Goolwa, meaning elbow in the local Aboriginal language, is a historic town that was used as a river port owing to its proximity to the Murray River. The town is about 100 km from Adelaide, and is a part of the Fleurieu Peninsula.
There are several adventurous activities that can be enjoyed during a vacation to Goolwa, some of which include
South Australian Wooden Boat Festival
The South Australian Wooden Boat Festival is one of the most popular and one of the most spectacular local festivals held at the Goolwa Wharf Precinct. The festival is held for two days, every alternate year and includes cruises, pirate trail explorations, and of course, a marvellous display of wooden boats. Also, don’t miss the remarkable fireworks.
Cockle Train
The Cockle Train runs between and Goolwa. It dates back to 1887 and is a broad gauge steam locomotive. The train provides amazing views of the Murray River and the local landscape.
Interesting fact – the train is run entirely by volunteers of the Australian Railway Historical Society.
Shaw Family Vintners
Taste some of the quality local wines at Shaw Family Vintners with cellar doors at Signal Point and Currency Creek just north of Goolwa provides (James Halliday 5 Star Winery). Shaw Family Vinters also holds wine and food tasting session four times a year where they match a selection of their wines with food from a local producer. Visit their website to register.
Canoe the Coorong
Canoe the Coorong is an ecological kayaking expedition that starts at the Coorong Wetland System. This includes saltwater lagoons, Younghusband Peninsula sand dunes, spectacular sunsets, and of course, the lagoon wildlife! The Coorong tour is a daylong exploration trip that includes a walk through the sand dunes, and cockle catching activities. Tours must be booked in advance.
Goolwa Animal Farm
The Goolwa Animal Farm is home to several indigenous animals, including alpacas. The farm contributes to conservation efforts in South Australia, and is a fun trip for people of all ages. You can meet and pet the animals up close and feed them.
If you are staying in Victor Harbor you can do a really nice daytrip to Goolwa on the Cockle Train. If you leave in the mid morning and take the train to Goolwa you can arrive in time for lunch at Hector’s next to the train station. There you can eat local seafood in a really beautiful setting metres away from the River Murray. Also nearby is the Distillery if you are wanting to have a drink. You can then have an easy return journey to Victor Harbor in the afternoon.