Best Beaches In South Australia (Local Favourites & Hidden Gems

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The best beaches in South Australia are waiting for you! As summer approaches, it is time to start thinking about the best South Australia beach holiday destinations. With over 4000 kilometres of coastline and plenty of hidden gems, it can be hard to decide where best to spend your beach days.

To help you decide, here are 12 of the most beautiful beaches of South Australia that will make your next summer holiday one to remember!

South Australia has some of the most secluded and arid landscapes in Australia, but if you prefer to spend your days basking in the sun, swimming, snorkelling or simply relaxing with a cold drink – South Australia has some of the best coastline to do this.

And you will easily find some breathtaking coastline to rival the famous Whitehaven Beach and Great Barrier Reef in Queensland or Bondi Beach in NSW.

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The Best Beaches In South Australia

If you’re planning a holiday in South Australia and looking for the best beaches, there are plenty to choose from!

The best beaches in South Australia are spread along its coast, each with their own unique features.

From quiet secluded spots where it’s just you and your family to more popular beaches that are worth fighting for your small corner of sand amongst the crowds for a quick dip or all-day stay!

This list is far from being an exhaustive list of the best South Australian beaches, but these are all beautiful beaches you won’t want to miss!

RECOMMENDED READING: Plan the ultimate trip to Australia with our Australia Travel Guide!

Beaches Near Adelaide

Glenelg Beach

Glenelg is a popular Adelaide beachside suburb located just 9 kilometres drive from the city centre.

A historic tramline conveniently links the city to Glenelg and serves as an easy and fun way for visitors to arrive.

With entertainment galore on offer in Glenelg, from bike hire to cruises and dolphin spotting, there’s a great range of activities on offer.

The biggest jewel in Glenelg’s crown is, of course, its stunning, wide sandy beach. This can be seen particularly in the evenings when you can be almost guaranteed a spectacular red and orange sunset.

Henley Beach

Henley Beach is fast becoming one of Adelaide’s most popular beaches, located only 20 minutes from the CBD, making it one of the best beaches in Adelaide.

The beach is long and wide with golden sand, making it perfect for swimming, sunbathing, fishing and paddling.

Henley Square is located right on the beach with a Mediterranean vibe and loads of great restaurants, cafes and bars.

Kids will love the wave-shaped wooden seating that leads to the jetty and the fountains to splash in. There is also a large grassy area for picnics with the family.

Port Noarlunga

Just a few minutes’ drive from Port Willunga and 30km south of Adelaide is the beautiful, family-friendly beach of Port Noarlunga.

The red sandstone cliffs, long jetty and reef make it one of the iconic diving destinations in South Australia.

The offshore Port Noarlunga Reef is home to more than 200 species, as part of the Encounter Marine Park.

Divers can do the self-guided Aquatic Trail to really experience this magical underwater paradise.

Fleurieu Peninsula Beaches

Goolwa Beach

Goolwa Beach is just over an hour south of Adelaide. It is an especially popular beach over summer.

It is a long beach, making it perfect for beach walks. It also has vehicle access (4WD only) so you can drive into the distance and secure your own secluded patch of sand.

The unique thing about Goolwa Beach is how close it is to the Murray River mouth, making it a great base for exploring the surrounding area.

The nearby lakes and estuaries are great places to explore. Kayaking, fishing, camping, 4WDing and cruises of Coorong National Park are all popular activities.

The local seals and pelicans can be spotted at several places around the Murray mouth if you’re lucky!

Horseshoe Bay

Horseshoe Bay may just be your next family beach destination. This seaside haven is extremely popular with tourists and locals alike, as one of South Australia’s favourite beaches.

Not only is it perfect for swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving, there are also plenty of facilities to make it a perfect day trip with kids.

Here you will find fish and chips shops, a large picnic area, a playground and plenty more right along the beach foreshore.

Maslin Beach

Located 42km from Adelaide CBD, Maslin Beach is referred to as ‘Maslins’ by locals and is certainly one of the prettiest beaches in SA. The 3km long beach is the perfect spot for families and tourists to enjoy a picnic.

Although take care if visiting with the family that you don’t end up at the southern end of the beach where you will find the nude beach – famous for being Australia’s first nudist beach!

This is home to the annual Maslin Beach Nude Games in case you fancy yourself a nudist olympian! Or just some nude sunbathing…

The high cliffs that overlook Maslin Beach are an incredible vantage point.

Port Willunga Beach

Port Willunga is a small beach town and rural suburb of Adelaide. Port Willunga Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the south.

It’s a popular spot for beach walks along the squeaky white sand as you admire the golden cliffs, as well as swimming, fishing and boating.

The beach is a favourite for photos, with a backdrop of caves carved into the cliffs, created for fishermen to store their boats a long time ago. They now offer shade from the sun.

There is also a shipwreck directly in front of the caves, the Star of Greece, which can be a popular spot for snorkelling and diving during high tide. During low tide, parts of the hull are visible from the beach.

Kangaroo Island Beaches

Vivonne Bay, Kangaroo Island

If you are looking for the most beautiful beaches in South Australia, Kangaroo Island will be the perfect destination.

While there are many beaches on Kangaroo Island that deserve to be mentioned, the absolute best one is Vivonne Bay, known for white sand and clear water.

It’s located in the southern part of the island, near Little Sahara and Flinders Chase National Park. 

You can access it by car and won’t need a 4WD to get there; however, it is a dirt road, so you will need to drive carefully.

If you are looking for activities, you will find plenty here! You can rent a kayak and hit the Hariett River or opt for a buggy tour in Little Sahara, all the way down to the bay! Or wander along the long jetty.

Take a Kangaroo Island day tour if you are short on time, and visit Vivonne Bay, Seal Bay, Pennington Bay, Raptor Domain and Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park for the ultimate wildlife experience.

Seal Bay

Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island is an extraordinary beach. You don’t go there for the white sand and views – even if they are stunning. Seal Bay is home to a large population of sea lions, and these cute inhabitants are the main reason Seal Bay is so famous.

Nature lovers of all ages and abilities can enjoy visiting this special beach.

Kangaroo Island is famous for seeing iconic Australian wildlife, and you can do that from a well-designed boardwalk at Seal Bay. 

If you book a guided tour, a ranger will safely take you down to the beach, right at the heart of the sea lion colony. You’ll learn more about the seal lions and watch them with nothing between you and them.

Eyre Peninsula Beaches

Greenly Beach

Greenly Beach is a hidden gem on the Eyre Peninsula, located a 1-hour drive from Port Lincoln.

This beach is very remote with no amenities nearby, meaning you will need to be self-sufficient when you visit.

There are around 20 camping spots overlooking the beach making it the perfect place for those with a campervan to head off-grid and camp up with a stunning view over the beach. Sunset is particularly beautiful here.

Greenly Beach is perfect for those who enjoy the outdoors with Mount Greenly looking over the bay from 305 metres.

This beach is only accessible by foot and stretches around 600 metres around the coast.

Almonta Beach

Almonta Beach is easily one of the most picturesque beaches in South Australia – possibly even Australia-wide!

The Eyre Peninsula is brimming with beautiful beaches and Almonta Beach in Coffin Bay National Park has incredibly white sand with calm waters and rugged bushland.

Your chance of spotting local wildlife is high with kangaroos, emus and lizards all making their home in the national park.

The best time to visit is during low tide so you can explore the rock pools and lagoon with their crystal clear water. This is perfect for snorkelling to see what marine life you can spot beneath the surface.

If you love fresh seafood, visit the Coffin Bay Oyster Farm for a tasting tour as part of a fun day tour to Coffin Bay for the freshest possible oysters straight from the ocean!

Memory Cove

What better way to spend a summer’s day than at Memory Cove? This picturesque spot on the tip of Lincoln National Park is not only beautiful but also offers the perfect balance of white sand and turquoise waters.

With its pristine beaches fringed with native bushland, teeming with wildlife.

If you have a 4WD, you can drive right onto the beach and may even spot some local kangaroos who come to say hello.

Yorke Peninsula & Unique Coastal Beaches

Ethel Wreck Beach

The Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park on the southernmost tip of the Yorke Peninsula is one of South Australia’s most lush coastal parks with an abundance of stunning rugged cliffs, fantastic wildlife and of course breathtaking beaches.

One of the most famous beaches in the National Park is Ethel Wreck Beach, a 450m long sandy surf beach.

It’s named after the Norwegian ship, the Ethel, which washed ashore in 1904. Sticking out of the yellow-white sand, like whale bones, Ethel Wreck is a stand-out beach to visit which appeals to all ages.

If you like photography, you’ll not be able to resist snapping this photogenic landmark.

Here you will easily find your own space in the sand, as this excluded beach rarely gets too crowded.

Instead, you will find stretches of white sandy beaches and picturesque surroundings to enjoy the fine weather on one of South Australia’s best beaches.

While this isn’t the best beach for swimming, it is an experienced surfer’s paradise.

What is most special about this secluded beach is the backdrop of the Nullarbor Plain and Bunda cliffs, which are breathtaking to see. The area provides a border to the magnificent coastline, Wilson Bluff.

The beach is 8.5km long, giving you plenty of space to explore on a beach walk, with sand dunes and rock platforms that are great for fishing too. Even in winter, this is a worthwhile stop!

There is no greater way to experience the SA than via a great Aussie road trip! Check out this Perth to Adelaide road trip itinerary for some stop inspiration!

In case you’re planning to visit more of Australia, check out the best beaches in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, NSW and Tasmania too!

Which of these best South Australia beaches are you most eager to visit?