Times are based on an estimated walking speed of 4 km per hour. Difficult terrain such as soft sand, dune climes and rock hopping may slow speed to 2 km per hour. Please base estimated walking times on your own fitness and ability.
Kangaroo Island Look-out to Marion BayDistance: 19.6 km one way (allow at least 5.5 hours one way)Level of difficulty – moderate to hard (short sections require negotiating steep dunes)
This part of the Trail will appeal to the more energetic among us. The natural surfaced goat track style trail meanders along cliff headlands and onto the beach.
From Kangaroo Island lookout the walk takes on a new challenge, and is a photographer's delight as it showcases what is arguably some of the best scenery in South Australia. The walk uses cliff top, beaches, rock hopping and dune climbs in a couple of spots. Entering the Hillocks Drive Butlers Beach section, there are rock pools and picturesque scenery in abundance. The exceptional scenery continues and trail users are able to walk the Crownlands down to Meehan lookout.
Note: The Crownlands is a 20-30 metre strip boarded by private property so be sure not to trespass. We are lucky to be able to witness this unique coastline.
From Meehan lookout to Marion Bay it's a beautiful beach walk, with dunes on one side and crashing surf on the other. Marion Bay Township can be seen in the distance.
Gym Beach to Formby BayDistance: 9.6 km one way (allow at least 3.5 hours one way)Level of difficulty – moderate
This walk features spectacular surf breaks and quiet secluded beaches. A natural-surface goat-track style trail negotiating native vegetation along the cliff-tops, headlands and dunes.
From Gym Beach camp ground, the trail follows the beach to the headland, then heads up onto the dunes and to the cliff tops. Once again there are photo opportunities of the rugged coastline and white sandy beaches. Stay on the clifftop and follow the coastline, passing numerous bays with spectacular surf breaks and quiet secluded beaches until you reach the last beach before Formby Bay. There is a shelter located here.
Walk down to Baby Lizards Surf Break and hit the beach to walk the large stretch of sand, big waves and huge dunes. It's soft sand all the way around to Daly Head, where you scale the big staircase and follow the clifftop to the Daly Head car park.
The Daly Head National Surfing Reserve was proclaimed in January 2013, and was the first in South Australia. Achieving National Surfing Reserve (NSR) status ensures that Daly Head has recognition as an iconic world class surfing location.
The Gap to Port HughesDistance: 26.7 km one way (allow at least 7.5 hours one way)Level of difficulty – moderateDiscover quiet crisp white beaches walking the beach past vegetated dunes and samphire flats. Port Hughes has calm clear waters and a fantastic jetty, making it a popular fishing destination
The trail leaves from the Gap parking area and heads along the beach for the long and very beautiful walk to Cape Elizabeth, passing the Eastern Spencer Gulf marine park where shore based recreational line fishing is permitted.
The beach is backed by dunes, beach ridges and opening out onto farmland.
From the Cape the walk continues along the beach to Port Hughes coming into the town just before the jetty near the caravan park and foreshore reserve.
Wide, long beaches form the majority of this section with shallow, crystal blue waters for as far as the eye can see. Port Rickaby has plenty to offer visitors, including a family-friendly beach. Port Victoria is a paradise for anglers and scuba divers.
From the jetty at Point Turton follow the footpath as it passes beach front shacks and down onto the beach. The beach has hard sand and is good for walking, with views of crystal clear blue water and white sand dunes covered with native vegetation providing a magnificent experience.
Half way to Port Victoria is beautiful Wauraltee Beach, a long stretch of white sand, and a very popular camping spot. A short distance further on is Wauraltee Conservation Reserve and historic water point complete with well and windmill. This is a photo opportunity only – no water is available here.
As the trail gets closer to Port Victoria, it passes over the front of the headland down onto beautiful Rifle Butts Beach. At the northern end of this beach the trail becomes a gravel path and joins the Port Victoria Geology Trail, making its way to the jetty and town centre. Leaflets on the Port Victoria Geology Trail are available from the foreshore kiosk.
