Normanville, South Australia: What are the best things to do in this Fleurieu beach town?

Normanville, South Australia: What are the best things to do in this Fleurieu beach town?

The best things to do in Normanville, South Australia, include horse-riding on the 7.3km beach and playing the Links Lady Bay golf course.

Normanville is the largest settlement on the southern Fleurieu Peninsula coast south of Adelaide. That’s not to say it’s huge – merely that there’s a tiny bit more to it than the beach.

But what a beach though. Amid stiff competition from the likes of Sellicks Beach and Myponga Beach and Carrickalinga, the 7.3km Normanville Beach is arguably the best of the Fleurieu Peninsula beaches. Normanville Beach is backed by a spectacular heritage-listed dune system. You’re not going to struggle to find your own spot on the beach to lay down a towel.

Normanville Beach is generally pretty safe for swimming, with lifeguard patrols for much of the year. The surfing is nigh-on useless, though, so leave your board at home.

Normanville Beach on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula
Normanville Beach is one of the most impressive on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Photo by Graham Scheer.

Horse-riding on Normanville Beach

Surfers might not get much from Normanville Beach, but horse-riders do. A ride along the beach is one of the best things to do in Normanville, and that’s what’s offered by High Country Trails.

High Country Trails offers hour long horse-riding trips that head along the back of the dunes before returning along the beach.

These Normanville horse-riding tours cost $80 per person, and there’s a weight limit of 95kg.

The other key activity involving Normanville Beach is skydiving. You can jump out of a plane and land on the beach here. These Normanville skydives can be booked online.

Other things to do in Normanville include the Links Lady Bay golf course. This is part of the Links Lady Bay Resort, and is generally regarded as one of the finest golf courses in South Australia.

The attached Lady Bay Hotel is the most luxurious place to stay in the area, but Normanville’s caravan parks offer a cheaper alternative.

Adelaide to Normanville distance and driving time

It’s also easy enough to stop by Normanville on the drive from Adelaide to Cape Jervis. The Adelaide to Normanville drive is 76km long, and should take just over an hour.

More things to do near Adelaide

Stay at the Crafers Hotel.

Ride the Cockle Train from Goolwa to Victor Harbor.

Take on the Adelaide to Port Augusta drive.           

Visit Golding Wines in Lobethal.

Explore Nuriootpa in the Barossa Valley.