Port Elliot Maritime Heritage Trail

About Port Elliot Maritime Heritage Trail

Port Elliot Maritime Heritage Trail is a things to do venue in Port Elliot, South Australia.

This self-guided trail offers stunning views of one of Australia’s most beautiful beaches and provides interpretive signs that explain the region’s history, including Australia’s first public railway. Learn about the challenges early colonists faced in transporting goods from inland Australia down the River Murray to the sea.

Due to dangerous waters at the river mouth, a railway was built from Goolwa to Port Elliot. Discover the site that was once a bustling port for trade, with over 500 ships using the port from 1851.

The trail highlights four wrecks that are often exposed in the surf zone, including the Harry, Josephine Loizeau, Lapwing, and the Flying Fish. The Flying Fish Cafe on the beachfront serves as a reminder of the region’s maritime history.

Three other shipwrecks, the Emu, Commodore, and Athol, have yet to be located. The Port Elliot Maritime Heritage Trail can be visited year-round, but the best time to go is during the summer months between December and February.

This is when you have a higher chance of spotting dolphins, whales, and seals in the region. To access the trail, you can drive to the coast and use the spacious parking lot provided.

Alternatively, you can take the Cockle Train from the station to Goolwa or Victor Harbor. If traveling by air, the nearest airport is Adelaide International Airport, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes away.

Don’t forget to visit the Port Elliot station, which includes a small museum where you can learn more about the history of South Australia and the transport hub that brought trade goods to the coast of Port Elliot.

Good to know

• Type: Things to Do
• Area: Port Elliot, South Australia
• Phone: (08) 8124 4960
• Website: visit ↗

Frequently asked questions

Find more things to do in Port Elliot or browse the Port Elliot local guide.