Victor Harbor is an iconic seaside town less than an hour out of Adelaide. The weather is always a little cooler in Victor, which makes it the IDEAL place to visit with the kids during the searing heat of Adelaide summers. The beaches are great, with Middleton, Carrikalinga, Goolwa and Port Elliot a short drive away and great for body boarding, surfing and swimming. There’s delicious bakeries and family friendly cafes and restaurants to enjoy a meal and this area also has some of our favourite playgrounds.
If you’re planning a trip to Victor be sure to put a few of these on your ‘to do’ list.
Victor Harbor Playgrounds
GT Fisher Playground
We have to admit, the GT Fisher Playground (or the Train Playground) on the foreshore has been a favourite for what feels like decades (because it has been decades….that is how old we are!). Renovated a couple of years ago to transform this iconic spot into a fantastic nature playground, incorporating the old train still, it works so well as a destination spot to tuck into some lunch during your Victor day trip.
We love the fully fenced section for the little kids, whilst having a more open area (plus lots of grass to kick the footy) for the older ones. A beautiful spot with all the facilities you need!
For all the info on one of our faves, click here.
Victor Harbor Youth Park
If your kids are a bit old for the new GT Fisher Playground at Victor, or you need a spot where kids can play on equipment and also have a skate and shoot some hoops this is a great spot right on the foreshore. This area is suited more to older kids. The playground equipment (called the Teenranger) includes two circular climbing frames, flying fox and lots of things to balance on and hang from. The skate park is best for kids who are confident on their wheels, although when the bowl is quiet smaller kids will enjoy it too.
This spot is great for the bigger kids and is well worth a read here.
Muwerang-Kent Reserve
You know what we love about Kent Reserve? It is solid. Not spectacular, but solid. Heaps of equipment for all ages, nothing flash but lots of good stuff for a range of ages. Then you add in some really good facilities like BBQs and toilets, then throw in the proximity to the beach (like 5 metres away) and you have yourself a great alternative to the usually busy foreshore area. Keep this one in the back of your mind if you are looking for a big quiet spot, close to the heart of Victor, to take the kids for a BBQ dinner and a play on the sand.
Check out our visit here.
Goolwa Nature Play Space
Goolwa! Only about 10 minutes down the road from Victor and if you can tear yourself away from the fabulous Sunday markets, then the kids will thank you if you get to their new(ish) nature playground. The Bristow Smith Reserve is headlined by a 10 metre long wooden boat, which your nautically inclined kids will be all over. Speaking of being all over, be wary this one is right on the waters edge and is not fenced, but the views of the mighty Murray will bring back memories of watching Storm Boy as a kid. If your kids haven’t seen it, get them onto some classic SA movie history.
Check out our visit to this great playground here
Commodore Reserve, Pt Elliot
Need to work off one of Port Elliot Bakeries ‘Donut of the Month’? Why not pop down to Horseshoe Bay and check out a family spot with it all! Commodore Reserve has a cool little playground, which overlooks the beautiful Horseshoe Bay (close to our heart this one…we did nippers here many, many years ago!). Nearby walks along the coastal tracks make this a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, especially during whale season. If you are keen for a bit of whale spotting, check out all the info here.
A fantastic spot and although the playground is only a small one, the location, beach and trails (oh and bakery) make this really good for the whole fam. All the playground info here.
Starfish Park
Flying fox, sandpits, climbing rope towers and so much more! No wonder this is so popular over at Hayborough (just that little suburb near the Aldi as you come into Victor), but it also has some fab facilities to host a kids party or Sunday family BBQ with a huge grassed area to boot.
Keen to know more about our visit? Click here!
Soldiers Memorial Playground
Picture this, you are at the foreshore, just been to Granite Island and want a little playground to rest but GT Fisher is cranking and crowds….meh. Literally 100m in the other direction is the Soldiers Memorial Playground, one of the little KiA crew’s favourites down that way. Some great climbing equipment for the under 10s is what you will find here, plus easy access to the beach and great views of Granite Island and The Bluff. Check out our write up here!
Victor Harbor Beaches
The beaches along the coast at Victor are beautiful but some spots are waaaay better than others (looking at you foreshore seaweed mountains). Make sure you’re aware of the tidal movement if you’re out in a kayak as there can be some rips that pull you out. There are very few waves as Granite Island tends to block these, which makes it a lovely place for children to play in the water, fly kites and build castles and forts.
Middleton and Port Elliot are close by if you have kids who are interested in body-boarding or surfing, plus these are the nicest beaches by far when it comes to the sandy beaches you think of back in town. The waves here are great for those learning to surf as the waves aren’t too large and the water is shallow quite a long way out. Please be aware that the tidal pull here is extremely strong. Even though the water looks very shallow it can drag children out very, very quickly and sweep their feet from under them. It is very important you keep a close eye on your children.
As you head along the coast past the Bluff, the beaches can get rather rough as the full force of the Southern Ocean pounds the coast, but the views and the walk are sensational.
We included the fab Victor Heritage Trail along the Bluff and the coast in our bushwalking feature….check it out here.
Family Friendly Restaurants and Cafes in Victor Harbor
Port Elliot Bakery
A South Australian icon and you can’t go to Victor without getting a pie, pasty or sausage roll from there! There are often line ups so that pretty much explains just how awesome this place is. I’ve always figured that the energy and kilojoules it takes lining up balances it all out!
The Causeway Cafe
We love the Causeway Cafe because it offers a perfect blend of great food, stunning views, and a welcoming atmosphere.
Families visiting Victor Harbor should visit this cafe for its delicious menu that includes options for everyone, quality coffee, and homemade treats. The outdoor seating with views of Granite Island, along with the friendly staff and family-friendly vibe, make it an ideal spot for a relaxing meal or snack.
Family Friendly Things to Do and See in Victor Harbor
Cockle Train
Whale Watching
SA Whale Centre
The South Australian Whale Centre is South Australia’s largest marine focused interpretative centre.
Visitors can experience the natural wonders of the deep, explore the world heritage listed railway building, and gain further knowledge about Victor Harbor and South Australia’s marine treasures. The centre provides whale sighting information, education and research support services through a range of mediums. The centre brings together a unique collection of historic treasures, marine, cultural, and aboriginal heritage to deliver an inspiring and enjoyable experience for every visitor.
Be sure to let the kids have a dig in the Dig Pit and search for fossils! Make sure you check out their website and Facebook Page for exciting new exhibits and talks!
Horsedrawn Tram
The horsedrawn tram is an iconic feature of Victor Harbor! The clydesdale horses pull the swaying tram across the new causeway to Granite Island and back again. Kids LOVE going on the tram, or even just watching the horses being fed and groomed. The beautiful horses are magnificent, and the olden-days tram is a nice change of pace for kids.
Games Arcade
Right next door to the Causeway Cafe is a fantastic games arcade, perfect for treating the kids after a meal.
The arcade offers a variety of exciting games, including basketball, air hockey, car racing, and claw prize games, ensuring fun for all ages. It’s an ideal spot to let the kids unwind and enjoy some playful competition, making the visit to Victor Harbor even more enjoyable for the whole family.
Girdlers Family Amusements
Located at the end of the causeway in Victor Harbor, Girdlers Family Amusements in on-site throughout the School Holidays,
and most long weekends and public holidays. Ride the ferris wheel and other thrill rides, dodgem cars, inflatable balls and play sideshow games. There are food trucks where you can grab a good fish and chips and delicious strawberries and cream!
Granite Island
Urimbirra Wildlife Park
Camel Rides
The Bluff
The Bluff is a long bike ride, walk or scoot along the coast, with a steep track to the top for awesome views. Or you can take the car and enjoy it too! It’s a great spot to look back towards Victor Harbor and examine further down the coast.
Main St Sculpture
Head to the end of Main St after dinner to check out the light up sculpture at night! It makes for a great selfie spot. Our sources tell us it’s meant to be a jelly fish – but we’ll let you be the judge of that once you’ve seen it!
Where to stay in Victor Harbor
If you’re after a truly family friendly accommodation option we cannot recommend Victor Harbor Cabin and Holiday Park more. We’ve stayed a few times now and our kids L-O-V-E it! You almost don’t need to organise any other activities because it’s ALL right there at the park.
Two swimming pools, jumping pillow, playground, onsite cafe, bike hire, pedal karts, games room and more!
There plenty of cabins available at a range of prices as well as powered and unpowered sites, and even ensuite sites!
You might also be interested in
-
Find it at: Franklin Parade, Victor Harbor What a hidden little gem this is! I'm sure regulars to Victor Harbor will tell us they've been visiting this park for ages but it's a new one for us! Kent Reserve is found on Franklin Parade, on the foreshore half way between Encounter Bay and Victor Harbor town. It's a beautiful big green, shady and fairly quiet spot away from the busier playgrounds in Victor. There is PLENTY of room for picnics with lots of tables and seats and BBQ facilities. The kids can kick a ball and run around and there are lots of beautiful big shady trees (the playground itself isn't shaded, but there are plenty of spots to escape the sun on a hot day) There are toilets too! There is also a small basketball court and a seperate section with adult gym equipment. There's nothing wow factor about the playground equipment but definitely enough there to keep kids busy. There's swings, monkey bars, climbing nets, rockers, a slide and a cool spinning frame that was the favourite BUT BE WARNED it's bark chips!! Gah! Shoes are needed, unless your kids have concrete feet. Here's a tip......pop up the…
-
TALK ABOUT FAMILY FRIENDLY! If you're looking for the kind of holiday where the kids will be outside and entertained ALL DAY LONG look no further than Victor Harbor Holiday Park. Join in the fun or sit back and relax while the kids have a ball! They have a fantastic new resort style pool! This huge pool is 250,000 litres and 65m around. One half is under shade and there's also plenty of poolside seating, sun lounges and picnic tables. The main pool starts at just 10cm deep so little ones can splash play, right down to 1.8m at the deepest point. The original pool will also remain open giving guests two areas to swim. Splash Harbor waterpark featuring giant hurricane slide and double tipping bucket is super popular with all guests young and old!. It is believed the vortex slide and double bucket are the first of their kind ever installed in a holiday park in Australia! Located on Bay Rd, just 5 minutes from the beach and a few minutes more to the centre of Victor Harbor this spacious 22-acre park offers a selection of self-contained units and cabin accommodation as well as spacious powered and unpowered sites…
-
As the colder weather kicks in around Adelaide, the list of things most people want to do outside dwindles. But the exciting news is that Whale Watching season has begun! From late May right up until October Southern Right whales return to the shores around Encounter Bay, Victor Harbor area.Only an hour’s drive from Adelaide, the southern Fleurieu Peninsula is a whale watcher’s paradise so get some warm clothes, some binoculars and head down for a day’s whale watching with the family. The first arrivals in Encounter Bay are usually expected in mid-May, and are eagerly awaited by whale watchers who hope to catch a glimpse of the huge beasts from atop the cliffs, beaches and headlands of the area’s stunning coastline. Thousands of visitors flock to the seaside resort town of Victor Harbor, keeping staff at the SA Whale Centre's Information Booth very busy fielding their enquiries. In some years, the whales have attracted up to 400,000 people to the area over the winter months. The SA Whale Centre has an online Whale Sighting Log giving visitors details of when and where the whales are before they get to the area and the best places to sight them. They…
-
Do your kids love pizza? Do your kids love mac n cheese? If you answered yes to both......don't make them choose! We've found a place where you can get both......together......on the same plate! That's right.......mac n cheese deep crust pizza at Remy's - Deep Dish Pizza & Bar is a thing.....and it's a DELICIOUS crowd pleaser of a thing. If your kids are cheese obsessed like mine this is definitely going to be a winner! Plus the cocktails… YUM! Their menu is chock-a-block full of deep dish pizza goodness. If Mac n Cheese ain't your thing they've also got a bunch of other just as mouth watering pizza toppings including snag n shrooms, triple cheeseburger and the fire breather as well as never fail faves like The Basic B (just cheese) and BBQ chicken. There's vegan options and they also have fries, garlic bread and fried mozarella if you need something on the side. It comes with a disclaimer that the pizzas take 30-40 minutes to cook, but when we went there was super speedy service, which is always great when you have kids in tow. There's isn't heaps of room for prams, so just bear this in mind when…
-
We may have just found Adelaide's most charming, family friendly spot to eat, that caters to both parents and kids. White Picket Coffee House, on the Eastern city fringe, serves up some brilliant kid-friendly menu options in a spacious setting with a choice of indoor tables, enclosed verandah tables, or our favourite, the rear courtyard/ garden setting complete with a sweet little cottage style cubby house! I think the fact that the rear courtyard had every table filled while we were there really shows how much of a winner this place is! The coffee here is top-notch. Each cup is brewed to perfection using quality beans, leaving you with that rich and satisfying taste we all crave. Plus, their breakfast, brunch, and lunch options are to die for! With initiatives like "Pasta Fridays", it's the perfect way to end the week. On top of that, their ready-made meals to collect for dinner or work lunches are a godsend, making busy weekdays a breeze. Parents, you'll be thrilled to know that they've got your little ones covered too. The kids' hot chocolates are made to perfection - just the right temperature to keep those tiny taste buds happy. And speaking of…
