port noarlunga snuba

Our group was four adults (age 51-64), ranging from semi-anxious in the water to SCUBA-certified. The proprietor, Benny, made sure that we all had a great time. It was fun to swim among the fish and explore the reef. Definitely a highlight of our trip to Australia. I highly recommend it!

We start from Rotary Park at the bottom of Beach Road, Christies Beach and depending on which way you would like to go there is a great beach walk for young and old, as well as your four legged friends (as long as they are on a leash). If you turn right, there is the paved walking path along the sea front heading toward a beach named O'Sullivan Beach where there is a boat ramp for the enthusiastic fisherman or just a leisurely cruise along the waterfront. Along the path are tall pine trees standing straight against the skies (blue sky in spring/summer--grey sky in autumn/winter), and seating scattered along the way for the weary. Once you get to O'Sullivan Beach, you may take your dog off lead to play in the water or the creek that flows to the sea from the Christies Creek. That is the only area where the dogs are allowed off leash any time of day where as on the south side of the creek, you may only have the dog off lead at certain times, (which are shown on signs). There is also a nice little cafe on the eastern side of the road where you can enjoy a light meal and drink. If anyone is traveling from Interstate and wanting to stay by the beaches, there is a lovely Caravan Park up behind the Surf Life Saving Club where there are sites for vans as well as cabins to stay in (have not used the park myself as I only live 15minutes from the beaches). For those who like a bit more comfort, there is a Hotel just up the Gulfview Road about 5minutes away with Bar, Pokies and a large dining room as well as a drive through bottle depot and a convenient petrol station across the road from the hotel.The Surf Club has a few seats under shades with coin operated BBQs so you could cook a meal up. There are also shower poles scattered here and there for those who have been swimming or surfboard riding so as to wash off the sea water, there is also a tap for just rinsing your feet as well as a drinking tap for the thirsty, and don't forget the dog, they even supply a bowl for them so you don't need to carry one with you. Now, heading in the other direction, up the hill and around the coast is another nice beach named Port Noarlunga. The hill is named Witton Bluff where there is also a walking path along the rocks and the cliff face, but it comes to a dead end as it is a bit dangerous to climb around the rocks to the beach as it is possible to be washed off the rocks when the tide is coming in. Port Noarlunga has a jetty which many people use for fishing from but you can also go off the end of the jetty (recommened not to do on your own), to go scuba diving or spear fishing off the Reef that runs the full length of at least two of the beaches. Back when I was a child, the jetty was longer and you could actually climb down a ladder and onto the reef when the tide was out, but then something happened and the Council decided to shorten the jetty so people would be safer. To walk from Rotary Park to the end of the Noarlunga jetty and back takes around 30minutes, to walk along the cliff face and back takes around 20minutes and to walk from the park to the end of the stone wall at O'Sullivan beach and back takes approx. 25 - 30minutes, depending on your walking pace. But, then again, you may like to jog it instead. All three beaches are great swimming areas with plenty of sand for relaxing on or maybe watching the children on the waters edge and creating sand castles. You maybe even lucky enough to catch a wave or two, for those who are into surfboarding or having fun in a kayak.There are plenty of shops and cafes close to the beaches and back up the main Beach Road with a large shopping centre 15minutes drive east of the seafront where there are banks, a post office and plenty of shops and eateries for those who do not like sand in their food. Please come and enjoy our lovely beaches and friendly greetings.