The Walks
The Southern Ocean Walk is an exploration of the natural world that showcases the extraordinary scenery of the Fleurieu Peninsula coastline. From dense forests with prolific wildlife and year-round waterfalls to panoramic clifftops overlooking pristine beaches this is a walk of outstanding beauty. It skillfully presents the most spectacular coastal section of the famous Heysen Trail over 4 days & 3 nights. With our comfortable Homestead in Deep Creek National Park as your base, you will only need to unpack once and carry just a light day pack.
Our Fleurieu Gourmet Tour has been created for travellers who prefer more time to explore the superb produce our region has to offer whilst still including some of the stunning natural highlights of Deep Creek National Park. Delight in the renowned McLaren Vale wine region with a sumptuous degustation, savour handcrafted brews at a charming microbrewery, and elevate your skills with hands-on cooking classes led by our talented resident chef. This 4-day 3-night experience also incorporates some shorter walks featuring picturesque regional landmarks.
The Southern Ocean Walk
(4 days / 3 nights)
Day 1 - Cape Jervis to Deep Creek
Approximate walking time 6½ hours
Our journey commences at Cape Jervis, starting point of the iconic Heysen Trail, one of the world’s great walking trails and at 1200km the longest dedicated track in Australia. An easy introduction along a gently undulating shoreline leads to Fisheries Beach and a series of coves tucked away along the trail. Winter streams run their course out to the Southern Ocean which will be our companion for most of the way. Elevated vantage points offer majestic views over Backstairs Passage, a narrow shipping lane between the main land and Kangaroo Island that is known for its challenging currents.
We slowly work our way towards Deep Creek Conservation Park where the landscape transforms from open grass lands into dense sclerophyll forests. A highlight is the descent on to Blow Hole Beach with its sparkling waters. From here we climb to Cobbler Hill for a short transfer to our accommodation in Deep Creek where pre-dinner drinks await.
Day 2 - Exploring Deep Creek
Approximate walking time 6½ hours
After a hearty breakfast we pick up the trail from Cobbler Hill and make our way across Aaron Creek and Tent Rock Creek to the main water course after which the Park was named. As the trail meanders from open woodlands to thick bushland with ancient grass trees and wildflowers the majesty of nature soon dawns. Yes, the many hues of native flora provide a rich palette of colours in this unspoiled landscape. The sheltered gully of Deep Creek leads us to the year-round waterfall where we stop for lunch.
The soothing sound of upstream waters cascading over ancient rock formations is a tonic to the soul. After taking in our share of this elixir we gradually climb up to Tapanappa Ridge where a welcoming committee of Western Grey Kangaroos will oblige for cameras against a panoramic backdrop of the Southern Ocean.
Day 3 - Deep Creek to Tunkalilla Beach
Approximate walking time 4½ hours
The starting point for today begins with 180° views from Tapanappa Ridge towards the edge of the horizon. As you cast your eye across this open expanse the thought occurs that there is nothing but open water between here and Antarctica. Fill your lungs with the fresh air rolling in from the Southern Ocean. It’s among the cleanest you’ll find anywhere on earth.
The panoramic views of the Pages Islands and Kangaroo Island are exchanged for a sheltered path that meanders through Pink Gum forests. Suddenly, the roar of the ocean is a distant memory and finches dart across our path. As we make our way towards Boat Harbour the vegetation opens once more to reveal a secluded cove where dolphins are a common sight. Here, we leave Deep Creek Conservation Park as the Heysen Trail takes us to Tunkalilla Beach, a remote and very scenic wilderness of sand and surf.
Day 4 - Newland Head Conservation Park
Approximate walking time 6½ hours
The final leg of our journey introduces us to the striking cliff face of Newland Conservation Park. Our day begins with a commanding view of Parsons Beach from where we follow the shoreline to Waitpinga Beach.
This secluded wilderness presents the last chance to take off those boots and feel the sand beneath your feet as ocean waves crash just metres away. Walk along the expansive stretch of beach and experience the magic of the sea’s invigorating powers.
A short climb leads to the Newland Cliffs where photo opportunities abound. Keep an eye out for white-bellied sea eagles that breed along this stretch of coast. The trail gradually descends all the while hugging the coastline as we reach King Beach just outside Victor Harbour.
The Fleurieu Gourmet Tour
(4 days / 3 nights)
Many of our past guests have enjoyed the locally sourced food and wine we serve so much that they wanted to come back to savour them again! In response we’ve created a tour with a bit more emphasis on the magnificent produce of the Fleurieu Peninsula and with shorter walks. Don’t worry, you’ll still experience some of the fabulous highlights of Deep Creek National Park and some of the most spectacular sections of the Heysen Trail, but this gourmet tour combines nature and nourishment at their highest levels, what a marriage!
Day 1. Adelaide to Deep Creek National Park
Guests are picked up from Adelaide airport or CBD hotel and transferred to Myponga Reservoir where we stop for a gourmet lunch. This is followed by a 1 hour 4.5km walk along the banks of the beautiful reservoir before we make our way to the Homestead in Deep Creek National Park to unpack and settle in for pre-dinner canapes and a wine-paired 3 course dinner.
Day 2. Exploring Deep Creek National Park
After a leisurely breakfast we visit several key sites in Deep Creek National Park to discover the wide variety of flora and fauna on display. Later we pick up the famous Heysen Trail en-route to an all-year waterfall where we stop for lunch and make our way to one of the most spectacular panoramas along this stretch of coastline (2 hours 6km). Once back at the Homestead guests are invited to join our resident Chef in a cooking demonstration where they can learn how to make some sensational canapes.
Day 3. Following Australia’s famous Heysen Trail
Today we follow the Heysen Trail as it meanders towards the Eastern boundary of Deep Creek National Park. A favorite stop for morning tea is Boatharbor Cove where bottlenose dolphins call in to say hello. From here we make our way to one of South Australia’s most secluded beaches before we return to the Homestead for an afternoon surprise (4½ hours, 10kms). As with each other evening our dinners are themed and enhanced by carefully selected locally sourced wines.
Day 4. Discovering the Fleurieu Peninsula
This morning, we detour to the very picturesque hamlet of Second Valley for a brief stroll along the stunning geological trail that follows the foreshore and a small but enticing beach that has been voted as one of Australia’s Top 10 beaches. Our tour is capped off with a degustation at one of McLaren Vale’s best-known wineries with matching wines before we return to Adelaide.