Weekend Escape: The Best Things to Do in Victor Harbor
Explore this coastal town by making your way through our list of the best things to do in Victor Harbor.
At just an hour's drive south of Adelaide sits the charming seaside town of Victor Harbor, one of Adelaide’s top weekend getaways and tourist towns. It’s easy to see why, with an alluring waterfront, horse-drawn trams, and excellent food, drink and luxury accommodation options.
Relaxed seaside charm, breathtaking coastal views and rich maritime history define Victor Harbor, and its handy location makes it an excellent launching pad to nearby Port Elliot, Goolwa, Kangaroo Island, McLaren Vale, and of course, the natural beauty of the Fleurieu Peninsula that surrounds.
From nature-bound adventures and whale watching to local whisky tastings, read on for the best things to do in Victor Harbor.
Best Things to Do in Victor Harbor: Eat & Drink
Hotel Victor
Standing proud in the heart of Victor Harbor, Hotel Victor is the local pub adored by all. Welcoming regulars and visitors from out of town, this coastal spot sits on the main drag, a short walk from the tramway. The renovated bar is perfect for a tipple to close out the day of exploring, while the sunny alfresco seating is a beautiful place to have a hearty meal and watch the world go by.
With a menu full of classics like salads, schnitzels, burgers and pizzas, as well as accommodation on site, this is one of the best spots to visit to get a true taste of the charming Victor Harbor hospitality.
1 Albert Place, Victor Harbor
Planted Coffee House
For a quality coffee fix, visit Planted Coffee House. With a variety of quick breakfast and lunchtime bites also on offer - think croissants, frittata and toasties - as well as plenty of delectable sweet treats, they have the perfect thing for a downtime sesh or morning catch-up with friends.
138 Hindmarsh Road, Victor Harbor
Lost Phoenix Farm
If great food and picturesque surroundings are high on your list of things that spark joy, then a visit to Lost Phoenix Farm is a must. The menu of smaller and larger plates designed to be shared offers a refined, simplistic approach to seasonal food with an ode to fun and exciting flavours and techniques.
There is plenty of outdoor seating to fit all your friends alongside beer, wine and spritz. Complete your visit with a trip to the Lost Phoenix Spirits cellar door to explore the range of hand-crafted gin and vodka.
34 Mont Rosa Road, Hindmarsh Valley
Cut Hill Distillery
On the same sprawling grounds as Lost Phoenix Farm sits the fine whisky producers, Cut Hill Distillery. Committed to exploring Australia’s whisky roots, the distillery was founded by beverage industry professionals with mutual passions, aspirations and a drive to add their distinct contribution to the world of whisky.
A trip to their cellar door will see you sipping on whisky amongst the barrels, or meeting one of their distillers and being guided through their current range.
34 Mont Rosa Road, Hindmarsh Valley
Swagman Country Dining
Swagman Country Dining is a wonderful lunch option on your list of activities to do in Victor Harbor, and even better, it’s part of the Softfoot Country wildlife sanctuary. Lunch service is between 10am – 4pm daily, and prides itself on being a slow-food experience, creating nutritious food with Australian native flavours for your heath and enjoyment. Their menu includes sumptuous mains including the Swagman chargrilled steak, confit duck legs and pumpkin and saltbush vegetarian lasagne, all to be enjoyed within the luxurious surroundings of their dining room.
594 Sawpit Road, Hindmarsh Valley
Hotel Elliot
With Port Elliot so close to Victor Harbor, it's easy to experience two beach towns in one trip, especially when Port Elliot offers such a delicious array of cafes and restaurants. For example, upscale pub meals and pizza in the relaxed, convivial Hotel Elliot is a fantastic way to spend the afternoon or evening, especially when met with a leafy beer garden and the potential for some fantastic live music.
Hotel Elliot has a separate wine bar and space, Salt, offering an elevated dining experience. Settle in for delectable share plates and mains plus cocktails or an afternoon bottle of red with friends, all in a modern, coastal setting.
35 The Strand, Port Elliot
Flying Fish Cafe
Flying Fish Cafe has been serving gourmet fish and chips in its signature takeaway cones for over a decade. If you'd rather take a seat inside, this is a pretty special spot to soak up the scenery of beautiful Horseshoe Bay, sampling freshly shucked oysters, local seafood or a premium eye fillet steak. Just make sure you have a glass of something local in hand to really mark the occasion.
1 The Foreshore, Horseshoe Bay, Port Elliot
Best Things to Do in Victor Harbor: Stay
Nest & Nature
Disappear off-grid and Immerse yourself in nature with the architecturally designed luxury accommodation at Nest & Nature, hidden less than 20 minutes outside Victor Harbor and sitting on 240 acres of peaceful hillside property.
The bespoke, ultra-luxe couples accommodation 'Nest' and 'Mist' bring nature to your doorstep, with vast windows overlooking some of South Australia’s most spectacular landscape. Considered details are found throughout, from the outdoor fire pit and sunken outdoor bath to the premium finishes and locally sourced gourmet goods provided during your stay. It's romantic, peaceful, pure bliss.
Sitchu tip: Make the most of your stay with a premium wine tasting and tour when you book the Yangarra Estate Experience.
Book your stay with Nest & Nature
Book your stay with Booking.com
Inman Valley, Fleurieu Peninsula
Pago Middleton
A sanctuary in the heart of a village, you'll be swept away into a world of refined luxury at Pago Middleton. This luxurious private retreat is less than 15 minutes from Victor Harbor and is a special place for restoration, recovery, reconnection and exploration. You'll feel the labour of love that went into restoring and curating the stunning space, with the owners having breathed new, luxurious life into the old bones of what were once stables.
Book your stay with Pago Middleton
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29 Mill Terrace, Middleton
Lost Retreats, Mt Jagged
20 minutes from Victor Harbor, Lost Retreats were designed and built with the free-spirited wanderer, adventurer and dreamers in mind. Nestled between an idyllic lake and the sprawling vineyards of Boho Farm, this Mt Jagged retreat features a queen-sized bed offering stunning views that greet you to start the day. It's filled with bespoke custom finishes crafted from reused and recycled timber, resulting in a warm and inviting space, reminiscent of an alpine chalet.
Overlooking the lake, guests can enjoy a glass of wine in this beautiful setting surrounded by grapevines, or sit back on the couch, stoke the fire and enjoy the carefully curated record selection.
Book your stay with Lost Retreats.
Mt Jaggad, South Australia
Old Coach Road Estate
Escape to the gorgeous and secluded Old Coach Road Estate accommodation after a busy day of activities in Victor Harbor. Relax in front of the indoor and outdoor fireplaces, dine al fresco on the surrounding deck and appreciate the thoughtful finishing touches such as the telescope to gaze at the clear night skies, deep bathtub and floor-to-ceiling windows that give views across to Granite Island.
Three king bedrooms and large communal areas can comfortably host a family or group of friends, and abundant wildlife to be spotted throughout the stretch of land the Old Coach Road Estate sits on.
Book your stay with Old Coach Road Estate.
103 Old Coach Road, 5211 Hindmarsh Valley
Best Things to Do in Victor Harbor: Explore
Visit Granite Island
Cross the causeway by foot or climb aboard the horse-drawn tram and find yourself at the remarkable Granite Island. Visible from Victor Harbor, the island is within easy reach and makes for a beautiful stroll over the water on a sunny day. Marvel at the large granite rocks that dot the island, tinged with orange lichen that only adds to the magic.
Take in the beauty of the crashing waves around you, and if you're lucky and plan your visit accordingly - you may spot a migrating whale while you're over there, making this one of the best free things to do in Victor Harbor.
Whale Watching
From late May to October, Victor Harbor is a hub for epic whale watching as the oceanic mammals migrate to the warmer, sheltered waters of Encounter Bay to socialise, court, and raise their calves before heading south to Antarctica. The area is a breeding ground for the endangered Southern Right whales and a stop-in for passing Humpback whales, alongside New Zealand fur seals, Australian sea lions and bottlenose dolphins. Spotting the giants from the shoreline is one of the best free things to do in Victor Harbor.
The month-long Winter Whale Fest celebrates the annual migration across the Fleurieu Peninsula, and it is packed full of fun events, special talks, walking tours, markets and even an Ocean Film Festival.
Want to get closer to the whales? When whales are present, The Big Duck Tours head west towards Port Elliot, past beaches where dolphins can often be seen playing. They stop near Pullen Island to look for long-nosed fur seals basking on the rocks before venturing through Horseshoe Bay towards Bashams Beach, where the whales can be seen basking in the warm shallow water.
Sitchu tip: To learn more about the gentle giants of the sea, the South Australian Whale Centre is in the centre of Victor Harbor, educating and inspiring visitors daily.
2 Railway Terrace, Victor Harbor
Visit Softfoot Farm
Get acquainted with the curious wildlife at Softfoot Farm. This natural wildlife haven is a beautiful experience, paired with their top-notch Swagman Country Dining restaurant and luxury accommodation retreat cabins.
Private tours of the farm are available, with the opportunity to get up close and personal with a herd of world-class alpacas and witness endangered Australian animals in a naturalistic, free-ranging environment, including long-nosed Potoroos, Tammar wallabies and Southern Brown bandicoots. As the sun goes down, see Australia’s native wildlife come out to feed at the nocturnal adventure.
594 Sawpit Road, Hindmarsh Valley
Markets in Victor Harbor
For a taste of local produce, Victor Harbor Farmers Market delivers in a big way. Every Saturday morning from 8am to 12.30pm, Grosvenor Gardens becomes a marketplace for organic fruit and vegetables, seafood, meats, loaves of bread, local wines, flowers, and so much more.
To discover a host of local and South Australian artisans, head to the Artisan Market. Hosted throughout the year, it's brimming with handmade items, artwork, gifts, clothing, accessories, food and beverages.
Farmers Market, Grosvenor Gardens, Victor Harbor
Artisan Market, Railway Plaza, Victor Harbor
Discover a New Way to Travel
Experience the stunning coastline and surrounding seaside villages by taking the 31.5km Encounter Bikeway path starting at The Bluff and making your way right up to The Wharf in Goolwa.
Climb aboard the iconic Cockle Train for a ride through history on one of the diesel locomotives, or classic steam engines on school holidays. The Victor Harbor Camel Tours and the famous horse-drawn tramway are perfect for family trips with the kids.
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