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A community art gallery run by the Strathalbyn Arts Society, housed in the beautifully restored old Strathalbyn Railway Station on South Terrace.

A small-batch microbrewery in the historic Goolwa Wharf goods shed, sharing a building with The Fleurieu Distillery and pouring four preservative-free hand-crafted beers.

Family Activities

SteamRanger Cockle Train

Goolwa

The historic Cockle Train follows the coast from Goolwa to Victor Harbor on tracks laid in 1887, run by SteamRanger Heritage Railway.

A 68-hectare reserve protecting the Fleurieu's largest peat swamp and one of the major remaining populations of the endangered Mt Lofty Ranges Southern Emu-wren.

Six-plus antique and collectables shops along Strathalbyn's heritage High Street - the reason the town is widely called South Australia's antique capital.

Family Activities

Strathalbyn Historic Town

Strathalbyn

One of the prettiest towns in Australia: a riverside heritage town settled by Scottish pioneers in 1839, with over 30 heritage-listed buildings and a reputation as the state's antiques capital.

The 1858 police station and 1867 courthouse on Rankine Street, restored as a National Trust museum with Victorian-era rooms, blacksmith's workshop and farm machinery.

The historic 1884 stone railway station building, now home to the Strathalbyn Visitor Information Centre and a starting point for the town heritage walk.

A monthly antiques, collectables and craft market on the lawns of Lions Park, third Sunday of every month - one of the longest-running country markets on the Fleurieu.

Deep Creek's most developed campground - 16 sites, hot showers and toilets - the central base for hikes into the park.

South Australia's largest and longest-running surf school, based in the main street of Middleton - daily 2-hour group lessons, surfboard, SUP and wetsuit hire, and trailer-based hire on the beach.

An independent craft brewery and taphouse on Olivers Road, McLaren Vale - a surf-inspired brewery with a rotating tap list and regular food truck line-up.

An award-winning olive farm near Strathalbyn with a farm store, grove tours, tastings and an olive-oil skincare range. Open daily.

A 212-hectare bushland reserve at the south-western tip of the Fleurieu, with an interpretive trail through the ruins of the 1860s Talisker silver-lead mine.

The signature clifftop lookout in Deep Creek Conservation Park - dramatic views over the Southern Ocean cliffs and across to Kangaroo Island, a short walk from the Tapanappa campground.

Strathalbyn's oldest hotel - a heritage 1840s pub on the corner of Rankine Street with a beer garden running down to the River Angas and a country bistro.

An iconic 1920s train carriage on Main Road McLaren Vale that has been a roadside almond, olive oil and pantry-goods stop for more than 25 years.

Walking & Hiking

The Bluff (Rosetta Head)

Victor Harbor

The dramatic granite headland known locally as The Bluff - a 97m dome overlooking Encounter Bay, with a 19th-century whaling history and a short, steep walking trail to the summit.

Lunch-only restaurant in a restored 1880s currant drying shed at McLaren Flat, run by Hamish Maguire and Emily Dowie since 2011.

An organic farm cafe and providore set among biodynamic vineyards and olive groves above Willunga, with a paddock-to-plate menu that changes by the day.

Award-winning Australian single malt whisky distillery on Cutting Road at Goolwa Wharf, shared with the Steam Exchange Brewery.

Beachside cafe and restaurant right on Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot - an icon of the Encounter Coast serving breakfast, lunch and summer dinners overlooking the beach.

A contemporary art gallery built into the rammed-earth Visitor Centre at the entrance to McLaren Vale, with rotating exhibitions and sweeping views over the vineyards.

An 1865 historic country pub in the pretty Finniss River valley - originally Ashbourne's post office and general store, now a refurbished gastropub with live music.