South Australia (Southeast Region)

Beachport has plenty of accommodation. Bompas, overlooking the bay at 3 Railway Terrace, was the town’s first licensed hotel in 1879, and is now a pleasing B&B guesthouse with a coffee bar, bistro and restaurant downstairs, all sharing a menu featuring Thai, Malay, Italian and Australian dishes. Also on Railway Terrace, Beachport Motor Inn  has rooms and self-catering units. The large Beachport Hotel next door has a good bar with occasional bands, and a dining room for daily meals of fresh fish. 

Other places to stay on the foreshore include the long-established and well-equipped Beachport Backpackers, which rents out fishing rods, surf and snorkelling gear; it’s an obvious place to stay if you’re on the Wayward Bus, which passes three times a week. The Beachport Caravan Park, is also opposite the beach on Beach Road.

• ARTEFACTS MUSEUM The Artefacts Museum is one of the largest in Australia, and features a collection relating to the South East's Aboriginal heritage.

• LAKE GEORGE The natural habitat of large numbers of black swans and a variety of bird life, Lake George is also a popular spot for windsurfing, swimming and boating.

• NATURE WALKS. A number of nature walks provide visitors with scenic views of Beachport. Wendy's Walk meanders through bushland, sand dunes and eventually onto the beaches of the Southern Ocean. Wooley's Walk, at the entrance to the Beachport Conservation Park, takes you around the picturesque lake and provides the opportunity of observing a diversity of habitats. Lanky's Walk guides you through native bushland.

• OLD WOOL AND GRAIN STORE. This is a National Trust Museum, with an extensive collection of local relies from Beachport's whaling heritage. There are also rooms furnished in the 1870s period. The Water Board has a permanent display 'Down The Drain'.

• POOL OF SILOAM This salt lake is reputed to have seven times the salt content of the ocean and is supposed to have therapeutic qualities. The high salt content makes swimming very easy.

• VICTORIANA MUSEUM The two collections on view are a Victoriana exhibition and a display on militaria, including guns, grenades, helmets and swords. There is also a major collection of items used in World War II by the Third Reich's Luftwaffe.

• WOAKWINE CUTTING On the Coastal Ports Highway about 10 kilometres north of Beachport lies a testament to the triumph of man over nature - the Woakwine Cutting, This extraordinary drainage project opened up a large area of swampland to farming. An observation platform gives visitors a bird's eye view of the cutting.