Kings Beach Retreat: With Ron on the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia

Rosetta Head, more commonly known as The Bluff near Victor Harbor is a truly spectacular blend of stunning coastal scenery, south coast farmland and native fauna perched above the Heysen Trail.

And overlooking it all is Kings Beach Retreat which was designed by Ian Hannaford and his wife Rose. For Ian, a former Port Adelaide champion and State Centre Half Forward, this hideaway is more than 800 kilometres and 46 years removed from a fateful day in 1963 at the MCG when he and other greats like Geoff Motley, Neil Kerley, Bob Hammond, Bill Wedding and Ken Eustice wrote themselves into the history books by beating the Vics for the very first time on their home deck.

Ian Hannaford: "The Vics dare is say it, were quite arrogant and they had picked their best interstate side ever and they believed over there that it was going to be a cake walk. The South Australian boys, we had all been playing together in interstate sides for years and we got on top on the day and it was a great thrill."

The Croweaters of 63 returned to Adelaide as all conquering heroes. Today, Ian carries a slight limp - the legacy of his playing days from which he retired from at early age to pursue his career in architecture. In retirement he and wife Rose, now own and manage one of his last architectural achievements - Kings Beach Retreat - which puts guests in the very centre of an amazing landscape.

Ian Hannaford: "You feel so remote and connected to nature here and yet you're only ten minutes from Victor Harbor. You wouldn't think they were on the same planet."

Here you take in the magnificent sweep of the Waitpinga Cliffs, the islands and The Bluff. Guests enjoy it all in a setting, which the forces of nature have carved out over aeons.

Ian Hannaford: "Kings Head is quite a famous geological formation. It's an old moraine where glaciers came out to sea. And there is a terrific variety of rocks and skeletal growth amongst it as a result. It's very very old. West Island sits just off here and that's where a lot of the granite for Parliament House in Adelaide came from way back in history. It was barged up to Port Adelaide."

On any given days a procession of Heysen Trail walkers file past. This is one of the prettiest sections on what some have called the world's longest footpath. Should you stay at Kings Beach Retreat and walk the trail then head to the top of the Waitpinga Cliffs. From up here you might even come across Elizabeth Steele-Collins, a remarkable woman whose dedicated much of her life to preserving the habitat of the birds of the Fleurieu. And from up here you can take in this magnificent view.

A night's accommodation at Kings Beach Retreat costs $220. To book contact 8552 5983. Elizabeth's calendar, The Birds of the Fleurieu is available from visitor centres and many retailers along the coast. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Kings Beach Retreat
Jagger Road
5ks west of Victor Harbor
Accommodation $220 per night
To book contact 8552 5983

The Birds of the Fleurieu calendar By Elizabeth Steele-Collins
Available from local visitor centres and retailers

Published 25th October 2009