9 of the best beaches near Adelaide

Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
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South Australian seascapes are what coastal postcards are made of. And while you might not have heard it before, Adelaide plays host to a fair few of them.

Not only do Adelaide beaches deliver premium sand and surf, but the towns that encompass them are packed with the famous food and wine that made you book a ticket to the region in the first place.

Whether you’re in the market for somewhere to take the family, lay down a towel, go for a snorkel or perhaps indulge in some nude sunbathing, keep reading, because there’s a beach in Adelaide with your name on it.

1. Glenelg Beach

Driving time from Adelaide: 20 minutes
Best for: Families

Description: Glenelg is the most popular metropolitan beach in Adelaide; with easy access, vast sandscapes and a bustling coastal mall, it’s not hard to see why.

Aerial shot of the Moseley Beach Club at sunset, Glenelg Beach
Sip cocktails in Glenelg at Moseley Beach Club during the summer months. (Image: Hayley Hays Photography)

Hop on the tram from the city to Mosely Square and you’ll disembark to find yourself a few metres from the glistening blue water.

Away from the ocean, you’ll find a mix of quality cafés, beach bars, clothing boutiques and restaurants. There is also a plentiful supply of picnic areas, playgrounds and other family-friendly time fillers.

For those sans kids, head to the famous Mosely Beach Club. With cocktails and casual dining, live music, DJs and some 56 sun lounges and beds to stretch out on, this place is modelled on the crème de la crème of beach clubs across Europe and Southeast Asia. It opens for the season every November.

Glenelg Beach SA
Locals flock to Glenelg Beach when the weather heats up. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

2. Port Noarlunga

Driving time from Adelaide: 35 minutes
Best for: Snorkellers and divers

Description: Originally founded as a seaport, you’ll find the picturesque seaside village of Port Noarlunga just 30 kilometres south of Adelaide.

Surfers using the coastal walk at Port Noarlunga South
Drive 30 minutes to arrive in the seaside town of Port Noarlunga. (Image: Trent Martin Photography)

Framed by famous red sandstone cliffs, a long jetty and an enclosed reef make this one of the most iconic diving destinations in the state.

You’ll find a mix of novices and experts exploring the off-shore Port Noarlunga Reef and aquatic reserve, which forms part of the Encounter Marine Park. The reef is home to more than 200 species of marine life and plants.

Above the water, the safe swimming beach is patrolled by the Port Noarlunga Surf Lifesaving Club.

Woman climbs on the rocks at Port Noarlunga
Even the rocks here are prettier than anywhere else.(Image: Jake Wundersitz)

3. Henley Beach

Driving time from Adelaide: 20 minutes
Best for: Seafood and a sunset

Description: Conveniently close to the CBD, the flat sands of Henley Beach are the perfect oasis for those looking to catch a quick dip after work.

People gather at Henley Beach in Adelaide
Calm seas at Henley Beach. (Image: South Australia Tourism Commission)

While the expansive blue waters are more than enough to pull the crowds, the bustling Seaview Road precinct doesn’t hurt its case either. Filled with plenty of upscale shops, cafes and restaurants, this is the perfect place to go to get your hands on a seafood dinner while making the most of those famous Adelaidean sunsets.

The esplanade walk is also a popular exercise option for cyclists, joggers and walkers.

Dolphins spotted at Henley Beach
Spot dolphins from the shore. (Image: Kane Overall)

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4. Moana Beach

Where: 40 minutes
Best for: Car access

Description: Situated south of Adelaide between Seaford and Maslin beaches, Moana is a popular beachside town for families during the holidays. It’s also close enough for a day trip, which makes it worthy of a spot in this stellar selection.

Moana’s major drawcard is the unique car park: it’s one of the few local beaches where cars are allowed to park right on the sand. It will set you back about $8 per car and you’ll find the driving ramp located next to the Surf Life Saving Club.

Moana Beach SA
Moana Beach is the perfect spot to escape the crowds.

5. Semaphore Beach

Driving time from Adelaide: 25 minutes
Best for: Good old-fashioned Vitamin D and swimming

Description: Long, wide and bordered by low sand dunes, the expansive Semaphore Beach is one of Adelaide’s crown jewels.

Semaphore Beach Sunset
The sky ablaze over Semaphore Beach. (Image: Tommy Woods Photography/ @iamtommywoods)

Offering views of the CBD, Fleurieu coastlines and Gulf St Vincent, this place comes alive when the warm weather hits. Set up camp on the sand and explore the grassy foreshore, or perhaps fishing and crabbing off the pier is more to your speed.

Another major drawcard is Semaphore’s beautifully preserved Art Deco buildings. The boulevard is dotted with historic pubs, restaurants, boutiques and of course, the grandeur of Sempahore’s 1920s Palais. Built as a bathing pavilion, this iconic piece of real estate is the best place to grab a pub lunch and watch the sun go down.

Semaphore Lifeguard-Towe
Semaphore Beach is patrolled. (Image: Liam Pearson)

6. Christies Beach

Where: 30 minutes
Best for: Expansive natural beauty

Description: A little further from the action of the CBD, Christies Beach, is one of Adelaide’s best-kept secrets.

Crane your neck while you’re swimming and marvel at the expansive natural landscape that surrounds you. There are rock bluffs to the south, a sea wall to the north, all flanked by Norfolk Island pines that line the foreshore.

Not only is this place readily accessible from the city, but it’s also on the doorstep of the McLaren Vale wine region, Kangaroo Island and many other attractions along the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula. Perfect.

Christies Beach
Christies Beach is a bit of a local secret.

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7. Seacliff Beach

Where: 25 minutes
Best for: Dolphin watching

Description: Thanks to a beautifully curving coastline, Seacliff Beach provides swimmers with a safe, sheltered place to take a dip.

Hire a stand-up paddleboard and explore the surroundings by water – just be sure to watch out for the dolphins, these inquisitive creatures often patrol this part of the coastline.

If this works up your appetite, stop for a bite at the Seacliff Beach Hotel . It’s been a local since 1935, serving up ice-cold drinks and a selection of pub food that truly hits the spot.

Seacliff Beach SA
Seacliff Beach is a calm spot for a paddle.

8. Maslin Beach

Where: 40 minutes
Best for: Nude beach-goers

Description: The rugged, ochre cliffs of Maslin Beach are not the only drawcard. Believe it or not, Maslin was actually Australia’s first official nude, or “unclad" beach, a title which is still firmly upheld to this day.

The three-kilometre stretch of sand has designated areas reserved for nude bathing, as well as hosting the annual Pilwarren Maslin Beach Nude Games.

Clothed beach-goers are still encouraged to come and enjoy the beauty of these pristine surroundings – just be sure not to stare!

Maslin Beach SA
Maslin Beach welcomes those with our without clothes. (Image: Tourism Australia)

9. Brighton Beach

Where: 25 minutes
Best for: Fish and chips

Description: Similar to Glenelg and Henley, Brighton Beach is an equally popular option for Adelaide city-dwellers.

Adelaide beaches are renowned for their long beach-to-beach walks, and Brighton’s esplanade is no exception. Stroll all the way south to Seacliff, or north to Somerton. If you’d rather stay put, sit under the clean jetty for shade, or BYO tent to pitch in the sand.

Grab a bite at the Esplanade Hotel , filled with barefoot beach-goers and impressive ocean views.

Brighton Beach SA
Stroll the esplanade along Brighton Beach.

For more inspiration on how to spend your holiday in Adelaide, read our guide to things to do in Adelaide.

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The road trips and trails you need to experience in Victoria now

    Kellie Floyd Kellie Floyd
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    Wind through fern tunnels, stop for a wine in a tram bar, or chase giant murals across the wheatbelt. These drives and rides prove Victoria’s best stories are found off the straight and narrow. 

    There’s something unmistakably Australian about a road trip: car packed, playlist on, landscapes shifting. Travelling down the highway toward Healesville, in Victoria’s Yarra Valley , the mountains rise, flanking me on both sides. I feel its embrace, a silent invitation to explore what lies beyond.  

    Moss-covered embankments rise on either side, and towering mountain ash trees form a green tunnel overhead. Road signs warn of wombats and cyclists but with giant ferns lining the roadside, the landscape feels prehistoric, as if a dinosaur might suddenly emerge. This, the Black Spur , is one of my favourite road trips. 

    The Black Spur 

    The Black Spur drive
    Through the forested canopy of The Black Spur drive that winds from Healesville to Narbethong. (Image: Neisha Breen)

    Location: Yarra Ranges
    Duration: 30 kilometres / 30 minutes 

    The Black Spur is short compared to other Victorian road trips, just 30 kilometres, stretching from Healesville to Narbethong. But what it lacks in distance, it makes up for in scenery. Just outside Healesville, Maroondah Dam offers bushwalks and scenic views. However, if pressed for time, Selover’s Lookout is an easy roadside stop offering uninterrupted views of the dam.  

    In Narbethong, close to the Marysville’s snowfield, is the Black Spur Inn , a charming double-storey brick hotel that’s been welcoming travellers since 1863. Here, diners cosy up by the roaring fire or gaze through the floor-to-ceiling windows, imagining horse-drawn coaches carrying hopeful gold seekers to the eastern goldfields.   

    Victoria’s Silo Art Trail 

    Silo Art Trail
    The Silo Art Trail in the Wimmera Mallee region. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

    Location: Various towns across the Wimmera Mallee region
    Duration: More than 200 kilometres / 4–5 hours but best over a minimum of three days  

    What began as a way to draw travellers back into town bypassed by highways – places such as Nullawil, Sea Lake and Patchewollock – has grown into a celebrated outdoor art movement. The Silo Art Trail now includes 23 silos, each transformed with large-scale mural portraits sharing local stories, celebrating community heroes, Indigenous history, farming life, or regional identity.  

    The Nullawil silo, for example, is a portrait of a local farmer in a chequered flannelette shirt alongside his loyal kelpie, painted by artist Sam Bates (AKA Smug). And the silos at Albacutya in the Grampians, painted by artist Kitt Bennett, depict her joyful memories of growing up in the countryside. Many of the murals sit right in the heart of small towns, such as Rochester and St Arnaud , making them perfect spots to pause for a country pub meal or something sweet from a local bakery.   

    Metung to Mallacoota  

    Gippsland lakes
    Gippsland Lakes. (Image: Visit Victoria/Josie Withers)

    Location: Gippsland
    Duration: Approximately 220 kilometres / 4 hours  

    The Gippsland Lakes are a much-loved holiday spot in Victoria, but road-tripping further east reveals much more. Begin in Metung and time your visit with the monthly farmers’ market, or simply linger over lunch on the lawn of the Metung Hotel. Twenty minutes away is Lakes Entrance , where you can watch the fishing boats return with their catch. 

    Lakes Entrance
    Lakes Entrance. (Image: Visit Victoria/Iluminaire Pictures)

    Continue to Marlo, where the Snowy River spills into the sea, and Cape Conran for its many beaches and walks. If needing to stretch your legs, Croajingolong National Park is home to the historic Point Hicks Lighthouse and the Wilderness Coast Walk. Birdwatching and rainforest trails near Bemm River are worth a pit stop before arriving in Mallacoota, where the forest meets the sea. 

    Great Ocean Road 

    12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road
    The 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    Location: South-west Victoria, from Torquay to Allansford
    Duration: Approximately 250 kilometres / 4–5 hours but best over a minimum of three days  

    Victoria’s most famous road trip delivers it all: world-class surf breaks, rainforest walks, clifftop lookouts and wildlife encounters. The journey begins in Torquay, the state’s surf capital, then hugs the coast past Anglesea and Lorne to Apollo Bay, before curving inland through the lush rainforest of the Otways. Stop at Cape Otway Lightstation or take to the treetops at Otway Fly.  

    Between Cape Otway and Port Campbell lies the most photographed stretch – seven of the Twelve Apostles still standing, alongside the golden cliffs of Loch Ard Gorge. Further west, Warrnambool is a winter whale-watching hotspot, before the road winds to Port Fairy, a charming fishing village of whalers’ cottages, walking trails and offshore seal colonies further along the coast. 

    Bellarine Taste Trail 

    Terindah Estate
    Terindah Estate. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)

    Location: Bellarine Peninsula
    Duration: Approximately 80 kilometres / 2–3 hours  

    The Bellarine Taste Trail is a feast for the senses, winding through coastal towns, past boutique wineries and artisan producers. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure style trail – simply grab a map and build your own delicious journey.  

    You might wander historic, seafront Queenscliff, sip wine in a converted tram bar at Terindah Estate , sample a locally distilled whisky at The Whiskery in Drydale or pick up a jar of honey at Wattle Grove in Wallington. Seafood lovers can head to Portarlington, famous for its mussels. Eat them fresh at local restaurants or head out on the water with Portarlington Mussel Tours. 

    O’Keefe Rail Trail – Bendigo to Heathcote 

    Pink Cliffs Reserve
    Pink Cliffs Reserve in Heathcote can be seen on the O’Keefe Rail Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)

    Location: Central Victoria
    Duration: Approximately 50 kilometres / 4 hours cycling 

    Travellers first journeyed between Heathcote and Bendigo in 1888, when the railway line was built to link the towns. Trains stopped running in 1956, but today the route has a new life as the O’Keefe Rail Trail . The path is mostly level for easy riding, and along the way you’ll cycle past bushland, waterways and reserves. There are plenty of places to picnic, birdwatch, and if you’re lucky, spot a platypus.  

    The trail is well supported with water stations, bike repair points, shelters, and signage. Axedale makes a great halfway stop, with the pretty Campaspe River Reserve for a rest and local cafes for refuelling. Begin in Heathcote, known for its wineries and cafes, or in Bendigo, which is easily reached by train from Melbourne/Naarm. Shorter sections, such as Heathcote to Axedale, are also popular. 

    Goldfields Track – Ballarat to Bendigo 

    Location: Central Victoria
    Duration: Approximately 210 kilometres / 2–3 days cycling  

    The Goldfields Track traces a route once so rich in gold it made Melbourne one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Starting at Mt Buninyong, south of Ballarat, the trail leads mountain cyclists and walkers north through Creswick, Daylesford and Castlemaine before finishing in Bendigo. Along the way, you’ll encounter granite outcrops, eucalypt forests, rolling farmland and remnants of the region’s mining past.  

    As it passes through the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and Wadawurrung people, the track shares gold rush history and Indigenous stories brought to life by interpretive signs. Walk or ride the full trail or choose from one of its three distinct sections. With cosy stays, cafes and pubs, it’s easy to mix wilderness with comfort.