Blowhole Beach

A hidden Fleurieu cove

Blowhole Beach sits at the end of a steep gully on the southern coast of Deep Creek National Park, hemmed in by dark cliffs and tussocked headlands. There are no buildings, no kiosks and rarely more than a handful of other visitors. On a calm day the water is glassy and turquoise; when the swell is up, the surf thunders against the rocks at either end of the cove.

Getting in: 4WD or hiking boots

This is the trade-off - Blowhole Beach is one of the Fleurieu's most rewarding beaches precisely because it is so hard to reach. Visitors with a high-clearance 4WD can drive the steep, rocky Blowhole Beach Track from Tappanappa Road down to a small carpark just behind the dunes (the track is genuine 4WD only - 2WD vehicles are prohibited and fines apply). Everyone else parks at the Cobbler Hill picnic area and walks down the Blowhole Beach Hike, a 3km return trail that drops sharply through coastal scrub. Allow about 2.5 hours return; the climb back out is the hard part, so save water and energy for it.

Once you're there

The beach is good for a swim in calm conditions but there are no patrols, no facilities and no phone signal - treat it as a true wilderness beach. Western grey kangaroos are commonly seen along the track and on the dunes, and the surrounding park is part of the Heysen Trail. A Deep Creek National Park vehicle entry fee applies (currently around $13.90 per vehicle) and must be booked in advance through parks.sa.gov.au.