Practically on the outskirts of Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula is one of South Australia's most popular holiday destinations, famous for its wine, gourmet produce, breathtakingly scenic coastline, and wildlife -- expect to see plenty of kangaroos, sea lions, seals, dolphins, whales (the season is June-Oct), and Little Penguins, the world's smallest penguin species.
The heart of the wine-growing area is McLaren Vale, where olives and almond groves are scattered amongst the 50-plus vineyards, although you'll also find some very good wineries in and around Currency Creek and Langhorne Creek on the southeastern side of the peninsula. On Saturday mornings, the tiny village of Willunga, just a few minutes' drive from McLaren Vale, comes alive with the weekly farmers' markets, where local growers and producers sell whatever they've picked or baked that morning. There are lots of fresh organic vegetables, boutique cheeses, homemade preserves, freshly baked sourdough breads, and delicious pies and pastries, as well as the famous local olive oil and almonds. On the second Saturday of the month, the stalls spill over into the Quarry markets across the road, where you can browse the stalls piled high with bric-a-brac, secondhand books, and handmade jewelry and clothes.
Pretty Stathalbyn was settled by Scottish immigrants in the 1830s, a heritage town with 30 or so historic buildings and popular place to shop for antiques and crafts, as is the equally quaint township of Port Elliot. Victor Harbor on the southern ocean side is the most popular seaside resort, with lots of family attractions, and is a great place to go bushwalking (hiking), whale watching, and surfing. The historic river port of Goolwa is at the mouth of the Murray River, Australia's longest river.
