Top 7 family-friendly SA beaches

By Ellen Morgan
Published: Thursday, October 22, 2020

With the arrival of spring weather and the hope of summer sun on the horizon, beach days are upon us. To help you pick your spot on the sand, here are 7 of the sweetest salty locations for the whole family.

Whether your tribe are boogie boarders, sand-castle kings, freestyle novices or seasoned beach cricketers, there’s a beach for it in beautiful South Australia.

With over 5000km of coastline in SA, there’s a whole lot of sand in which to pitch your umbrella and wedge the esky. But with little ones in-tow, it’s important to know which beaches are best suited to small swimmers and those where it’s best to be a little more cautious.

Of course, there are hungry tummies and bundles of energy to look after too, so we’ve also got you covered with a range of playgrounds and fish and chip spots.

Pack the boards, collect the cricket bats and chuck the sunscreen in the car. Here are 7 of our favourite spots for sun-soaked family fun.

Horseshoe Bay has plenty of places to relax. Image: SATC/Graham Scheer.

1. Horseshoe Bay

You can almost smell the cheese and veg pasties on your way down to Port Elliot. Whether you opt for a winning bakery or a cone of fish and chippies from the Flying Fish Café, an afternoon in the sun on the lawn at Horseshoe Bay is about as good as it gets in summer.

If you’re lucky enough to have grown up in South Australia, it’s the stuff of family holiday dreams. With a sheltered bay, the beach is well-suited to little swimmers as there’s rarely any swell or wind.

The lawn behind the beach is perfect for family picnics and great for small humans who aren’t yet fans of sand in their toes.

If you want to lay out the towels by the water, the golden arch of beach provides plenty of space, but it can get pretty busy in the height of summer so make sure to head down early to snap up your spot.

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Port Willunga Beach is an idyllic family escape. Image: SATC/Josie Withers.

2. Port Willunga Beach

Just 40 minutes from Adelaide, Port Willy is a coastal favourite in SA.

The ochre cliffs, crisp white sands and crystal blue waters here are a sight for sore eyes, with many travelling long distances for a glimpse of the sunset by the jetty pylons. Many a Kodak moment is had here throughout the summer, and family holidays are no exception.

Towering cliffs provide a perfect windbreak most of the time, meaning there are generally little to no waves. When the swell is up, the small barrels can be a great spot for littlies to practice boogie boarding.

For the bigger kids, the Star of Greece shipwreck (sunk just off shore in 1888) is great to snorkel over. The calm waters are also ideal for paddle boarding and kayaking, and there are a number of hikes along the clifftops.

Feeling peckish? The Star of Greece restaurant and Port Willy Kiosk sit atop the cliffs near the carpark, and are perfect pitstops for some salt and pepper squid.

The stretch between Somerton and Glenelg is perfect for furry friends. Image: SATC/Josh Geelen.

3. Somerton Beach

Not far from its busier neighbour, Brighton, Somerton Beach is a great pick for a day out with the family. The long stretch of white sand is ideal for a stroll or to settle in for the day.

The best part? There’s lots of street parking available close by, compared to nearby Brighton and Glenelg which can be packed out in the warmer months. This means little feet won’t have to travel as far to the car, and you won’t have to trek your gear for miles, either.

There are even a few parks nestled along the Esplanade, including John Miller Reserve (which has a public toilet).

Rustle up some hummus and crackers, a bag of salt and vinegar chips and a bottle of Fanta and settle in for a sunset family picnic. There’s also a popular playground here with shade sails to provide some respite from the sunshine.

Looking for more to do in the Adelaide metro area? We can help.

Drive along picturesque Silver Sands beach. Image: SATC/Adam Bruzzone.

4. Silver Sands, Aldinga

If you’ve lugged everything but the kitchen sink with you to the beach, you’ll want a prime position on the sand.

At Silver Sands, you can drive your car straight onto the beach. All you need to do is pop open the boot, throw out the towels and settle in for the day.

In the peak of summer, it’s impressive to see the line-up of cars along the stretch, each with their own incredible seaside fortress concocted from tents, umbrellas, throws, towels and eskies – this is Aussie summer at its absolute best.

If you settle in early enough, you could even be given the highest Aussie beach honour – controller of the beach radio. You get to pick the soundtrack for the day, whether it’s Purple Rain or Here Comes the Sun, setting the mood for you and the other beachgoers (no pressure).

Having the car on the sand has all sorts of perks – easy access to snacks for the kids, extra comfortable seating (great for the adults), and power if you want to charge up your car esky or your phone.

The Fleurieu is full of fun. Find out more.

Beach cricket at Glenelg is a hit with the kids. Image: SATC/Andre Castellucci.

5. Glenelg

While Glenelg can be one of the more crowded options in the summer months, it packs a punch in beachside activities for little ones.

The beach itself is great for kids, with hardly any waves to battle, but it’s what’s on offer along the waterfront that’ll keep you coming back.

The Beachouse is a great place to burn all that extra energy, with everything from waterslides and bumper boats to dodgem cars and arcade games. In nearby Moseley Square, the water feature is a hit with little ones, and with the whole of Jetty Road ahead of you, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to meal options, snacks and that all important ‘can-we-have-an-ice-cream-yet’ time.

Have a little extra time? Find out what you can experience around Glenelg.

Splash Town at Moonta Bay. Image: SATC/John Montesi

6. Moonta Bay, Copper Coast

About a 2-hour drive from Adelaide, the Copper Coast is a stunning stretch of shoreline if you’re up for a road trip with the family. For the ultimate weekend away or a longer holiday over the summer months, Moonta Bay is a great one to visit with little kids.

The L-shaped jetty provides the perfect entry point to the enclosed swimming area.

On shore, there’s Splash Town – a fun water park that’s free to use. There’s a playground and barbecue area, as well as a range of cafes and restaurants nearby to feed hungry bellies.

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Drive your car onto Long Beach, Robe. Image: SATC/Adam Bruzzone

7. Long Beach, Robe

If you’re heading south-east, Robe’s Long Beach is a sight for sore eyes (assuming you’ve played at least 3 too many games of eye-spy by this point).

The lengthy stretch of sand has plenty of room for rows of towels in summer, but you can drive your car along here, too. Broken up into 3 sections (known as ramps), the first is only accessible by foot, making it safer for little wandering humans. The waters here generally only see small swell.

The third ramp is a popular surf stretch (lessons are available in the warmer months).

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