Middleton to Goolwa bike trail

The Middleton to Goolwa section of the Encounter Bikeway is a flat coastal path of roughly five to six kilometres one-way along the Fleurieu Peninsula, trading between pavement, gravel and short on-road stretches through residential streets. Dunes and sea views run with you for most of the way, and the sand beach beside it makes this a two-surface outing: hard kilometres on the path, soft sniffing on the shore.

The walk

It is an easy, mostly flat route that works as a one-way walk if you can arrange transport at the far end, or an out-and-back if not. This is a shared path used by cyclists, so keep your dog close and predictable on the narrower paved sections. If you time it right, the Cockle Train runs between Goolwa and Port Elliot or Victor Harbor and takes dogs on lead, which turns the walk into a one-way loop with a steam train ride back.

Leash status

On the path itself, Alexandrina Council requires dogs on a leash of no more than two metres along public footpaths, shared paths and roads unless signposted otherwise. On the adjacent beach, seasonal rules apply around Goolwa Beach and Middleton: on leash at all times from 1 December to 31 January, and on leash between 10am and 6pm from 1 February to 30 April. Between those windows the open stretch is under effective control rather than strict leash, but read the signs at each access point because zones change along the coast.

Water, terrain and hazards

Public toilets and dog waste bins sit at the major access points, with some water stations along the route, but carry water for your dog regardless, particularly in summer when the wind off the coast dries everything out. Watch for Hooded Plover nesting signage between Treleaven Place and Tongan Way and keep well clear of taped-off zones. If you drop onto the sand, check the tide first: a high tide narrows the gap between dunes and water considerably. Parts of Goolwa Beach allow 4WD access, so stay alert near the vehicle ramps.

Pepsi: train out, walk back, sand in everything. The best kind of half day.

Getting there and when to go

From Goolwa, take Port Elliot Road to Goolwa Beach Road and park at the Goolwa Beach car park; from Middleton, Goolwa Road leads to The Esplanade for beachside parking. Both ends are free. Weekday mornings and early weekend starts are quietest before the mid-morning crowd arrives. You can carry on the same style of coastal walking on the Middleton to Port Elliot bike trail, or finish with a swim at the Goolwa Beach off leash area. For coffee, Cafe 52 Fourteen is in Goolwa township, and Middleton Caravan Park puts you right at the southern end for an early start. More routes sit in our guide to dog friendly trails in South Australia, or browse Goolwa Beach.