Whale-watching, water sports, and wetlands await campers in Goolwa.
An hour’s drive south of Adelaide, the coastal town of Goolwa is the gateway to South Australia’s southern wetlands. It’s easy to get on the water from Goolwa—the only question is where. The Murray River meets the ocean at Lake Alexandrina, hemmed in by a string of islands, wetlands, and coastal lagoons that stretch east of Goolwa. Drive across the bridge to Hindmarsh Island, where you can take your pick of lakeside and oceanside beaches or go canoeing, kayaking, and bird-watching in Coorong National Park. Head west to the sandy beaches and coastal hiking trails of the Fleurieu Peninsula, or ride the Cockle Train to nearby Victor Harbor to take a whale-watching cruise and spot penguins at Granite Island. Campers will never be far from the water, whether you prefer a coastal Hipcamp, a beachside bush campground, or a family-friendly holiday park or caravan park with powered sites and full facilities.