7 Adelaide beaches that blow Bondi out of the water

Port Noarlunga

Image: Syed Hadi Naqvi

Located in Adelaide's southern suburbs, Port Noarlunga Beach is a local favourite swimming spot boasting some fairly unique characteristics. What makes it special is its reef, made up of partially solidified gravel and sand, and teeming with aquatic flora and fauna. The reef is easily accessed from stairs at the end of the Port Noarlunga jetty (which acts as a sort of bridge), making it a breeze for divers and snorkellers to explore.

This little piece of paradise also feaures a couple of sunken shipwrecks for divers to check out nearby, as well as the mouth of the Onkaparinga River, which is great for kayaking or stand up paddleboarding. If you prefer to keep dry, the view from the top of the sandstone cliffs at the southern end is great as well.

Henley

Image: South Australian Tourism Commission

Head due west from Adelaide's CBD and you'll hit Henley Beach, in many ways a quintessential Adelaide beach, and one of its most popular. Henley has a friendly, buzzing atmosphere (particularly in summer) and always has plenty going on, with buskers and even markets some weekends. It's home to another of South Australia's ubiquitous jetties stretching out over the water, and the fairy lights in the square are gorgeous to see at night.

Henley is a great choice for travellers with kids, as it's patrolled by lifeguards and has good infrastructure nearby (shops, cafes, public toilets, etc). If you're looking for something a touch quieter but just as nice, head a little north to Grange and thank us later. 

Glenelg

Image: South Australian Tourism Commission

Effectively Adelaide's nearest equivalent to Bondi, Glenelg Beach is a buzzing hotspot for tourists and locals alike, with a ferris wheel in summer and tons of activity going on at all times of day. Even if you're not up for a dip in the sea, there's plenty to keep you busy: shops to browse, trendy bars, restaurants and cafes to hang out at, and its famous jetty to wander down. And that's all without mentioning those spectacular sunsets.

Getting to this popular seaside terminus is a breeze: hop on the tram in the middle of the city and don't get off until you can't go any further. A visit to Glenelg or any of the beaches on this list is easily one of the best free things to do in Adelaide.

Brighton

Image: Syed Hadi Naqvi

Brighton is fast becoming many Adelaidians' favourite among the city's beaches, especially for those that want to avoid the bustle of places like Glenelg. Named after the eponymous seaside town in the UK, and sharing its name with another beach in Melbourne (among others), Adelaide's Brighton is pretty, clean and laid back, with a real local feel and plenty of room to stretch out and soak up some sun.

An ideal dogwalking spot, cafe hangout or sunset-watching vantage point, Brighton will feel like discovering a hidden gem to those used to the teeming coastlines of other Australian cities.

Seacliff

Image: Syed Hadi Naqvi

Just south of Brighton, Seacliff is another of Adelaide's most highly-regarded beach locales. While it may not have the lively atmosphere of Glenelg (considered by some locals as a good thing), its calm waters are perfect for a leisurely swim or stand up paddleboard. Plus, the pub is right across the road, and has stunning views of the Gulf St Vincent from its balcony.

Wandering straight down the beach from Brighton to Seacliff highlights one of the advantages of Adelaide's beaches over those on the East Coast: many are seamlessly connected, and the resulting abundance of sand means there's more space for everyone to enjoy. 

Semaphore

Images: Tommy Woods Photography/@iamtommywoods

Close to the historic district of Port Adelaide north west of the city, the beachside suburb of Semaphore feels a bit like a country town. Everyone walks a little slower, old buildings and quirky shops line the streets, and there are interesting characters everywhere you go.

Semaphore's beach is a dream with bright sand, an iconic surf lifesaving tower and one of longest jetties in the city. If you're planning a visit, it's well worth taking the train to Port Adelaide and checking it out before continuing on to the coast.

Hallet Cove

Image: Jessica Coulter

While Hallett Cove beach itself is nothing to write home about, its surroundings mean we couldn't leave it off this list. Hugging the coastline of Adelaide's southern suberbs, the Hallett Cove Conservation Park features a unique array of glacial rock formations and some of South Australia's most significant geological and archeological sites. 

The distinctive striated red, white and yellow cliffs of Hallet Cove make for a one-of-a-kind sight, and there are various weird and wonderful structures and formations to be discovered all over the area if you follow the purpose-built cliff top walkway through the park (the Sugarloaf is particularly interesting looking). 

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