Places to stay, things to do - Port Elliot

Port Elliot is a dynamic seaside holiday destination located approximately 85km south of South Australia’s charming capital city, Adelaide. Port Elliot and the surrounding region boasts an array of holiday activities suited to travellers ranging from seasoned backpackers to luxury holiday makers, and as such, the locality presents a vast array of different holiday accommodation options.

Things to See and Do in and Around Port Elliot

There is never a lack of things to see and do in and around Port Elliot. Relaxed travellers have the option of heading to ‘The Strand’ for a bit of shopping, or to the beach to work on their tan. Lucky holiday makers may also catch the Port Elliot Markets, which take place on the first and third Saturday of the month. These quaint markets, are within walking distance of most accommodation in the region, and are a tradition in many areas of Australia, offering everything from fresh produce to bric-a-brac and books.

Hitting the Water: Fishing and Surfing

For those that fancy more action and excitement whilst in South Australia, there is always the option of trying a little fishing. The region around Port Elliot is home to various deep water fishing charter companies, which give international tourists the opportunity to sample some of Australia’s best fishing territory.

Travellers, who prefer to stay off the water on the other hand, can simply fish from the beach, or relax on the jetty with a line in the water and wait for the catch of a lifetime to come along. The best thing about fishing in this area is that holiday makers can either cook their catch on the barbeque at their holiday villa, or do as many of the locals do and tell everyone about the one that got away over a few cold beers at the surf club.

Visitors looking for something more physical than fishing are also spoiled for choice in Port Elliot, with beaches in the region offering some great surf breaks. Horseshoe bay which is situated directly in Port Elliot offers great surfing for all experience levels, and has the added advantage of being easily accessible from most holiday rentals in the area.

Checking Out the Local Wildlife

One of the main tourist draw cards in the Port Elliot region, are the numerous opportunities that visitors have to get up close and personal with Australian wildlife, some of these being practically at the door of their holiday rental. Visitors to Port Elliot are generally spoiled for choice with up to 29 different species of whales known to frequent the area; in addition to common and bottle nose dolphins; penguins; seals; and an abundance of birdlife.

Visitors may consequently choose to take a whale watching tour, which are generally offered between June and October, or try their whale watching luck from the Port Elliot scenic lookout, one of the various whale watching vantage points located along the coast. Holiday makers staying in beachside holiday accommodation may however, be able to catch a glimpse of these sea giants from their very own window.

The ‘Whale Centre’ in Victor Harbour, which is located approximately 7 km south-west of Port Elliot, can provide holiday makers with further information about the various whale species found in the area, including information on the latest sightings, as well as offering some great coastal whale watching vantage points.

The Ideal Climate for Visitors

The region around Adelaide, which includes Port Elliot, experiences a Mediterranean Climate, which is generally classified as mild wet winters and hot dry summers This makes Port Elliot the perfect year round holiday destination. The peak tourist season in this region is considered to be during the summer months, which span from December to February. Budget conscious holiday makers can however, take advantage of this fact opting instead for off-season holiday deals, which mean more reasonable accommodation, shorter lines for attractions and more room at the beaches.

Travelling to Port Elliot from the UK

Travelling to Port Elliot from the UK is a straightforward process, as various airlines such as British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa and Qantas fly to Adelaide departing from London City Airport, with various exotic stopovers often included. Once holiday makers reach Adelaide, covering the distance between the city and Port Elliot is made easy via the vast availability of rental cars, in addition to a bus service which drops travellers directly in the vicinity of most holiday accommodation.