FIELD NOTES · SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Useful stories for
better weekends away.

Routes worth taking, checks worth making and camps worth unrolling the awning for. Researched locally, written plainly and served with only a light dusting of caravan-park wisdom.

TRIP PLANNING
7 MIN READ

Adelaide → McLaren Vale → Port Elliot → Victor Harbor → Deep Creek

The perfect three-day Fleurieu caravan loop

The Fleurieu is close enough for Friday knock-off and varied enough to feel like a proper holiday by Saturday breakfast. South Australian tourism guidance puts McLaren Vale roughly 45 minutes from Adelaide and Victor Harbor around 90 minutes away, so the driving stays civilised—even if the children’s playlist does not.

Coastal caravan park on the Fleurieu Peninsula — Coast, green hills and plenty of room to slow down.

Day one: Adelaide to McLaren Vale

Leave after the morning traffic and make McLaren Vale the first proper stop. The region combines vineyards, cellar doors and a coast that is never far away. If you are towing, choose a venue with generous access and ring ahead before assuming the picturesque gravel driveway was designed for your 22-foot pride and joy.

Lunch is the sensible headline. Wine tasting is optional and belongs to the non-driver; physics, road rules and Shiraz remain stubbornly incompatible. Continue towards Port Elliot for the first night, allowing time for a stroll around Horseshoe Bay. The town is known for beaches, heritage streets and bakeries with queues long enough to qualify as local landmarks.

Day two: Port Elliot, Goolwa and Victor Harbor

Start early at Port Elliot, then run across to Goolwa where the Murray meets the sea. After lunch, settle into Victor Harbor. Walk the Granite Island causeway or take the horse-drawn tram when operating. In winter, the Fleurieu coast is also whale country, so pack binoculars and practise pointing confidently at distant splashes.

Do not overschedule this day. The entire point of caravanning is to discover that sitting outside with a cuppa can be considered an activity.

Day three: wild coast, then home

For a gentler finish, explore Encounter Bay and return via Willunga. For more nature, head towards Deep Creek National Park and the dramatic southern coast. Check current park alerts before committing: parts of Deep Creek have recently been subject to bushfire-recovery closures, and yesterday’s itinerary is not a substitute for today’s access information.

The practical version

Book caravan parks early for school holidays and long weekends.
Keep the first day short enough to arrive and set up in daylight.
Confirm towing access at cellar doors and lunch stops.
Carry a Plan B when coastal weather or park closures intervene.

Plan with South Australia’s Fleurieu guide, the official Fleurieu itinerary and Parks SA alerts.

FIRST-TIMERS
8 MIN READ

Before the wheels turn

Before you tow: an Adelaide departure checklist

A caravan holiday starts before the driveway. Five quiet minutes with a checklist can prevent two loud hours beside the Southern Expressway while someone asks whether the strange noise was “probably always there”.

1. Know the numbers—not just the brochure number

Check the tow vehicle manufacturer’s permitted towing mass, the towbar rating, the caravan’s Aggregate Trailer Mass and your combination limits. The legal ceiling is the lowest applicable limit, not whichever sticker has the most optimistic number. Weigh the van as travelled: water, gas, food, bikes, barbecue, chairs and the emergency collection of extension leads all count.

South Australian guidance says the vehicle and trailer combination must not exceed 19 metres overall. Loads projecting more than 1.2 metres—or not easily visible—need the prescribed warning signal. If in doubt, use a public weighbridge or mobile weighing service rather than advanced guesswork involving one wheel arch and a concerned facial expression.

2. Walk around in the same order every time

Connection

Coupling locked, safety chains connected, breakaway cable attached correctly, electrical plug secure and jockey wheel raised.

Tyres & wheels

Correct cold pressures for the load, sound tread and sidewalls, wheel nuts checked to the manufacturer’s torque and a usable spare.

Lights & brakes

Indicators, brake lights, clearance lights and number-plate light working; brake controller adjusted and tested at low speed.

Inside

Fridge and cupboard doors latched, heavy gear low and near the axle, roof hatches shut and loose objects secured.

3. Water and weight are travelling companions

Water weighs about one kilogram per litre. A 100-litre tank is therefore roughly 100 kilograms before you have packed lunch. Travel with what the route requires, keep loads balanced and avoid piling heavy items at the extreme front or rear. Recheck balance during a long trip as food, water and fuel change.

4. Drive like you are towing—because you are

Allow more room, accelerate and steer smoothly, and slow before corners. South Australian road-safety advice warns that wind buffering from large vehicles can produce sway. If sway begins, remain calm, avoid sudden steering and do not stamp on the tow vehicle’s brakes; follow the van and brake-controller manufacturer’s guidance. Leave a bigger gap and remember overtaking now requires considerably more road and considerably less optimism.

The final 60-second check

Gas off. Steps up. Awning secured. Stabiliser legs up. Mirrors set. Handbrake released. Site inspected for hoses, leads, pegs and children. The children are especially expensive to replace.

Check the current rules at SA.GOV.AU towing regulations, The Driver’s Handbook and SA caravan safety tips.

LOCAL GUIDE
7 MIN READ

Pick your preferred kind of quiet

Beach camp or bush camp? Six easy weekend escapes

Adelaide’s unfair advantage is choice. You can finish work, point the bonnet towards salt water, forest or vines, and still be set up before darkness turns every caravan levelling discussion into a relationship test.

BEACH

Rapid Bay

A spectacular Fleurieu choice for sea views, fishing and waking near the water. Facilities are basic compared with a holiday park, exposure can make wind important, and busy periods require planning. Best for self-sufficient travellers who consider a jetty and turquoise bay sufficient entertainment.

BEACH

Port Elliot

A comfortable first-timer option with a proper town, cafes, swimming spots and easy access to Victor Harbor and Goolwa. Choose it when half the crew wants nature and the other half requires coffee made by a professional.

COASTAL BUSH

Deep Creek National Park

Big coastal views, wildlife and walking trails give this one genuine “we went somewhere” energy. Camps vary in access and facilities, so match the campground to your rig. Check closures and fire conditions before departure; nature rarely reads your booking confirmation.

RIVER GORGE

Pink Gum Campground, Onkaparinga River

A handy nature-based escape south of Adelaide with walking opportunities in the Onkaparinga gorge landscape. It suits campers seeking bush atmosphere without surrendering an entire day to the drive. Confirm site suitability, bookings and current park conditions.

FOREST

Chalks Campground, Mount Crawford

Cooler forest air and tall timber make Mount Crawford a pleasing counterargument to the beach. Expect a more rustic experience and check ForestrySA rules, fire restrictions and campground arrangements. Pack warm layers; gum trees do not provide central heating.

HILLS

Hahndorf

Choose a holiday park around Hahndorf when you want green hills, reliable facilities and easy access to food, shops and family attractions. It is camping with a soft landing—and a very real chance of returning with baked goods you did not technically need.

How to choose without starting a committee

Pick beach for swimming, fishing and sunset. Pick bush for walking, wildlife and quieter nights. Pick a holiday park for children, amenities and the blessed certainty of a powered site. Then check three things: rig suitability, fire and weather conditions, and whether pets are permitted.

National-park campsites and vehicle entry may need advance booking. Popular places fill quickly in holidays, so make the booking before announcing the trip to the family. Hope is not a reservation system.

Find and book current options through Parks SA, review closures and alerts, and explore more ideas in the official SA caravan and camping guide.