Granite Island Recreation Park will be closed at night during this year’s Schoolies Festival, between 22 November and 25 November. Around 4,000 school leavers are expected to celebrate in Victor Harbor over the weekend.

The Granite Island closures will be in place from 7pm to 5.30am each night, the 25th consecutive year when the Recreation Park has been partially closed during the annual event.

National Parks and Wildlife Service District Ranger Paul Unsworth says the closures are in place to protect the community and the wildlife on the Island.

“Visitors can visit the island as normal during the day, from very early in the morning, through to the evening closure at 7pm.

“A pedestrian access gate on the causeway operates from late afternoon each day. This is to provide a barrier to foxes that may try to cross to the island. People accessing the island from late afternoon to the closure each night should take care to ensure the gate closes behind them.”

Road closures will be in place around the festival venue to ensure the safety of the increased pedestrian traffic:

• • Flinders Parade (Coral Street to Esplanade) nightly from 5pm to 3am.
  • The Esplanade (Flinders Parade to King Street) nightly from 5pm to 3am.
  • Albert Place (Esplanade to Railway Terrace) nightly from 6pm to 3am.
  • Railway Terrace (Albert Place to Coral Street) nightly from 6pm to 3am.
  • Ocean Street (Coral Street to Albert Place) nightly from 9pm to 3am.
  • Three Gullies Road, Encounter Bay (Battye Road to Southern Right Crescent) from 9am on 22 November to 8am on 25 November.

SAPOL has approved 25 kph speed limits and temporary parking controls in association with road closures to support a safe event.

Free bus services and dedicated volunteers will be on hand to help the young people celebrate safely and responsibly.

The state government and Encounter Youth have provided return bus travel to the festival, and across the Fleurieu Peninsula during the three-day event.

Buses will leave Adelaide Central Bus Station at 10am and 2pm today, Friday 22 November, stopping at all major accommodation venues from Encounter Bay to Port Elliott – removing the need for school leavers to get behind the wheel.

Once ticket holders safely arrive at their destination, a free bus circuit will run from the Schoolies Festival precinct at Warland Reserve throughout the weekend, with five different routes stretching from Encounter Bay to Goolwa.

Continuous shuttle services will operate around the region during the hours of the festival and twice a day at 10am and 2pm, helping school leavers get to and from their accommodation. On Monday, buses will return students to Adelaide.

A strong police presence will be present at Schoolies to enforce road rules, including driver distraction, and SAPOL’s Road Safety Section will visit the region’s caravan parks daily to offer voluntary breath testing.

Police will work with emergency services agencies to promote safe behaviours and encourage school leavers to look out for their friends.

Over 400 Encounter Youth Green Team volunteers will help run the festival and ensure the Class of 2024 celebrates their achievements in a positive way.

A new sensory space – the first of its kind at a Schoolies festival – will also be launched, providing an inclusive environment for those with disabilities to have fun.

Encounter Youth delivered alcohol and other drug education to more than 30,000 high school students, parents and teachers last year, with young people encouraged to use lessons learned to make the most of the weekend. 

For more information on Schoolies services, including bus timetable planning and parental support, visit the Encounter Youth website.

Information can also be found on the City of Victor Harbor website, as well as full details of road closures.