Holiday houses in Aldinga Beach

The Fleurieu Peninsula, just 40 minutes south of Adelaide, is best known for its standout vineyards, most notably McLaren Vale, the birthplace of South Australian wine. But it’s also a place of untamed beauty, where sand dunes tumble to crashing waves, and native bushland clings to sheer cliffs. Welcome to Aldinga, among the few Australian beaches where cars are permitted on sections of the sand. The long and broad expanse delivers stellar surf as well as calm water for swimming and paddleboarding.

Dust off your feet, and within minutes you’ll be in the Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park, its network of hiking trails leading you over dunes and to lookouts where you’ll likely spot bottlenose dolphins, Australian sea lions, fur seals, and maybe even little penguins — the smallest and likely cutest of their kind in the world. Then cast your gaze north to glimpse the 160-plus species of birds that call this important coastal habitat home. This is nature writ large.

This part of South Australia is blissfully balmy over the summer months, which is why it’s so popular at this time of year — you have near-endless avenues to cool off in the ocean. Vehicles are permitted on sections of the sand over the warmer months, but not from May through September, which happens to be prime whale-spotting season; head to lookouts to glimpse migrating humpback and southern right whales, which retreat here for weeks on end. If you’re hiking or cycling, these cooler months are also ideal. Avid vintners hoping to gain insights into winemaking will want to visit during McLaren Vale’s grape harvest, which kicks off in February and runs through May.

Willunga Farmers Market

The first of its kind in the state, the Willunga Farmers Market is a lively affair attracting almost 200 stallholders and thousands of visitors every Saturday morning. Come here to sample South Australia’s finest produce, from wines and organic vegetables to free-range meats, cheeses, and artisanal condiments; the local McLaren Vale olives are particularly popular.

McLaren Vale

Sandwiched by the dramatic Mount Lofty Ranges and Gulf St Vincent, this dreamy patch of countryside is home to more than 80 cellar doors, many with attached restaurants where you can linger to appreciate the state’s flavours. When it comes to varietals, Shiraz, Grenache, and Cabernet are regional standouts.

Snorkelling

Aldinga is the gateway to an immense aquatic reserve protecting a rare intertidal reef just 1.5 kilometres (one mile) offshore. Strap on your mask and fins to dive or snorkel around a spectacular underwater cliff, replete with rock pinnacles extending from the seafloor to just below the surface where you might spot sea lions, turtles, and other marine life.