Surfing & Sailing
Surfing
Cactus and Pondalowie are names steeped in Australian surfing legend - and they're just a couple of the breaks you'll find along the South Australian surf coast. There's surfing action aplenty right around the South Australian coast - from the tough Chinaman's reef break on Yorke Peninsula to more elementary waves at Goolwa and Middleton on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
You can surf less than an hour's drive of Adelaide on beaches like Sellicks and Southport. You'll find a broad variety of waves perfect for all levels of experience, from beginners to advanced.
Hang ten at legendary Cactus Beach on Eyre Peninsula, trying your moves on the left-hand surfing breaks of Castles and Cactus and the mighty right-hand break of Caves. These surf breaks aren't for the faint-hearted, so inexperienced riders might do well to catch the action from the beach before pitching a tent at the funky campsite nearby.
Yorke Peninsula is home of the annual Cutloose Rip Curl Yorke's Classic, our most prestigious surfing event. The best breaks can be found at beaches around Innes National Park: Chinamans, West Cape, Pondalowie Bay and Richards, and the nearby campgrounds are awesome.
Sign up for your own surfing lesson - try Surf and Sun at Middleton, Surf Culture on the Fleurieu Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula, or South Coast Surf Academy. Check out our surfing section for other information.
Sailing
South Australia has a vast system of waterways stretching along the coast and inland. On the ocean or along the mighty Murray River, there is a sailing experience for everyone. Just 20 minutes from Adelaide, you can cruise along the beaches and Port river to see dolphins, shipwrecks and mangroves.
On Kangaroo Island, some of the prettiest coves and bays can only be visited by boat. The islands of the Eyre Peninsula are refuge for marine animals and birds, and there's the extraordinary experience of swimming with sea-lions from a cruiser. There are numerous charter companies that can tailor tours for you, including one of the state's most magnificent tall ships - the One and All.
