Holiday at home: Staycation

Staycation

Why leave home for your next getaway when everything you need is right here? Story by Jake Dean.

Above: Stand up paddleboarding (SUP) in the azure waters off the pristine Port Willunga Beach. Who’s in? Photo courtesy of SUP Down South.

Pining for a holiday? Aren’t we all. Having a trip pencilled in the calendar gives us something to look forward to and being exposed to different cultures and experiences can help us grow in myriad ways. On the other hand, we often gloss over the negatives of vacations. There’s the exorbitant hit to the bank account (particularly if you’ve got kids in tow); the hours and days sitting on planes, trains and taxis; and the problematic nature of air travel amid global warming. And don’t get me started on jetlag.

What if we told you your next getaway was right under your nose? The Fleurieu is blessed with world-renowned wine regions, unique natural environments and wildlife, and eclectic events and experiences. It’s a wonder more of us don’t plan regular short trips closer to home to take advantage of it all. So, book yourself a hotel, campsite or Airbnb and plan a fun itinerary full of new sights, smells and experiences. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Garden fun

Jungle in Willunga Tell your kids there’s a tropical jungle filled with exotic animals down the road and watch them roll their eyes. Then see their faces as you pull into the carpark of Jungle in Willunga, a specialist plant nursery that makes for a truly unique stop between Willunga and the Vale. While specialising in tropical-look, unusual and indoor plants and bamboo, the nursery also contains a huge jungle garden with heaps of (fake) wild animals to discover, and a jungle climbing net. Watch out for school holiday activities in January (and make sure to clear space in the car for the plants you’ll want to take home).

Top: If surfing on the south coast is on your radar – Kombi Surf has lessons for all ages and abilities. Bottom left: Step into Jungle in Willunga for a taste of the tropics in Willunga. Bottom right: Experience the Coorong from the water with experienced local guides at Canoe the Coorong.

Water-based fun

Kombi Surf If you’ve ever wanted to learn to surf, Middleton’s gentle lines are the perfect place to do it. Kombi Surf offers lessons and hire for all ages and abilities, every day of the year, setting up its Kombi van and trailer at Middleton’s second carpark (opposite 184 Surfers Parade). The family-run business emphasises water safety, and it offers group and private lessons, a development program for 5-12 year-olds, multilesson packages and surfboard/bodyboard/wetsuit hire. They’re also pretty handy with local knowledge on where to eat and what to do when your lesson is finished.

SUP Down South Stand-up paddleboards are pretty damn versatile things. You can use them to keep fit (hello, ripped upper body), find peace of mind via a SUP yoga session or simply use them as a vessel to explore the coastline. Port Willunga-based SUP Down South has all bases covered with half-day tours, weekly summer yoga classes, lessons and board hire at one of South Australia’s most beautiful beaches – Port Willunga. Its accredited instructors have more than thirtyplus years’ experience and an intimate knowledge of the Fleurieu’s beaches, while aerial and water photos let you take home treasured memories.

Canoe the Coorong The Coorong is truly a gem in the Fleurieu’s crown. It’s a wetland of international importance, supporting many significant and endangered flora and flora; it holds enormous cultural significance to the Ngarrindjeri people; and, of course, it’s incredibly beautiful. Canoe the Coorong offers one of the best ways to experience this magnificent body of water: by kayak. Their guides take small groups across sheltered water to the stunning sand dunes to enjoy delicious local food and gorgeous scenery. There are options to suit any ability or taste, from relaxing sunset tours with local beverages and a picnic, to four-day expedition-style tours. Bucket list stuff, this. >

Top: Oceanic Victor’s Aquarium Swim allows you to swim with and hand-feed Southern Bluefin Tuna and cuddle a shark! Bottom: New this summer! Surf Culture Australia is standing by the culture and surf aspect of their name and offering a two-hour surf lesson followed by a visit to a McLaren Vale winery for a platter and tasting experience. Photo courtesy of Heidi Lewis.

Oceanic Victor Oceanic Victor has two goals in mind with its unique offerings – revive the much-loved Granite Island, and bring it into the future with a diverse range of experiences. Its in-sea Aquarium Swim allows you to swim with and hand-feed Southern Bluefin Tuna, cuddle a Port Jackson Shark and pick the brains of a crew of marine scientists. Or you can take its Guided Nature and Penguin Tour, getting up-close and personal with Granite Island’s native, wild Little Penguin colony under the knowledgeable eyes of trained guides. Either way, you’ll leave with an appreciation for our marine life and a big smile on your face.

Surf Culture Australia Waves and wine? Is there a better combination? Surf Culture Australia’s surf school – established in 1991 – has an extremely cool package this summer where you can enjoy a two-hour surf lesson, followed by a visit to a McLaren Vale winery for tastings and a lunch platter. If, however, you’re solely focused on finding perfect waves, a range of options are available, from beginners and advanced group lessons, to private sessions. Lessons are offered at both the Mid (South Port and Moana) and South Coast (Middleton and Goolwa), so you’re set wherever you base your staycation.

Christies Beach Sailing Club The Christies Beach Sailing Club team is making it easier than ever for people to get out on the water this summer, minus the perceived snobbery sometimes associated with the sport, Christine Rootsey says. Kids learn-to-sail courses are held Saturday mornings from October to March; it hosts a new national program teaching teenagers to use sailing boats, power boats, stand-up paddleboards and windsurfers in a fun learning environment; while adult short courses run throughout summer. All equipment (including boats and lifejackets) is provided and courses are run by fully accredited instructors. The clubhouse is a perfect family-friendly spot to enjoy a meal or live music on the waterfront too.

Top: Come and have a go at sailing at the Christies Beach Sailing Club! Bottom: At Narnu Farm the kids love the chance to kiss and a cuddle a range of farm animals and experience life on a farm, free of technology.

Farm stays

Narnu Farm Ditch the phones, tablets and tellies this summer and head to the farm! Hindmarsh Island’s Narnu Farm is an award-winning familyfriendly farm-stay holiday destination, offering cottage and bunkhouse accommodation alongside a host of fun activities such as farm animal feeding and vintage truck rides. The Narnu philosophy? Take a break from modern technology and the bustle of city life, and allow kids to breathe fresh air, interact with nature, and engage their imaginations. And the parents? Well, you can put your feet up and relax (if your inner child doesn’t see you cuddling animals all day too).

Art galleries and studios

Fleurieu Arthouse If you get tired of bouncing from winery to winery in the Vale, a stop at Fleurieu Arthouse is a must. The artisan hub allows you to interact with artists in their studios, learn from them in workshops or view their creations in the art gallery, providing visitors with insights into the abundant artistic talent in our region. You can take a piece of the Fleurieu home via the retail shop, stocked with artisan products and artworks from glass, ceramics, jewellery, sculpture, prints, paintings and more. And if you’re not yet tired of wineries, you’re in luck – the Hardys Tintara cellar door is mere steps away.

Free recreation spaces

Alexandrina Council The best things in life are free, and two of those things were recently added to Alexandrina Council’s impressive suite of recreation offerings. At Goolwa, a new Pump Track – allowing bike riders, skateboarders and scooter riders to use momentum to propel themselves – opened alongside the town’s popular skatepark and BMX track in October. Just days later, a $1.3 million recreation park – including a BMX track, skate park, open play spaces, picnic shelters, a basket swing and slide – opened at Mount Compass. Other Alexandrina recreation highlights during your staycation include the Bristow Smith Reserve (Goolwa) and Forest Reserve (Strathalbyn) nature play spaces. Bonus points for visiting all four. >

Top: Going overseas was never so easy with walk-on passage to KI with SeaLink available. Once you’re there to hop on one of the many on-island tours. Bottom: Enjoy the modern Australian menu at the Island Café on Granite Island.

Short-term travel

SeaLink Who says you can’t go overseas on your staycation! SeaLink offers a range of day tours if you’ve got time for a quick Kangaroo Island getaway. Its Seal Bay Discovery tour (perfect for wildlife lovers) and the popular one day KI Experience tour do pick-ups and drop-offs from Adelaide and the Fleurieu. Similarly, the Remarkably Wild tour (departing on island) only takes a day and encompasses some of the island’s finest natural experiences. If you’ve got more time, the twoday Best of Kangaroo Island tour combines Seal Bay and Remarkably Wild, or you could splurge on a beachfront house in Penneshaw (hopefully timing it with the farmers market, first Sunday of every month, October-April). Walk-on ferry passage is available for all of the above!

Eateries

Island Café No trip to Granite Island’s complete without a stop at the Island Café, situated near the water’s edge alongside the Oceanic Victor booking office. It’s open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch over summer, with evening meals on weekends (and live local musicians on Saturday afternoons), and its modern Australian menu is heavily influenced by its surroundings. Local seafood, native botanicals and fresh produce all feature heavily, and if you’re looking to make a big day of it, you can purchase a package combining Oceanic Victor’s Aquarium Tour with a Seafood Tasting Platter from the café.