Rapid Bay Beach

Rapid Bay is an exquisite beach located 105 kilometres south of Adelaide.

Experience the journey to Rapid Bay through a steeply descending road from the main Normanville-Cape Jervis Road. The beach stretches between long sandy beaches and towering cliffs, making it a perfect backdrop for a relaxing day trip or weekend getaway.

One of the best-known features of Rapid Bay Beach is its very long jetty. Although the original jetty built-in 1940 is closed to the public, a new jetty opened in early 2009 is now available for use by visitors. Taking a stroll along the jetty provides visitors with the opportunity to enjoy fishing or to experience the beautiful views of the surrounding environment.

At Rapid Bay, visitors are treated to a unique and exciting experience as it is home to an essential South Australian landmark - a boulder on which Colonel Light carved his initials after he first stepped ashore. Rapid Bay was named after the brig HMS Rapid in which Colonel Light and his staff came to South Australia, discovering Rapid Bay in 1830 enroute to Glenelg. The founder of Adelaide, Colonel Light, named this beautiful beach.

Rapid Bay Beach is usually calm and relatively safe. Visitors should watch the deep water right off both beaches as it can be dangerous in areas. It offers diverse marine life, including the famed Leafy Sea dragon, making it a paradise for divers and snorkelers. Divers can explore the dramatic shipwrecks and the stunning marine life of the area.

The best time to visit Rapid Bay is during the warm seasons, from November through January. During this time, the water is the perfect temperature for swimming and the sun shines unobstructed in the blue skies.

From Adelaide, take