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For generations, South Australians have been choosing Victor Harbor for their summer holiday retreat.
Situated on the eastern side of the Fleurieu Peninsula (just over an hour from Adelaide by car) and facing the calm waters of Encounter Bay, Victor Harbor offers something to enthral every member of the family. Hit the beach, get acquainted with myriad local marine life (including passing whales!), meander along breezy coastal walkways, catch a flick in a vintage cinema, chew on traditional candy rock, and the list goes on.
A visit to Victor is also an opportunity to ride some of the country’s most unique modes of transport. They’re not fast, but what’s the hurry? You’re on holiday!
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in Victor Harbor.
1. Visit Granite Island
Spend a few hours exploring rugged Granite Island, which lies just off the coast from Victor Harbour. Granite boulders covered with orange-tinged lichen frame a series of public sculptures dotted across the island. Follow the three-kilometre Kaiki Walk to view the artworks, and pause atop the south-facing viewing platform to take in the incredible ocean views. If you’re partial to tossing in a holiday line, the historic Screw Pile Jetty is popular with local fishers.
2. Ride on a horse-drawn tram
There are a couple of ways you can reach Granite Island, but taking a horse-drawn tram with Victor Harbor Tramway across the historic 630-metre wooden causeway is unique. This is the only place in Australia where majestic Clydesdales haul such a tram. They work in teams of two — and while one horse is pulling the tram, you can meet the other resting in the stable adjacent to the tram platform.
3. Learn the ways of whales
When you get back to the mainland, follow the tram tracks past the Tram Barn to the South Australian Whale Centre. It’s housed in a heritage railway shed, complete with exposed soot-covered roof beams and a glass floor that reveals the old railway tracks below. Visitors get a crash course in whale ecology, and you’ll walk away with a thorough knowledge of the massive mammals that pass through these waters in the winter months. There are also fascinating artefacts on display from various Sea Shepherd campaigns.
4. Go whale watching
Visiting Victor between late May and the end of October? Now that you know your southern rights from your humpbacks, put that knowledge to good use by doing a spot of whale watching. One of the top locations on shore to watch for whales is the mighty Bluff (see point 9), but you’ll get a better view, understandably, from the deck of a boat. Join Big Duck Boat Tours on their popular Southern Ocean Adventure for the chance to see bottlenose dolphins, seals, various seabirds, and fingers crossed, whales.
5. Climb aboard a heritage steam train
Be wowed by the shimmering turquoise coastline as you ride the Steam Ranger Heritage Railway’s popular ‘Cockle Train’. Established in 1854, South Australia’s first railway line (and Australia’s first line with iron rails) connected Victor Harbor, Port Elliot, and the mouth of the Murray River at Goolwa. Originally, horse-drawn trains transported goods between the ports and Murray, and local residents would hitch a ride to Goolwa to collect cockles (which were used as fishing bait). Steam trains were introduced 30 years later, and a tourist service continues to operate on the line two or three times a week.
Disembark at Goolwa to shop for handmade arts and crafts on the station platform, sample a local ale or whiskey at the Steam Exchange Brewery, or enjoy a seaside lunch at the Goolwa Wharf precinct.
6. See the mouth of the Murray
If you’ve come to Goolwa by car, it’s a short drive over to Hindmarsh Island to see where the mighty Murray River meets the sea. Having travelled some 2,500 kilometres from the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, the river spills out into the Southern Ocean. The island is named after South Australia’s first Governor — Sir John Hindmarsh. The Murray Mouth Lookout also offers a view of the western reach of the famous Coorong National Park.
7. Cruise the Coorong
Those of a certain vintage will remember the Australian film Storm Boy, which was filmed in various locations around the Coorong. Coorong Discovery Cruises offers a half day cruise from Goolwa on this spectacular saline lagoon, which is a world-renowned sanctuary for birdlife. You’ll hear informative commentary on the region’s many bird species and enjoy lunch on the boat (which is included in the cruise price).
8. Pedal along the Encounter Bikeway
Up for a pedal? The Encounter Bikeway snakes its way along the coastline between Victor Harbor and Goolwa. The 30-kilometre bike path is enjoyed by cyclists and pedestrians alike, and will give you access to tranquil inlets, pretty coves, uncrowded beaches, engaging playgrounds, and other coastal facilities. Hire a bike from Spinway and away you go!
9. Scale The Bluff
Situated just west of Victor Harbor, The Bluff offers 360-degree views across the town, Encounter Bay, Granite Island, and the lush farming landscape beyond. The shortest part of the steep walk to the summit is from the carpark — located about halfway up the mountain. Once you reach the summit, you’ll learn about the region’s early European seafaring explorers — England’s Matthew Flinders and France’s Nicolas Baudin, who met in the calm waters below in 1802 (hence the name ‘Encounter Bay’). The Bluff remains integral to the local Ngurunderri people’s Dreaming stories. Further west, a walking trail extends along the dramatic coastline.
10. Explore the historic city centre
Victor Harbor’s city centre oozes old-world charm. Watch a movie in the 95-year old Victa Cinema (which was recently restored to its former heritage glory) or browse the handmade wooden toys at the Encounter Centre toyshop — a charitable business helping local people with disabilities. Get even more nostalgic at All Sweets and Treats in the main street, which offers cobbers, musk sticks and boiled lollies.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.visitvictorharbor.com.
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Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the best things to do in Victor Harbor? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
Cover image: Graham Scheer. Additional images: Shutterstock/Bigstock
About the writer
Monica McInnes is a keen traveller and is always on the lookout for her next big adventure — even before the current one has concluded! Having recently returned from a three-month road trip with her young family through the Red Centre, the Kimberley, the Pilbara, and along the Coral Coast, Monica is convinced that Australia is the most beautiful country on earth. She blogs about her travel exploits at Jiggety Jog.
