Chad and Kristy’s favourite things to do on the Coorong

By on_kingston,

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The Coorong National Park can be accessed just past Meningie, two hours south east from Adelaide. It’s a 140 km stretch of saltwater lagoons from the Murray Mouth (where the Southern Ocean meets the Murray River) to Kingston, and is protected from the ocean by sand dunes.

The Coorong is a wetland area and sometimes referred to as a lagoon, that sustains many species of flora and fauna. It’s a place to appreciate diversity and enjoy serenity and there is something for all ages. As well as having historical landmarks to visit, people come for bushwalking, bird watching, fishing, camping, kayaking, boating and four-wheel driving.

Chad and Kristy manage the Kingston Foreshore Caravan Park, and together with their two small sons, they regularly travel to the Coorong to enjoy peace and quiet. They share their favourite activities here.

Old Coorong road

On dusk, take a drive down the Old Coorong Road. On one side you have the sand dunes and on the other you have the Coorong, it’s stunning and peaceful. You will see the diversity of wildlife – emus, wombats, kangaroos and other native animals, including a large variety of birds. This is one of the family’s favourite things to do on the Coorong.  Once you turn off the highway into Old Coorong Road, there are no other turns, you can just keep driving.

Camping in many of the Coorong’s campsites

There are many camping areas on the Coorong suitable for tents, camper trailers and caravans with varying facilities including toilets, water, shelter, boat ramps and walking trails. Some of the campsites are situated just behind the sand dunes giving protection from the sea air, but you can still hear the sounds of the lagoon.

You can book your campsites on the Park SA website.

Chinaman’s Well

The Journey to Gold Walk and the Historic Chinamans Well is a historical site on the Coorong. When the Chinese arrived to search for gold in the Victorian goldfields during the 1860’s, they left their ships in Port Adelaide, and walked 5-6 weeks to the goldfields via the Coorong. Looking for water, this well was dug and today is a monument and memory. You can take a trip through history and walk the Journey of Gold Walk which takes about an hour.

Jack Point Pelican Observatory

A 20 minute easy walk takes you to a viewing platform and from here you can see the small islands where pelicans have established their breeding colonies. This is one of Australia’s largest breeding colonies for pelicans.

Birdwatching and birdlife

Near the top of the list of things to do in the Coorong is birdwatching. Not only is the Coorong the largest breeding colony for pelicans, it is also a refuge for 240 bird species such as:

Australian Pelican, Swan, Mallee Fowl, Emu, Darter, Cormorants, Ibis, several species of Ducks, Eurasian Coot, Purple Swamphen, Grebes, Egrets, Herons, Spoonbill, Masked Lapwing, Red Necked Avocet, Stilts, Dotterel, Stints, Terns, Cape Baron Geese.

Bushwalking

One of the best ways to see the diverse birdlife and to enjoy the Coorong is to walk the many trails. It’s peaceful and serene and most tracks are fairly easy to walk so excellent for families with little children.

Walking SA has a detailed list of walks in the Coorong ranging from 30 minutes to 2 days.

Eating Coorong mullet

We highly recommend tasting Coorong Mullet. You can’t catch these fish off a line because you need a commercial fishing license. It’s a tasty white flesh fish with a unique flavour. Talk to us at the Caravan Park and we can tell you where to eat the freshest Coorong Mullet in town.

Fishing

There is an abundance of fishing experiences to be enjoyed in Kingston and the Coorong throughout the year. For more information about fishing in Kingston, have a look at Fishing in Kingston? Here are Chad’s Local Fishing Tips.

Enjoy the many things to do on the Coorong from Kingston

You can enjoy the many things to do on the Coorong from Kingston Foreshore Caravan park as your base. The Old Coorong Road is about a 15 minute drive from the Caravan Park and once you’re on it, you can keep driving! We have powered and unpowered sites, one and two bedroom ensuite cabins. Book into our caravan park online here or call us on 08 8767 2050.

Image by Mitch Payne.