Port Noarlunga – Aquatic Perfection in Adelaide
During our South Australia Summer road trip of 23/24, snorkelling was of course top of the list! I discovered an amazing spot near Adelaide with reef, jetty, and seagrass all in one place! I couldn’t wait to get there!
Snorkelling, swiming and fishing
Port Noarlunga, situated 30 kilometres south of Adelaide towards the picturesque Fleurieu Peninsula, offers an ideal summer escape with its warm sea and excellent visibility in January. This popular destination is a haven for snorkelers, swimmers, and anglers alike, centred around a bustling jetty and a sheltered 1.5km long reef wall accompanied by a snorkel trail. The beach, adorned with striking red cliffs, adds to its unique charm.
The area is well-equipped with amenities, including public toilets, a beach shower, and the novelty of a very cool bait and tackle vending machine. There is a fish n chip shop, bakery, cafes and other food outlets nearby, perfect for the after-swim munchies that I always get after a marathon dive session! However, be mindful that parking is limited and fills up quickly; arriving early is advisable to avoid a long walk from your vehicle. On our visit, we had to park a bit up the street as the car park was already full.
A new addition to the site is the Big Dive Mask sculpture, a nice feature for fans of Australia’s ‘big things.’
For the best snorkelling and diving conditions, plan your visit during low tide when the current is calm, and there’s no swell. The more the reef wall is exposed, the more sheltered the inner reef becomes. For a distinct underwater experience, explore the outer reef wall. Although it is possible to swim through a gap in the reef, do so at your own risk as the current can be strong.
Find a spot on the beach to throw down a towel and relax. If you’re lucky like we were, you might snag a spot to park your gear in the shade under the jetty, so you can head straight for the water.
Get into the water!
The shallow waters off the beach are perfect for families with young children. Walk to the end of the jetty and enter the sea from a platform near the reef, swim across the sand and seagrass, or snorkel under the jetty, taking care to avoid people jumping and fishing.
We went straight from the beach to the seagrass, spotting several Dusky Morwong, which was surprising as they are rather elusive in Perth. I was also amazed by the absence of Common Blowfish, or ‘Blowies’ as they’re known in WA. It appears that they are only at plague proportions over West.
While exploring, you might encounter Port Jackson sharks, wobbegongs, and even dolphins. It’s worth noting that South Australia is known for high shark activity, so always check Shark Watch SA for recent sightings and avoid snorkelling within 24 hours of a shark report.
Down under
Unfortunately, it was only moments into the snorkel when Tony became sea sick. We are unsure what caused it, whether it was dehydration, his first time wearing a weight belt or something else. Not a nice experience for the poor thing. He at least had a few moments of underwater time between feeding the fish.
At this point, I wasn’t even aware that he was unwell, as I was too preoccupied from the excitement of a new marine environment. At the end of the jetty, a large school of Silver Drummer and Sea Sweep were circling the pylons, and I dived down to swim amongst them. They didn’t seem bothered at all by humans.
I collected Tony and we swam about 5 meters from the platform at the end of the jetty, to the reef wall. He rested on the rocks, while I explored the underwater landscape. The top of the reef is flat and blanketed by small mussels. It’s possible to walk on the rocks at low tide. Underwater, the rocks are coated with various plants and large leafy kelp, descending to a depth of around 8 meters and providing a habitat for numerous fish species. There are excellent swim-throughs and ample areas to explore both above and below.
From the surface I saw plenty of Magpie Perch (a new species for me to tick off!), Old Wives, Talma, Tasmanian Blennies and the biggest Zebrafish that I have ever seen. I also witnessed my first Noarlunga Hulafish (Trachinops noarlungae).
Deeper down, I found Horseshoe Leatherjackets, Rainbow Cale, Victorian Scalyfin and the usual fish that you get a quick glimpse of but never manage to photograph or identify!
Sadly, no wobbegongs this time and they will remain on my Australian fish bucket list.
Unfortunatly the trip was cut short due to Tony’s ongoing illness, so we didn’t have the chance to explore the outer reef or find the aquatic trail which is further to the left of the jetty.
Port Noarlunga is undoubtedly a top underwater destination, and I eagerly look forward to returning next time we visit Adelaide, and I hope Tony gets to enjoy it too!
Other highly recommended snorkelling spots along the Fleurieu Peninsula that are on my list for future adventures include Aldinga Reef, Second Valley, Rapid Bay, and Kangaroo Island – just a short ferry ride away from the mainland.
Stay tuned for more quirky locations to explore while in Adelaide!
