The cliffs at Hallett Cove

Port Noarlunga (including Old Noarlunga and Hallett Cove)
Historic port now a pleasant holiday resort destination.
This area, which is steeped in the early history of South Australia, has become part of the southern sweep of Adelaide's suburbs. Located only 35 km from Adelaide it is a pleasant half hour's drive with the major attractions being the beach and the cliffs at Hallett Cove (now surrounded by modern suburban development), the attractive historic churches in Old Noarlunga and Port Noarlunga with its beach and jetty which, now that it has been by-passed, is a peaceful family holiday destination.

The area was first explored by Captain Collett whose expedition is recalled in a stone monument at the top of the hill above the jetty. The monument's inscription reads: 'Hereabouts April 15, 1831 Captain Collett Barker and the barque Pioneer Explorer landed from the ship Isabella and proceeded inland and lost his life April 30, 1831.'

Collett Barker identified the future site of Old Noarlunga and wrote: 'We crossed the bar, and ascertained that it was a narrow inlet of four miles in length that terminated at the base of the ranges.'

A decade later, in 1841, Old Noarlunga was established and it became the central location in the area with traffic moving up and down the river. The township was laid out by the South Australian Company which sold frontages for 4 shillings per foot. A mill was established in 1843.

It wasn't until the 1920s that Port Noarlunga became important in its own right. Today Port Noarlunga is a popular fishing and holiday destination. The jetty is ideal for fishing.

Things to see:  

Old Noarlunga
The Old Noarlunga historic Horseshoe Inn (which was built in the 1840s and once had a reputation as a popular watering hole for smugglers who brought alcohol and tobacco up the river) has been burnt down and is now nothing more than a shell - although it could be restored. The main street of Old Noarlunga winds around following the bends of the Onkaparinka River. Old Noarlunga has a few old houses but it really a commuter area for Adelaide. While it is inaccurate to say it is built around a green it is fair to say that there is a beautiful park between the main road through the town and the Onkaparinka River. The park has excellent facilities and is an ideal stopping place.

The Church of St Philip and St James, Old Noarlunga

SS Phillip and James Anglican Church
Today the most impressive building, and the clear reminder of the past, is the delightful and attractive SS Phillip and James Anglican Church which stands on the hill above Old Noarlunga. It offers excellent views across the village.

Hallett Cove
Today Hallett Cove seems like it is part of the southern suburbs of Adelaide. Modern houses surround the cove and reach down to the beach where a sign explains the attraction of the area: The main feature of the park is its geology but itıs a lovely place to walk, picnic, admire the view, paddle in the waves or listen to the birds.

Hallett Cove Conservation Park.
The History. The rocks of Hallett Cove have a story to tell about the continent's past. Glacial rocks at Hallett Cove are sandwiched between older and younger sequences of rock. Along the cliff top they lie on folded purplish sandstone siltstones six hundred million years old. In the amphitheatre they're covered by sandstones with fossils and clays formed in the last five million years and capped with recent soils.

The cliffs at Hallett Cove

The most significant rock features are the glacial scratches on the cliffs and rocks which are two hundred and seventy million years old. These scratches tell of the great ice age that gripped the continent in those times. Large rocks were carried long distances by the glaciers. The formation of rock layers at Hallett Cove can be linked with other continents in the Southern Hemisphere. They're a vital link in the history of the breakup of the primeval continent called Gondwanaland into Australia, Antarctica, India, Africa and South America.'

Today Hallett Cove has become a fashionable area. Huge houses are perched on the hillside above the ocean gazing out across Gulf St. Vincent.

	Motels
	Port Noarlunga Motel 39 Saltfleet St Port Noarlunga SA 5167 Telephone: (08) 8382 1267 Rating: **
	Hotels
	Port Noarlunga Hotel Gawler St Port Noarlunga SA 5167 Telephone: (08) 8382 1311 Rating: *
	Caravan Parks
	Noarlunga Council Caravan Park The Esplanade Port Noarlunga SA 5167 Telephone: (08) 8382 0311 Rating: **
	Restaurants
	The Foreshore Restaurant Saltfleet St Port Noarlunga SA 5167 Telephone: (08) 8384 4556
	The Whip Well Restaurant Gawler St Port Noarlunga SA 5167 Telephone: (08) 8382 3225
	The White Dove Restaurant Saltfleet St Port Noarlunga SA 5167 Telephone: (08) 8382 1251