You’ll find one of South Australia’s best caravan parks just over 80kms from Adelaide. Port Elliot and the gorgeous Horseshoe Bay are well known to SA locals and it’s a popular place year round.  With springs arrival and daylight savings on the horizon there’s no better time to hook on the van and discover what’s on offer in Port Elliot. Here is my list of all-time top 5 things to do when you are holidaying along this spectacular coastline on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

1. Cliff top Harbourmasters walk: there’s no better way to re-energise yourself and take in the beautiful beaches and surroundings than to take this spectacular walk. From the caravan park walk along the foreshore or the beach and head towards the Flying Fish Café, surf lifesaving club and jetty. The first part of the path is a little steep but not too hard for any age group.  Take your time and look out for pods of dolphins and a resident seal. There are seats for you to rest while you admire the view over Horseshoe Bay and back towards Middleton and Goolwa. Venture around the corner and you will have Green Bay coming into view, a very popular little beach for wedding photos and for seeing the power of nature with waves crashing onto rocks. Keep following the path around and the next incredible vista is towards Boomer Beach, Victor Harbor and Granite Island.  At the end of the cliff top walk stop a while and watch the body boarders as they launch into the surf at Knights Beach.

2. Meander in town: Port Elliot is made for walking! There are two main shopping streets to check out. The Strand runs from the Main Road down towards the water and has everything from cafes to homewares shops, clothing, second hand/antiques, fruit and veg and the Hotel Elliot. After a stroll around town this has a great bar area with a huge window that opens out to the street where you can pull up a bar stool and enjoy the passing parade. And, at the right time, watch the Steam Ranger (tourist steam train) pull in to the station. The other shopping strip to wander is the main road or North Terrace, which runs through the town. Here you will find more great food shopping including the butcher, organic fruit and veg, surfwear and other fashion, supermarket and my next top things!

3. Eating out in Port Elliot: Wow! Simply one of the best bakeries in the state. Don’t just take my word for it the line-up that winds its way out of the bakery and down the street will tell you the same.  Just tasty and fresh food and THE best honey logs bar none. Royal Family Hotel is next, across the road from the bakery and has a fantastic beer garden and enclosed verandah area for a long lunch. We’ve been coming here for years and the massive old pine tree in the backyard has been a special reason why.  From babes our children and those of friends we share holidays with have made a ring around the giant trunk of this beautiful old tree and from barely being able to make their arms join around it they now lap it twice over. Finally and back across the road you will find Cockles, a lovely corner café just perfect for breakfast or brunch with excellent food and deck area to enjoy the outdoors and the watch traffic passing by.

4. Horseshoe Bay: A perfect beach for walking, swimming, body boarding and fishing. The little jetty is pretty popular with fishers as well as people jumping off and into the crystal clear water. You never know what you may spot here, depending on the time of year it can be anything from a whale to dolphins to a seal. The beach is a little gentler at the jetty end and better for body boarding and more confident swimmers at the caravan park end.

5. Bashams Beach to Middleton walk: The Encounter bikeway runs behind the caravan park and is an easy trail to ride or walk through to Middleton which is home to some great surfing breaks and more spectacular coastal scenery.