Port Elliot Tourist Park: In the Fleurieu Peninsula region of South Australia

Take a quiet wander through the sleepy seaside town of Port Elliot and the host of heritage buildings hints at this town's wealthy past as a thriving port in the 1850s. But the boom didn't last. Following a number of shipwrecks the Port was considered too dangerous and the shipping trade moved to nearby Victor Harbor.

But Port Elliot quickly adapted to its new role as a popular holiday town and that's still the case today. One of the reasons is its much-acclaimed Caravan and Tourist Park. Wrapped around part of Horseshoe Bay, the park offers a range of accommodation for 'happy campers' of every taste. Kym Dillon spoke to park owner, Kate Cotellessa about the lifestyle:

“It’s a great place, a great job. You meet lots of lovely people from all round Australia. The park is very peaceful now but that changes around Easter and Christmas when we are at capacity - when we cater for up to about 15-hundred people. It's a really different place to be. It’s pretty crowded; there are lots of kids and lots of atmosphere. It's great.”

There's no doubting the park's popularity. When Kate and Amo Cotellessa took over a little more than a decade ago it was attracting about 30-thousand people a year - now it's the holiday choice for a whopping 95-thousand people annually.

Obviously Horseshoe Bay is a big draw-card - it's a great place to wet a line or have a summer paddle so the sites on the foreshore are some of the most popular. But it's not the only attraction.

Only metres away from the camping sites on the eastern side of the park is Crockery Bay. A pretty little protected cove that got it's name when ship's crockery was washed ashore after the schooner, The Emu, came unstuck on Frenchman's Rock in 1853.

Amo says it’s a great little swimming beach:

“It is quite safe. You can swim in Crockery Bay. There’s a 20-metre stretch of lovely sand between the rocks and it's actually a nice spot to swim and dive. You can do a bit of snorkeling as well.”

If you're not keen on staying in a caravan or pitching a tent you can try one of the 20 cabins which include a number of fully self-contained villas. They have all the mod cons - TV, video, sofa beds, dining facilities. A tremendous kitchen with a microwave, stove, fridge. Full bathroom facilities and two bedrooms - one with a double bed and the other with double bunks. It all makes for a pretty good holiday.

Port Elliot's location is another bonus. It's a great base for exploring the Fleurieu Peninsula. You can pedal along the Encounter Bikeway between Victor Harbor and Goolwa. In places, the bikeway runs alongside another famous Fleurieu attraction - the Cockle Train which operates most Sundays and school holidays. In winter months, there's the chance to go whale spotting off Victor Harbor.

It's all just a stone's throw from the Big Four Port Elliot Tourist Park. Camping sites start at $18 per night, with cabins from $55. Contact Kate and Amo on 8554 2134. If you have any further questions please email kate@portelliotcaravanpark.com.au

Port Elliot Tourist Park
Port Elliot Rd
Port Elliot, South Australia
Phone: (08) 8554 2134.