Glenelg Beach & Jetty
Glenelg is Adelaide's iconic beach suburb — a 30-minute free tram ride from the CBD that deposits you directly onto Moseley Square, steps from a broad white-sand beach, a 19th-century jetty and a beachfront strip of fish-and-chip shops, gelato bars and seafood restaurants. It's unpretentious, family-friendly and best at golden hour when the jetty glows.
The beach and jetty
The beach itself is wide, patrolled by surf lifesavers from November to April and calm enough for swimming most of the year thanks to the natural protection of the Gulf St Vincent. The restored Glenelg Jetty stretches 200 metres into the gulf and is a favourite spot for fishermen at dawn and photographers at sunset — the view back to the Adelaide Hills is particularly fine on a clear evening.
Dolphin Explorer cruises depart from the marina adjacent to the jetty and offer a 75-minute tour of the gulf with near-guaranteed dolphin sightings between October and May. Book at the kiosk on Holdfast Shores Marina.
Eating and the esplanade
Sammy's on the Marina has been serving SA whiting, King George whiting and garfish in beer batter since the 1970s — order at the counter, take a number and eat on the marina deck with a view of the moored yachts. It's the honest, unselfconscious seafood experience that beach towns do best.
Moseley Square's café strip is crowded on weekends but the quality has improved markedly in recent years. Caffe Brunelli on the square does a reliable espresso and pastry for a post-swim breakfast, and the Glenelg Gelato Bar next door makes its own gelato daily in flavours that lean heavily on SA stone fruit in summer.
Glenelg Beach & Jetty on video
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