When my father passed away 2 years ago, his only request was that his ashes be scattered on the beach we have come to know as Dad's beach. His final destination is the sparkling blue water off Port Noarlunga Beach, right out the front of the Southport Surf Club in South Australia.
Dad founded the club with his friends over 50 years ago, so as a mark of respect, we go back annually and have a drink with him!
Port Noarlunga is a small seaside town located a comfortable 40 minute drive from Adelaide Airport.
It was originally created as a sea port but is now a popular holiday destination and also a home for many who commute to Adelaide for work.
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| Port Noarlunga Beach and Jetty |
The focal point of the town is the infamous Jetty. It was built in 1921, replacing the original that was destroyed by storms and it leads all the way out to a reef that is one of only a few in the whole of South Australia, the area is a hotspot for divers and fisherman alike. At the Southern end of the beach, is the mouth of the Onkaparinga River and the estuary which stretches behind the dunes. The Onkaparinga River runs from its source between Mount Torrens and Charleston in the Mount Lofty Ranges and flows south westerly to the estuary at Port Noarlunga. The river is 95km in length.
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| Onkaparinga River Mouth |
Port Noarlunga beach, the sand dunes and the Onkaparinga River mouth was judged Australia's cleanest beach for 2010, quite an accolade and well deserved!
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| Port Noarlunga Beach |
We stayed at McCloud House, a property owned and managed by Julie Wright, that was originally built as a guest house in 1928 by Rebecca, Mary-Anne and Bertha McCloud.
The sisters are the daughters of John Douglas McCloud, a farmer and land owner of “Glenheath” at Lonsdale. He arrived as a 9 year old in 1839, three years after South Australia was proclaimed a state.
The location of the guest house is ideal, directly opposite the beach and a wander to the local cafes and quaint little shops.
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| View from our Beach Studio at McCloud House |
There are 2 Studio rooms on offer, The Beach Studio and Heritage Studio. The Beach Studio is larger with a small retreat area, and a large old fashioned claw foot bath with separate shower in the en-suite. The Heritage Studio looks over the characteristic village of Port Noarlunga, it is slightly smaller and less costly. Each studio has a king size bed, en-suite, air conditioning, its own balcony, and kitchenette. Julie was a fantastic host and nothing was too much bother, we will be staying here from now on! I cannot recommend highly enough!
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| Lounge area in the Beach Studio |
I had a wander around the shops in the afternoon, discovering treasure after treasure, beautiful gift shops, quaint little cafes and of course, the mandatory Cornish Pastry store (no trip to South Australia is complete without a Cornish pastry at some point!).
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| Enjoying a Cornish Pasty |
My find of the trip, was an amazing little hole in the wall Antique store called Noodys Curios! I spent a good few hours fascinated with everything from Golliwog dolls to tea sets to cigarette cases, amazing!
We spent our first afternoon with family and friends at the Southport Surf Club, then wandered up the beach and over the headland to Christies Beach and our favourite little Chinese restaurant- the Red Ruby! I think the name says it all!!!!! The sunset was breathtaking and the night was full of laughs!
A lovely end to the evening was enjoying a bottle of red wine with family on our little balcony at McCloud House, overlooking the beach.
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| Having a beer at Southport SLSC |
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| The view from Southport SLSC |
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| The Red Ruby, what a spot |
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| What a sunset! |
I woke up at sunrise and spent an hour wandering along the beach, it was one of those perfect mornings when the air was cool, the water and sky seemed to merge into a misty, blue haze and the sand was bursting with shells. I took a pocketful of the sand back with me, a little piece of Dad's beach to keep with me forever.
Unfortunately being a short trip, we had to say goodbye after only 2 nights! Next time we have vowed to return for longer and include a visit to the McLaren Winery region (only 15 minutes away!), Cape Jervis, Victor Harbour and Goolwa.
Make sure you keep Port Noarlunga in mind when you are next in Adelaide, a picture perfect little seaside retreat!
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