Holiday at Brighton, Seacliff or Kingston Park

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Posted 2015-10-29 by Graeme Fanning ⇒ follow

[SECTION]Background/History[/SECTION]

Why not take a holiday in your own "backyard" along Adelaide's foreshore?

As much as it is desirable and exciting to take an overseas or interstate holiday, you can't beat our own metropolitan foreshore and if you want somewhere less busy than Glenelg, then try Brighton, Seacliff or Kingston Park.

Brighton is located approximately 15 kms south-west of the city of Adelaide (about 30 min by car - south of Glenelg) and nearby cafes and restaurants are renowned in the area.

Brighton, named by Matthew Smith, a solicitor in 1839 either after the town in Sussex, England or New Brighton in Liverpool, England, started life as a small settlement in the 1840's focusing on whaling and smuggling.

Seacliff lies just south of Brighton, where yachts and craft of all shapes and sizes are seen off shore particularly on weekends.

Seacliff was a descriptive name given to the area due to the undulating topography overlooking the sea.

Kingston Park continues around the bay from Seacliff and most of the homes overlook St Vincent Gulf with eye-dropping views.

Kingston Park was named as the result of George Strickland Kingston, an early Surveyor-General of South Australia, acquiring land in the area and Kingston House can be visited regularly with their offering of Devonshire teas each Sunday, from 2.30 pm until 4.30 pm from March until November.

[SECTION]Accommodation[/SECTION]

Various diverse types of accommodation are available in the area, ranging from pub style at either the Brighton Esplanade Hotel or the Seacliff Beach Hotel starting at around $100 a night to private beach holiday houses and apartments, anything up to $300 or more a night, dependent on the level of luxury and comfort you require, as well as location, and season.

Accommodation is also available at the Brighton Caravan Park and Holiday Village, which is perched right next to the beach at Kingston Park.

[SECTION]Dining[/SECTION]

This part of Adelaide is becoming quite trendy, and a wander, for example down Brighton Road, near the esplanade, will reveal various mouth-watering options for your palate and taste.

From bakery items to seafood and Thai cuisine, French, Italian and Nepalese... all in the near vicinity.

On a warm day, you can't beat an icecream from Royal Copenhagen with over 50 flavours available, followed by a stroll along the Brighton esplanade, which has been revamped with a great pathway along the coastline.

Seacliff also offers sea view dining at the Seacliff Beach hotel and the Seacliff Lifesaving Club has beachfront bistro dining.

[SECTION]Shopping[/SECTION]

Although Brighton does not have as large an array of shops as Glenelg, it does have some really good boutique and craft shops, great for browsing on a weekend, and perhaps find that special gift for a family member or friend.

Glenelg, in any case is only a 5 minute drive down the road, so can be easily accessed for a wider range of shopping experiences.

For food and grocery shopping, you can't go past Brighton Foodland without dropping in, which is located nearby on Brighton Road.

This Foodland is one of the best ones in Adelaide with a huge range of fruit, vegetables, grocery items, and smallgoods and if you are staying in self-catered accommodation, this is the place to stock up.

[SECTION]Attractions[/SECTION]

Taking a break along this stretch of Adelaide's beaches can involve putting your feet up, enjoying a glass of wine or beer or other refreshment and watching the tides come in and out or seeing aircraft approaching the airport, or even the many wind-surfers and small craft which navigate the area.

If you are looking for something to do that involves a little more activity, you can hire canoes, wind-surfers or go out on a boat to really experience the salt and sea air.

Perhaps a spot of fishing might be your thing - either from the shore, the jetty or from a boat.

There are great cycle paths and walking paths along the foreshore for you to really appreciate and admire nature at its best, and there are some magic sunsets to experience.

A really good walking trail also exists, starting at Kingston Park, known as the Tjilbruke which has direct connections to our indigenous past, with the site of an Aboriginal sacred spring.

Three different trails traverse the cliffs around this area, all with magnificent views.

A great spot for picnics and get-togethers is at the Kingston Park Coastal Reserve, which has tennis courts, swings, barbecue and toilet facilities, all overlooking the gulf.

[SECTION]Details[/SECTION]

This area is becoming more and more popular and not only with interstate or overseas visitors, but also with locals, who are discovering that this part of our metropolitan coastline has a lot to offer, not just for a few hours visit but even for a mini holiday.