Holiday houses in Rapid Bay

Dramatic verdant hills surround the South Australian coastal town of Rapid Bay in the Fleurieu Peninsula. The St. Vincent Gulf and the Great Australian Bight waters surround the peninsula on opposite sides, making this a key destination for divers and snorkelers hoping to see the leafy seadragons that cluster underneath the Rapid Bay Jetty. Attractions, shops, and restaurants are limited in this region, as the locals have focused on preserving the land, so there’s no choice but to slow down and enjoy the scenery. Inland, you will find protected lands filled with grazing kangaroos, Ingalalla Falls, a farm-to-table restaurant housed in a historic stone building, and a seafood pub here and there.

The clean beaches are dotted with naturally-formed caves and lush green spaces inland dotted with stone cottages from the 1800s make for great scenic drives. Neighbouring Kangaroo Island is reachable by ferry, and it’s home to the Flinders Chase National Park where New Zealand fur seals occasionally visit.

Rapid Bay has warm weather throughout the year, with the longest seasons being the hot and dry summer and cooler, rainy winters. The spring and autumn months are short, sunny, and occasionally rainy. Throughout the first half of April, the Festival Fleurieu is celebrated across 10 towns and rural communities along the peninsula. The fun kicks off with a carnival where you’ll see leafy seadragon art and costumes, dancers, choirs, and a selection of local wine and beer. For the rest of the festival, you can attend workshops with local artists, sit for visiting lectures, see special gallery openings, shop at community markets selling produce and homemade foods, and hear local music at small pubs and venues. During winter, whales begin to migrate to the South Australian coast and can be spotted from lookout points in the Deep Creek Conservation Park.

Rapid Bay Caves

Dotted along Rapid Bay’s rocky local beaches are a series of small caves that you can explore before sunset. Be sure to wear proper footwear and a helmet, and bring a torch or headlamp with you if you plan to walk further into these dark caves. For a beautifully framed view of Rapid Bay’s waters and horizon, turn around and snap a photo right inside the mouth of the cave. The surrounding beach is great for swimming as it lacks surf-ready waves or rough currents.

Deep Creek Conservation Park

At just a 15-minute drive from the centre of Rapid Bay, you’ll be able to hike, camp, picnic, and build small campfires at the Deep Creek Conservation Park. Bushwalkers will have their choice between a series of easy, moderate, and hard trails that provide views of Deep Creek Cove, Kangaroo Island, pebbled beaches, waterfalls, and rolling hills. This is also your best opportunity to spot a kangaroo roaming freely in these protected grasslands. For a panoramic view of the coast, head to Tapanappa Lookout. Trail-ready wheelchairs are also available for hire at the nearby Fleurieu Coast Visitor Information Centre.

Kangaroo Island

For wineries, olive groves, cafes serving alfresco seafood meals, and distilleries, take a trip to neighbouring Kangaroo Island. You will need to drive and take a brief ferry ride to the island, and the journey takes around two hours. To see wildlife like koalas, fur seals, echidnas, and wallabies, drive west to the Flinders Chase National Park. This protected park area is home to a series of trails that pass by landmarks like the Remarkable Rocks — a natural feature that dates back 500 million years — the Admirals Arch, and the Cape Borda Lighthouse.