Peter, from the viewpoint of 40 years’ experience with SA Tourism, what do you think is unique about the Fleurieu Peninsula?

It’s a wonderful dynamic mix of coastline with a very sophisticated food, wine, arts, and heritage culture. It’s a place where you can do things as well. It offers strong activity based tourism, more than any other region in South Australia.

Do you have a favourite place to wine and dine?

I have fond memories of sitting with friends on the verandah of Red Poles and the ambience at Smiling Samoyed is great.

Favourite memory?

Carrickalinga is where our family has had lots of day trips and holidays over the years. It’s my favourite beach in South Australia.

Our best produce?

The Fleurieu isn’t the largest region in South Australia, but it’s the most diverse in terms of produce. We’ve got Coorong mullet and Angus beef, and the Willunga Farmers Market is a great institution that represents the whole region, not just Willunga. And food doesn’t have to travel far to get to the plate in this region, so that’s a great strength too.

As a former CEO of History Trust SA, what’s a must-see in this region?

People love history when they can dress up, and they love history when they can see it in motion and when it’s part of a story, such as a winery setting. But South Australia isn’t strong on activated history compared to some states; we certainly don’t have a Sovereign Hill where history is presented as a reenactment. But at the Goolwa Wharf you have two historical assets coming together at a high visitation point: the river activation and the railway activation. Some places might have one or the other, but it’s rare to have both so close together in such a picturesque setting. And, of course, Victor Harbor offers the heritage mix differently: Cockle Train meets horse drawn tram, meets Granite Island.

Any surprises in your job?

What strikes me as a former tourism manager of Flinders Ranges and Outback is that the Fleurieu offers a uniquely Australian experience for international visitors that’s within an hour’s drive of the Adelaide Airport. The Onkaparinga Gorge for instance gives a sense of rugged outback Australia and further south the Deep Creek Conservation Park is home to over 400 native plant species and sections of the Heysen Trail. For someone looking for a fusion of rugged and remote, pristine beaches, rolling hills, wine and food — at all levels — it’s pretty amazing to have all of this mixed in together in one region.

Onkaparinga River National Park is one of the Fleurieu’s hidden secrets, says Peter Cahalan. 

Links to Peter’s tips for the Fleurieu: 

• Deep Creek Conservation Park
• Goolwa Wharf Precinct
• Heysen Trail
• Onkaparinga River National Park
• Red Poles
• Smiling Samoyed Brewery
• The Cockle Train
• Willunga Farmers Market

For more information visit: Fleurieu Peninsula Tourism