Port Elliot, SA 5212

Small Village township with great vibe lovely cafes. Close to horseshoe bay beautiful beach and family friendly lawned area.

Most reviews above seem to have been written by holidayers. But living in Port Elliot is a bit different. During winter, shops close at 6pm, buses don't run and it is quiet and peaceful. During summer, schoolies festivals, new years holidays, easter and school holidays, living here can be trying, and frustrating. Roads are filled with city visitors, ignoring parking signs, speed limits and rubbish bins, parking on our lawn, blocking our driveway and leaving litter in the street. You suddenly can't get a meal at the pub, the shops run out of everything and the beach is littered. The council does good work during summertime cleaning up, and maintain parks very well (mostly) however, with out of towners coming to get married, have christmas parties etc on the parks, they are often selfishly reserved early and overloaded with marquees and tents, and we often head out of town with friends to barbeque elsewhere during peak times.

My wife and I have lived in Port Elliot for a little over 4 years now, and we wouldn't rather live anywhere else on the South Coast after living at Middleton and Victor Harbor.
Just taking a short stroll to the beach on the great pathways or bikeways with awesome views always makes us appreciate how lucky we are to live here. There are 4 great beaches, which most of the time are very quiet (excluding school holidays) and very diverse. Theres the long Boomer/Knights beach which is a popular spot for the bodyboarders, Horseshoe bay would be one of the best family swimming beaches in the state, Greens bay is small and protected, a great place to let the dog off the leash, and then theres Bashams which is another very quiet beach, with very small waves and quite shallow, great for kids and dogs. If you come at the right time, you may even spot a whale!
Most people you will encounter are very friendly and willing to chat. The nightlife is great between the two pubs/hotels with a great mix of live music, great food and good atmosphere.
Lots of boutique shopping with most stuff you will ever need down the popular Strand and North Terrace, and for everything you cant find its just a short drive into Victor Harbor to access the larger shopping chains.
The housing is quite expensive for anything south of the main road (the beach side) and there isn't usually alot for sale.
There are alot of holiday homes and rentals in the area, so during the summer weekends and school holidays can get quite crowded (the line up to the bakery is amazing!) .

Walking along the clifftop trail, occasionally watching a few southern right female whales protecting their calves, the pods of local dolphins catching the waves into the shore. Each turn you make opens yet another stunning view of this very special coastline.All the people smile at you and make you feel welcome, even if your only on a day trip. Summer brings many laughing playing children to horseshoe bay beach. Loads of shady trees and two wonderful play equiped parks, catering from toddler to teenager.World acclaimed restaurant The Flying Fish nestled in the beach.Winter brings a special beauty of watching the gigantic waves crashing onto the rocky headlands.We have lived here only for 2 years,but already know just how special Port Elliot is.

Port Elliot is the young families paradise. With the steam train running through, an amazing beach and some stunning views it really is a lovely spot. But like everywhere down south, as it gets into winter it can be a bit cold and miserable.

It is a summer hot spot for a lot of families and with good reason. It’s not far out of Victor harbour and all of the shops you could need and there is a lot there for the kids.

There are some great places that you can get into up on the hill but as you drive around it is a bit uninspiring. Nothing really stands out. But the price is up on all of them.

For me it’s still the sleepy seaside town but for many it is the ideal sea change location. Probably more for the retirees and let the kids come down for a surf at the nearby beaches when it’s up.

Once a sleepy seaside village, Port Elliot is now a major holiday destination. Situated about 80 km to the south of Adelaide (just over an hour’s drive), it is a great spot for a weekend getaway or holiday home.

The life of the town is very cyclical - quite quiet in winter and brimming with holiday-makers in summer. The population is growing quickly, as the surrounding land is developed in to residential developments and retirement villages.

House prices along the waterfront are absolutely huge, but there is good value just a few streets back.

Port Elliot has a lot to offer all year round. It has a couple of interesting design and homewares shops, one of the South Australia’s best bakeries, a couple of pubs and a few smaller shops and stores. Close to the larger towns of Victor Harbor and Goolwa, you can access all services and facilities within 10 minutes by car.

The highlight of this town are the beaches – the rugged surf of Knight’s Beach and the protected swimming at Horseshoe Bay. The water is cold, but is the perfect antidote to the hot summer sun where temperatures can reach almost 40 degrees.

Port Elliot is a beachside town with all the major facilities in easy reach, and is a good spot for a holiday or permanent base by the seaside.