Beach, or Ethel Wreck Beach, is a 450-metre sandy surf beach in Innes National Park, where you can see the historic Ethel shipwreck at the northern end. Named after the Norwegian ship Ethel, which ran aground in 1904, the beach is also the site of the Ferret wreck from 1920, with easy access via a sealed road and a walking track with beautiful views and historical information.
>> Ethel Beach is a 3 hour and 26 minute drive from the CBD.

5. Fishery Bay – Eyre Peninsula
Fishery Bay, just 20 minutes south of Port Lincoln, is a popular beach where locals drive onto the sand with a 4WD to set up for the day. The beach offers beautiful white sands on the Eyre Peninsula, with toilets at the entrance, but keep in mind that there are no lifeguards on duty.
>> Fishery Bay is a 7 hour and 18 minute drive from the CBD.

6. Glenelg Beach – Adelaide
Glenelg Beach is Adelaide’s most popular city beach, known for its long beach, stunning sunsets, and fun vibe with plenty of shops, cafes, and entertainment. Visitors can enjoy swimming, strolling the jetty, and dining by the ocean, while the Glenelg Foreshore Playground and Moseley Square provide family-friendly activities year-round.
>> Glenelg Beach is a 25 minute drive from the CBD.

7. Goolwa Beach – Fleurieu Peninsula
Goolwa’s main beach is a stunning stretch of soft, white sand that goes on forever, with great waves for surfers and perfect conditions for boogie boarding. It’s a family-friendly beach that welcomes everyone, including dogs, so you can set up camp for the whole day. The eastern side of the beach is 4WD accessible, so you can drive down and set up right by the water. In summer, you’ll often find people collecting pipis or cockles along the shore.
>> Goolwa Beach is a 1 hour and 17 minute drive from the CBD.

8. Greenly Beach – Eyre Peninsula
Greenly Beach, located in Coulta on the Eyre Peninsula just an hour from Port Lincoln, is a popular beach for swimming and surfing, with waves averaging over one metre. The beach features bluffs, natural rock pools, and beautiful coastal scenery, with active sand dunes and Mount Greenly to the east.
>> Greenly Beach is a 7 hour and 24 minute drive from the CBD.

9. Hardwicke Bay – Yorke Peninsula
Hardwicke Bay, on the Yorke Peninsula, is known for its white sand, and is a great spot for those seeking peace or a family-friendly getaway. Originally a small weekend shack settlement, it has grown into a popular spot for swimming, fishing, and boating, attracting people from all walks of life with its mix of holiday homes.
>> Hardwicke Bay is a 2 hour and 29 minute drive from the CBD.
10. Henley Beach – Adelaide
Henley Beach, just 15 minutes from Adelaide’s CBD, is one of the city’s most popular spots for swimming, relaxing, and enjoying stunning sunsets. Surrounded by restaurants and right in front of Henley Square, it’s the perfect place to go for a swim, enjoy a meal, or have a drink while taking in the beautiful ocean views and Adelaide’s stunning sunsets.
>> Henley Beach is a 23 minute drive from the CBD.

11. Horseshoe Bay – Fleurieu Peninsula
Port Elliot’s Horseshoe Bay is the town’s most popular beach, perfect for families with its gentle waves for boogie-boarding, plus the option to get lunch at the Flying Fish or the Port Elliot Surf Life Saving Club. From there, you can follow the Harbourmasters Walking Trail to other great beaches including Lady Bay, Green Bay, or Knights Beach / Boomers Beach.
>> Horseshoe Bay is a 1 hour and 21 minute drive from the CBD.

12. Maslin Beach – Fleurieu Peninsula
Maslin Beach, known for its beautiful cliffs and clear waters, is also Australia’s first legal nudist beach, with designated areas for both nude and non-nude bathers. The three-kilometre beach is also popular for surfing, fishing, diving, and snorkelling, with stunning views, shipwrecks, and marine life like the Leafy Seadragon.
>> Maslin Beach is a 41 minute drive from the CBD.
13. Memory Cove – Eyre Peninsula
Memory Cove, located in Lincoln National Park on the Eyre Peninsula, features white sands and turquoise waters surrounded by bushland. About 50 kilometres from Port Lincoln, it’s accessible by a 4WD along a rough 20-kilometre track that takes one to two hours to drive.
>> Memory Cove is a 7 hour and 32 minute drive from the CBD.
14. Middleton Beach – Fleurieu Peninsula
Middleton Beach is a popular spot for the holidaying along the Fleurieu Peninsula and is favourite for swimming, windsurfing, and picnicking, with plenty of space to relax on its five kilometres of sand. The beach has picnic areas, a playground, and a jetty for fishing, as well as beautiful views of nearby granite islands and stunning sunsets.
>> Middleton Beach is a 1 hour and 19 minute drive from the CBD.

15. Moana Beach – Fleurieu Peninsula
Moana Beach, with its tall Norfolk Island pines, is popular for fishing, snorkelling, swimming, and coastal walks, attracting both surfers and families. The beach is patrolled in summer, and is a safe place for kids to swim. It’s perfect for watching sunsets, with nearby spots like Deep Blue Cafe and Port Noarlunga offering food and drinks.
>> Moana Beach is a 48 minute drive from the CBD.
16. Port Noarlunga Beach – McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Coast
Port Noarlunga Beach is a paradise for snorkellers and divers, with its beautiful reef and marine life, as well as offering activities like kayaking, surfing, and fishing. Beyond the beach, the main street is full of shops, cafes, and eateries, perfect for a day of exploring McLaren Vale and the Fleurieu Coast.
>> Port Noarlunga Beach is a 1 hour 21 minute drive from the CBD.

17. Port Willunga Beach – McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Coast
Port Willunga is known for its golden cliffs, clear waters, and the historic Star of Greece shipwreck, making it a great spot for swimming, paddleboarding, and watching sunsets. The beach also has hand-carved sea caves, the remains of an old jetty, and the Star of Greece restaurant, which serves local food and wine with stunning views.
>> Port Willunga Beach is a 45-minute drive from the CBD.

18. Rapid Bay – Fleurieu Peninsula
Rapid Bay is one of South Australia’s most beautiful beaches, known for its crystal clear, turquoise waters, towering cliffs, and coastal caves. Just 90 minutes from Adelaide, it offers a peaceful spot with white sand, perfect for fishing, squidding, diving, and camping.
>> Rapid Bay is a 1 hour 15 minute drive from the CBD.

19. Long Beach – Limestone Coast
As the name suggests, Long Beach in Robe is pretty long, streching for 10 kilometres. It’s a wide, sandy beach ideal for swimming, surfing, fishing, and walks, with a family-friendly vibe and plenty of cars driving along the beach.
>> Long Beach in Robe is a 4 hour 45 minute drive from the CBD.

20. Second Valley Beach – Fleurieu Peninsula
You’ll find many photos of Second Valley Beach on Instagram because it’s known for its beautiful views, sapphire waters, and unique rock formations. It’s great for swimming, fishing, snorkelling, and scuba diving, with a sandy beach on the east and a rocky area on the west, plus nearby facilities like a car park, public toilets, and local food options.
>> Second Valley Beach is a 1 hour 45 minute drive from the CBD.

21. Sellicks Beach – Fleurieu Peninsula
Sellicks Beach, alongside Silver Sands Beach, is known for its natural beauty, with Sellicks Hill towering over the sandy beach and Gulf St Vincent. It’s popular for swimming, surf fishing, and windsurfing, with parking on the sand, boat launching facilities, and nearby spots like the Victory Hotel, Silver Sands Beach Club, and the Buddha statue at the Nan Hai Pu Tuo Temple.
>> Sellicks Beach is a 45-minute drive from the CBD.

22. Shelly Beach – Ceduna
Shelly Beach in Ceduna is a serene, unspoiled coastline known for its calm waters, beautiful shell-covered sands, and great opportunities for swimming, fishing, and beachcombing.
>> Shelly Beach is a 7 hour 30 minute drive from the CBD.

23. Stokes Bay – Kangaroo Island
Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island is a hidden gem, offering a tranquil, sheltered beach surrounded by rugged cliffs, with crystal-clear waters perfect for swimming and exploring through a unique rock tunnel that leads to a secluded cove.
>> Stokes Bay is a 2 hour 30 minute drive from the CBD, followed by a 45-minute ferry ride from Cape Jervis.

24. Vivonne Bay – Kangaroo Island
Once voted Australia’s best beach, it features six kilometres of white sandy shores and crystal-clear waters, ideal for swimming and fishing.
>> Vivonne Bay is a 2 hour 30 minute drive from the CBD, followed by a 45-minute ferry ride from Cape Jervis

25. West Beach – Adelaide
West Beach, just a short drive from Adelaide, is perfect for seaside strolls, beach brunches, and weekend getaways. With attractions like BIG4 West Beach Parks, adventure activities, a world-class golf green, and water sports from jet skis to SUP boards, it’s got everything!
>> West Beach is a 20-minute drive from the CBD.

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