Victor Harbor

Victor Harbor is a large coastal town of 15,000 people (2018), 80 km south of Adelaide in South Australia. It is a very popular tourist destination, with the area's population greatly expanded during the summer holidays, usually by Adelaide locals looking to escape the summer heat. It is a popular destination with South Australian high school graduates for their end of year celebrations, known colloquially as "schoolies".

Understand


Victor Harbor is tourist-oriented, and has many accommodation options, and some purpose-built visitor activities. It draws a weekend crowd from Adelaide, and some visitors from further afield. It caters for the schoolies after exams finish for the year so take this into account when selecting a time to visit.

Get in
Most people get to Victor Harbor by a 90-minute or so drive from Adelaide, but there is a coach service run by LinkSA from Adelaide Central Bus Station, Seaford Railway Station and Goolwa. Fares are $27.60/$13.80. You can switch to an airport bus at Marion Shopping Centre rather than in Adelaide City, but check the timetable as buses to Marion only go every hour or so.

The Steamranger runs the Southern Encounter service on Sundays twice monthly, departing from Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills, giving around 4 hours to explore the town. Adults $75, children 5 years and over $40. They also run a train to Goolwa Sundays, Wednesdays and every day during the school holidays. One way fares are available on request.

Get around
The town is small enough to walk around. The main shopping strip, cafes, and pubs are only a short walk to the fair and the causeway to Granite Island.

Parking can get a bit tight along the water, so once you have found a parking spot, it's best just to leave the car there and walk the rest.

Europcar have an agency operating out of the City Motel on Ocean Street, just off the main strip. They charge one-way fees to drive to Adelaide, but they may waive them if you talk to them directly.

See

 * Whale watching. Southern Right Whales can be seen from the shore May until October.  South Australian government runs a maintains a web page which contains the latest foreshore sighting information.
 * Nearby Inman Valley is on the Inman Valley Rd, about 14 km inland of Victor Harbor. The town has a couple of houses and a farm equipment shop, but Selwyn's Rock, more commonly known as Glacier Rock is near here.  Access is by a very short walk with steps.
 * The Bluff is a lookout over the town and the water, above Encounter Bay.
 * Nearby Inman Valley is on the Inman Valley Rd, about 14 km inland of Victor Harbor. The town has a couple of houses and a farm equipment shop, but Selwyn's Rock, more commonly known as Glacier Rock is near here.  Access is by a very short walk with steps.
 * The Bluff is a lookout over the town and the water, above Encounter Bay.

Granite Island


Granite Island is undoubtedly the major attraction of the town. It is linked by a wooden causeway to the mainland. You can walk across the causeway in 15 minutes or so, or you can buy a ticket and take the horse-drawn tram across.

Once you get to the island there is a walk that circles the island, and takes around 45 minutes. There are wildflowers, rock formations, and sea cliff views to see. There is a cafe/kiosk there too.

If you get the tram, it takes you further than just across the causeway. It travels around 200 m on the island, as far as the cafe and visitor's centre complex, so it does save you a substantial walk, although it doesn't really save you any time.



No cars or bicycles are allowed on the causeway. Disabled visitors can arrange for taxi access through to the cafe.

Granite island is also a nesting ground for little penguins, known in Australia as the fairy penguin. They can only be seen at night, and you will have to join a tour to do so.

Cycle

 * There is a cycleway that goes from Victor Harbor along the coastline to Goolwa. Bike hire is available in Victor Harbor.

Sports

 * There is a golf course just out of town.
 * There is a putt-putt golf (mini-golf) in town.

Heritage railways

 * The Cockle Train operates year-round between Goolwa and Victor Harbor along the route of Australia's first railway. It operates with a steam locomotive in school holidays, and historic diesel locomotives or railcars on all other weekends.
 * The Cockle Train operates year-round between Goolwa and Victor Harbor along the route of Australia's first railway. It operates with a steam locomotive in school holidays, and historic diesel locomotives or railcars on all other weekends.

Drink

 * Hotel Victor, Encounter Restaurant, and Norfolk Cafe. Cafe and restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.   Pub bar, and bottle shop.

Sleep
For the tourist town that it is, there are numerous accommodation options here. The country motels, B&Bs, hostels and rental accommodation.



Go next

 * Sealink run coaches from here to meet the ferries to Kangaroo Island every day except Saturday and Wednesday.
 * See the rest of Encounter Bay, or catch the Cockle Train to Goolwa or Port Elliot.