The Great Outdoors
Nature & Parks
West Beach is a fantastic base to explore all that Adelaide and South Australia has to offer. Getting outside and enjoying the sunshine, adventure and the beautiful scenery is the perfect way to spend your days when on holidays.
There are so many more, but we think these should definitely be on your list of day trips when visiting this fantastic state.
Barossa Valley
North East of Adelaide lies the Barossa Valley. With over 80 cellar doors and 150 wineries in the region it is easy to spend a day or even the weekend in the Barossa Valley.
There’s something very special about the Barossa. You can feel it in the landscape, in the people, the food and the wine. It’s a beautiful region, with villages, vineyards and farms dotting a patchwork vista. Barossans are famous for their generous hospitality, their love of a shared table and their passion for local food and wine. Festivals, celebrations, markets and music thrive here. Barossa is life’s great pleasures, in one unique place.
McLaren Vale
Just 40 minutes south of West Beach, the McLaren Vale offers some of the best wines in the world, a superb climate, outstanding regional produce and warm hospitality. With beautiful scenery, cellar doors, amazing wineries and cafes, it is easy to get lost in the atmosphere of McLaren Vale.
Best known for Shiraz, McLaren Vale also excels in the production of ultra-premium Grenache and Cabernet. Mediterranean varieties such as Fiano, Vermentino, Tempranillo and Sangiovese are also very well suited climatically and provide wine lovers with yet another layer of discovery.
Sprawling sandy beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see, are safe, clean and open to the public year-round. A number of the beaches surrounding McLaren Vale allow vehicles to drive onto the sand - so pack up the car and stay for just an hour or the whole day!
Whether you want to relax and escape the rush of everyday life, or experience a holiday filled with adventure, the region has an abundance of activities and attractions for you.
Fleurieu Peninsula
Including towns such as: Victor Harbour, Cape Jervis, Goolwa, Second Valley and Yankalilla, the Fleurieu Peninsula is one of South Australia's finest regions. With its stunning landscape of rolling hills, farmland, national parks and vineyards, fringed in the west by pristine sandy beaches and rugged coastlines, the Fleurieu Peninsula is the place which offers the perfect blend of indulgence, culture and outdoor adventure.
Located 45 minutes south of West Beach, with more than 100 cellar door wineries, many with restaurants attached, offer the opportunity to taste some of Australia's most exciting wines and regional cuisine. Roadside stalls offer the freshest seasonal produce for your picnic baskets, lose yourself in this great region of outback and coast.
Hahndorf
Just 30 minutes from the Adelaide CBD, Hahndorf brings Germany to South Australia. Stroll down the beautiful main street, check out the boutique shops, stop for lunch at the many restaurants or pubs. We recommend stopping in and trying the local delights at Udder Delights, Gulf Brewery and the Cellar Doors.
Victor Harbour
Around 90 minutes drive from Adelaide CBD. A great trip for a sunny day you can be running around on the beaches of the Fleurieu Peninsula. Jump on the horsedrawn tram to Granite Island, visit the whale centre or visit on Saturday to check out the Farmers Markets.
Cleland Wildlife Park
At Cleland you can see over 130 species with no boundaries! Get up-close to kangaroos, koalas and reptiles less than an hour’s drive away from Adelaide. Head to the Adelaide Hills, just 20 minutes up the freeway and venture into Cleland Wildlife Park. Animals roam freely across the park's 35 hectares of native bushland. Feed a kangaroo or hold a koala and have your photo taken. It is a truly fantastic experience.
Monato Zoo
Monarto is a 1,000 hectare open range zoo just 50 minutes from Adelaide CBD and is home to animals from all over the world. Stroll around the park on the walking trails or take the Zu-Loop Shuttle, which is a free hop-off, hop-on service to all wildlife viewing platforms. See lions, cheetahs, giraffe, African wild dogs and more.
When you’re at West Beach, why not tap into your adventurous side and have a go at some water sports and activities.
Temptation Sailing
Located in Glenelg, Temptation Sailing can offer you a Dolphin Cruise with your choice of watching, or swimming with the dolphins. Who would have thought you could do this in Adelaide?
Not only do they offer this great experience, they also offer cruises for your next special event.
Fly Boarding
A Fly board is an innovative water jet powered board connected to a jet-ski that gives propulsion underwater and in the air. The position of two nozzles under your feet allow for movement controlled by tilting one’s feet. This is one of the easiest sports to learn as you will be up and flying around within minutes.
Coastal Fly board is located in Glenelg or on the river in Murray Bridge.
Stand up Paddle Boarding
Located in Seacliff, not too far from West Beach, you can hire Stand Up Paddle Boards as the water there is usually calmer and easy for first time users. Not extreme sports like the others we have mentioned, but a great way to get out on the water and try something a little bit different. Training is also available.
Scuba Diving
South Australia has some of the best and most unique diving the world has to offer and with over 20 dive sites within a 30 minute boat ride from our boat deck you have a diverse range of diving to choose from. Wrecks, Reefs, Drop Offs, Caves and Swim throughs add to the abundance of spectacular marine life on show in South Australia.
All diving skills can be catered for, so don’t worry if you are just a beginner!
Adelaide Scuba can even take you through coaching if this is a hobby you would like to continue.
Beach Cricket
West Beach is the perfect place to set up your beach cricket game. Long beaches and less people than the main beaches in Adelaide can see you getting the whole family involved and finish off with a quick dip in the ocean.
Coastal Path
When you stay at West Beach, you have great access to a well used coastal path. This path can take you to Glenelg or Henley Beach. This walk is about 4km from West Beach - Glenelg and 4km from West Beach - Henley.