There are still some sunny summer days left on the calendar, which is brilliant news if you’re based in Adelaide — or even better, if you’re visiting South Australia and looking to explore somewhere new. For this month’s weekender road trip, I’m heading to the super stunning and unspoilt Cape Jervis on the western tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula (106km from Adelaide on the B23). It’s the perfect opportunity to get those Maxxis tyres rolling through some awesome countryside, wineries and coastline, all of which are in plentiful supply! With many amazing places to stop and ‘smell the roses’ along the way (not to mention some pretty special cellar doors and wineries to call-in on) you’ll be absolutely excused for taking your time and making a longer trip of it if you can.
Stop off in McLaren Vale… Renowned as one of Australia’s finest and most sustainable wine growing areas, a slight detour from the Cape Jervis route will get you to McLaren Vale, just 45 minutes from Adelaide. Take a winemaker’s tour, do some tasting of McLaren Vale’s trio of “reds” at a boutique cellar door — or settle down with a platter of local cheeses or scrumptious wood-fired pizza and enjoy a spectacular vineyard view!
While it may be best known for its Shiraz and acres of vines, McLaren Vale is also home to kilometre after kilometre of amazing beaches, many of which offer the added bonus (especially when you’re on Maxxis tyres!) that you are permitted to drive on them.
A few Cape Jervis Highlights … Ruggedly picturesque and serene, Cape Jervis is an easy-going destination for swimming, fishing, hiking and quite literally getting away from it all! Complementing the natural magnificence of the area, the Cape Jervis Lighthouse is a beacon that stands out for miles around — lighting up the Backstairs Passage (the strait of water between the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island).
Surrounded by high cliffs, magnificent Morgan Beach is a favourite. With its sparkling water and pristine sand, it’s the perfect space for a carefree family game of cricket, while another great plus is that (once again) 4WD vehicles are allowed to drive on this amazing beach!
If you’re after some walking or bird-watching or keen to spot native wildlife (including ‘roos), the nearby Deep Creek National Park has a wide range of bushwalking tracks and trails (from mild to challenging difficulty levels) including the start of the world-famous Heysen Trail. The park also offers some simply amazing, uninterrupted coastline views.
Cape Jervis is a fisherman’s paradise with Snapper, Whiting, Tuna and Trevally amongst the fish known to frequent these waters. So, if you’re handy with a line, either try your luck at the aptly named Fishery Beach or book in with one of the fishing charters which operate in the Backstairs Passage.
Probably best-known as the gateway to Kangaroo Island, Cape Jervis is home to the ferry that transports people and vehicles to the magical island. Kangaroo Island (sometimes called the “zoo without fences”) is of course a destination on its own which uniquely showcases Australia’s native wildlife, land and seascapes… and more pristine beaches. For more first-hand information about this one-of-a-kind destination, you can read about a trip I made to the island last year.
Setting up camp away from it all… For some of us (especially is you are an avid 4WD’er), there’s nothing to beat setting up camp, somewhere a little rustic and far away from the bustle of daily life.
As well as a more central Big4 Holiday Park, there are a number of campgrounds (such as Cobbler Hill, Stringybark and Trig) in the Deep Creek Conservation Park – while a range of other accommodation options (from cottages to ridgetop retreats) are available within the park at Southern Ocean Retreats.
What to take with you … With the weather at this time of year almost guaranteed to be hot, sunny and dry – make sure that swimming gear and snorkels, sunnies, sunscreen and beach cricket bat are packed and ready for action!
Last but not least, let’s talk Tyres … We’re not just making small talk when we say that the Maxxis SUV and 4×4 range has all axles covered! Take the feisty RAZR AT811 as one example — ticking all the boxes as an all-terrain that truly performs on (yes, you guessed it!) all types of terrain! With all the benefits of great traction and grip, puncture resistance and overall tenacity off-road, the AT811 is also superbly comfortable both on- and off-road – so there’s never a compromise on ride quality, safety or your comfort. If your vehicle’s a (non-SUV) passenger car (big or small), Maxxis also has just the right tyre for your ride. Try the convenient Maxxis “Tyre Finder” to find out which tyres are right for you, or speak to one of our friendly Maxxis dealers nearest you for their expert advice. And finally, whatever your wheels, don’t forget to check those tyre pressures before you set off — including the spare!
