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Port Willunga Beach

A coastal village, Port Willunga is home to a famous shipwreck, popular seaside restaurants and a sparkling strip of beach. The best bit is it’s still a relatively hidden secret so don’t expect the crowds – there’s plenty of beach for everyone.


In 1888, Port Willunga gained notoriety when the sailing ship Star of Greece ran aground during a fierce storm and became one of South Australia’s worst maritime disasters. It’s now a site frequented by snorkelers and scuba divers but you don’t have to get wet to see the wreck – at low tide it can often be seen jutting out of the ocean, just north of the jetty. Port Willunga was once one of South Australia’s busiest out ports and the home of a thriving fishing industry.

The stunning beach is overlooked by cliffs where fishermen once carved out caves to store their boats and nets. Also of historical interest, the town’s jetty was destroyed in 1915 and all that remains is a collection of weather-beaten pylons that stand as a reminder to the town’s heady past as a grain port – a popular setting for photographers and artists.