Semaphore Beach, Adelaide: Swimming, eating & carousel

Semaphore Beach in Adelaide, South Australia, is a fabulous family hang-out. There’s relatively safe swimming, while Semaphore Beach attractions include a huge carousel, a playground and plenty of places to eat.

There’s a strong argument for Semaphore Beach being the most family-friendly beach in Adelaide. The mix of cafés, playgrounds, rides and relatively safe swimming makes it a winner with kids.

Where is Semaphore Beach?

Semaphore Beach is in Adelaide’s north-western suburbs, about 14km from the city centre. It’s just south of Largs Bay, with the Peterhead station on the Outer Harbor train line being within walking distance.

Pick your perfect Adelaide day trips

Barossa Valley tours: 1. Wine-tasting with lunch 🍷. 2. Food and wine tour. 3. Small group wine tour with exclusive VIP tastings.
Kangaroo Island in a day – including sea lions 🦭, koalas 🐨and national parks.
Adelaide Hills tours: 1. Sights plus Murray River lunch cruise combo. 2. Small group cheese, chocolate & wine tour with Hahndorf German village.
McLaren Vale tours: 1. Small group wine tour with lunch. 2. Hop-on hop-off wineries tour 🍷. 3. Food and wine indulgence tour, including the gloriously weird d’Arenberg Cube.
Victor Harbor and southern highlights tour – including the Granite Island horse-drawn tram.

Swimming at Semaphore Beach, Adelaide

As with most of Adelaide’s northern beaches, Semaphore Beach is largely protected from big ocean swells by the Yorke Peninsula.

Surf rarely gets up here, which means it’s the sort of beach that’s generally pretty safe for swimming.

There are a few bars and troughs, but the water is pretty shallow and young paddler-friendly. Semaphore Beach is also patrolled by lifeguards.

Things to do at Semaphore Beach, Adelaide

Things to do at Semaphore Beach, Adelaide, include fishing from the jetty and playing at the Semaphore Beach playground.

There’s a skate park and basketball park next to the playground, while walking and bike paths run parallel to the coastline.

Top Adelaide hotel recommendations

For the beach: Oaks Glenelg Plaza Pier Suites. For families: Big4 West Beach. Most fun: Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets. For setting: Oval Hotel. For heritage: Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury.

The Semaphore Carousel

The most famous attraction at Semaphore Beach, however, is the carousel.

The Semaphore Carousel has been operating since 1938, and is believed to be the largest carousel in Australia.

**15 fabulous Adelaide experiences to supercharge your visit**

DOLPHINS 🐬: Swim with wild dolphins, kayak with the resident bottlenose pod or watch them on a dolphin cruise.
FOOD AND WINE 🍷: Indulge on Adelaide food tour including Adelaide Central Market. Or try a wine discovery tour with tastings at the National Wine Centre. Or the ultimate Penfolds Magill Estate experience with full estate tour & Grange tasting.
WILDLIFE 🐨: Spot koalas on a guided Morialta nature hike. Or walk from Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty with entrance to Cleland Wildlife Park.
CRUISES ⛵: Watch the sun set on a twilight coastal cruise, get to know the city on a Torrens River cruise or take a high tea cruise aboard the Popeye.
SPORT 🏏: Dare to take on the Adelaide Oval Roofclimb or enter the fabled scoreboard on the behind-the-scenes stadium tour.
ACTION 🚵‍♂️: Descend Mount Lofty on a downhill mountain bike tour or kayak along the Torrens River.

Where to eat at Semaphore Beach

If you’re planning on decamping here for the day, there are several places to eat and drink. These include Barry’s Burgers, Sotos Fish Shop, Mini India and the High Tide Café. The Semaphore Hotel is the best spot for a few beers.

Other Adelaide beach suburbs include Glenelg, where you can go on sunset cruises and swim with dolphins, and Henley Beach.