Snelling Beach is one of the most popular seaside destinations on Kangaroo Island’s north coast. With its wide shoreline and windswept foredune alongside the banks of Middle River, the beach has plenty of scenic appeal. Wander along the golden sands, go for a swim in the waves or hop between rock pools with the kids. Snelling Beach has a dependable surf break and is a favored spot for surfers and daytrippers.
Access the beach at its eastern end and explore the shoreline. The 1,970-foot (660-meter) beach has plenty of space for wandering. As you walk along the beach, check out the tussock-speckled dune that runs along the foreshore. You’ll see a jagged bluff ahead, which marks the entrance of the Middle River.
Pick a spot to lay out your towel and look out over the water. The northwest-facing beach has a regular swell and a surf zone that stretches approximately 330 feet (100 meters). Swim and play in the waves or grab your surfboard and see if you can take on the bigger breaks that roll into the eastern end of the beach.
Kids will enjoy exploring the rock platforms that frame either end of the beach. Snelling Beach is also popular with anglers, who cast into the surf to hook mullet and salmon or drop a line into holes in the rocky platforms to catch whiting and flathead.
If you hook a fish, you can cook your catch on the barbecues on the Snelling Beach foreshore. There is a pretty picnic area here, as well as public restrooms and a stunning lookout across the beach.
Snelling Beach is easy to reach within an hour’s drive from Kingscote, the main town on Kangaroo Island. If you are driving from Penneshaw, you’ll reach the popular north coast beach within 90 minutes. There are several vacation cottages and seaside retreats available for rent near Snelling Beach. Stay overnight to wake up to magnificent views of the beach, its surrounding green hillsides and the distant Yorke Peninsula.
