Goolwa

89 kilometres from Adelaide 

Where river meets sea and stories run deep, Goolwa flows with the rhythm of nature and time. Once the final port on the Murray before its waters spill into the Southern Ocean, this historic town still pulses with a sense of movement — steam trains, paddle steamers, tides, and tales.

Climb aboard the PS Oscar W, an authentic century-old paddle steamer, or journey the coast on the Cockle Train, linking Goolwa to nearby Port Elliot and Victor Harbor. These living icons speak to Goolwa’s storied past — but there’s more here than memory.

Australia’s first Cittaslow Town, Goolwa invites a slower pace: unhurried sips at a local distillery, long lunches at riverside pubs, and weekend meanders through its growing gallery and dining scene.

The revitalised Goolwa Wharf Precinct is where it all converges — a cluster of historic buildings now brimming with local makers, wine bars, seasonal markets, live music and flavours from the Fleurieu’s fertile surrounds.

To deepen your understanding of place, head to Signal Point Experience Centre, home to the powerful permanent exhibition ‘Yuntulun Ku:li-war’, meaning Coming together on the headland. This immersive experience shares the stories, history, and enduring culture of the Ngarrindjeri people, the traditional custodians of the land and waters around Goolwa.

Wildlife lovers, keep your eyes on the water — seals are regularly spotted near the Goolwa Barrage, where river and ocean intertwine. For those wanting to go deeper, guided experiences with Canoe the Coorong or Spirit of the Coorong offer a front-row seat to the landscapes, birdlife, and cultural significance of this internationally recognised wetland system.

In Goolwa, nature isn’t something you visit — it’s something you become part of.