Walks & Trails ...

Victor Harbor boasts many walks and trails bound to bring out the inner wildlife warrior in you. The trails vary in length, degree in difficulty, and the type of landscape you will get close too, so it is important to determine which walking trail suits you best.

Granite Island Kaiki Trail

An initiative of the Ngarrindjeri Community Development Program, the Kaiki Trail is a meeting place of cultural history and natural history. The Ramindjeri people’s name for the landform, ‘Kaiki’ holds great aboriginal significance. On the 2.9km trail you’ll encounter the dreamtime story in which Ngurunderi travels down the River Murray in search of his two wives, throwing his reed spear (his ‘Kaiki’) and creating the landscape that now surrounds Victor Harbor. The granite boulders and crashing waves make for a very special backdrop.

Hindmarsh River Walks

The Hindmarsh River Estuary is of great ecological significance – as well as a place of great natural beauty. It’s home to river red gums and rare swamp paperbark trees as well as tremendous birdlife, including the black chinned honey eater and hooded plover. Enjoy the views and wildlife on five different estuary walks lasting from 20 minutes to three hours on mostly level terrain. All trails commence from the bridge at Hindmarsh River mouth; maps are available from the Visitor Information Centre.

Heysen Trail

The big one! The Heysen Trail is one of the world’s longest walking trails, stretching some 1,500km from Victor Harbor to the Flinders Ranges. The trail sections between Waitpinga and Victor Harbor are especially scenic, much loved by walkers and photographers, with terrain varying from steep rugged cliff faces to sandy surf beaches. Medium fitness is required and you need to take adequate supplies of water and wear appropriate clothing. The Visitor Information Centre has more Heysen Trail information.

Nangawooka Flora Reserve

Nangawooka is a small 2ha reserve, home to over 1,200 varieties of Australian native plants. Colourful, aromatic and always changing with the seasons, it’s also a haven for birds, including black chinned honey eaters, superb blue wrens and rainbow lorikeets. It’s located on the Adelaide/Victor Harbor Road, opposite Urimbirra. Picnic and gazebo area and toilet available.

Hindmarsh Falls

Picturesque Hindmarsh Falls is best viewed in winter and spring after heavy rainfall. Located 18km from Victor Harbor, it’s also busy with birdwatchers who come to admire scrub wren, bassian thrush, white browed scrubwren, eastern spinebill, white throated treecreeper and the laughing kookaburra. The turnoff is located 18km from Victor Harbor (on the Myponga Road) and the falls reached after a gentle 500m walk. Picnic area available.

ENCOUNTER BIKEWAY

The 30km Encounter Bikeway is a mix of bike trail and shared roadway, linking Victor Harbor to the river port of Goolwa via Port Elliot and Middleton. The Bikeway’s sea air and sea views can be enjoyed by cyclists, walkers, skaters, rollerbladers, handcyclists and those in wheelchairs. Encounter Bikeway brochures available from the Visitor Information Centre.

THE FLEURIEU WAY & TOURIST ROUTE 56

Many of the highlights of this dramatic coastline can be reached on Tourist Route 56. The route is part of a collection of short drives outlined in the Fleurieu Way Brochure, available from the Visitor Information Centre.

The loop drive starts from the roundabout at the junction of Adelaide Road, Port Elliot Road and Hindmarsh Road, and covers some 20kms. You should allow two hours to take in the many attractions on the drive, including spectacular lookouts, sculptures, historic town centre buildings (including Read’s Wool Store built in 1868, and the National Trust’s Customs House built in 1865), Horse Drawn Tram and Causeway, reserves, The Bluff and Victor Harbor Cemetery.