Middleton to Port Elliot bike trail

The Middleton to Port Elliot leg of the Encounter Bikeway is a sealed shared path running the Fleurieu coast between the two towns, roughly 3 to 4km one way from central Middleton to Horseshoe Bay. Mostly flat with dunes, clifftop stretches and Southern Ocean views, it walks or rides easily for most dogs and their people.

The walk

The surface is bitumen the whole way with only slight elevation changes, and it is fully exposed to the coast, so expect real wind on a blowy day. Public water points, toilets and bench seating appear at intervals near the beaches in both towns, and bins and bags are provided along the route. Between June and October, migrating southern right whales pass close to shore near Basham Beach, which is as good a reason as any to pause the walk.

Leash status

Dogs must be on-lead on the path and along the coastal foreshore between 10am and 6pm year-round, and on-lead at all times at Horseshoe Bay. Hooded plover breeding zones are signed on the beach side, and dogs must be leashed within 50 metres of an active site and kept out of dunes and sensitive habitat entirely.

Max: this is a working bike path with an exposed edge in places. Shorten the lead when riders pass and give the plover signs a proper berth rather than a hopeful one.

Pepsi: walk it Middleton to Port Elliot, then let the beach end be the reward. Morning is wind-calm, empty and the best light on the water.

Water and hazards

Water points sit near the beaches at each end but not along the exposed middle section, so carry a bottle in summer. The path is shared with cyclists travelling at speed, and the cliffside stretches have drops that a pulling dog should not be exploring.

Getting there and when to go

Park near Horseshoe Bay or the Port Elliot Holiday Park at the eastern end, or at the Middleton surf beach at the western end; the path drops straight off The Esplanade in both towns. The Cockle Train stops at Port Elliot and Middleton if you want a one-way walk, though confirm its current dog policy first. Early morning before 9am or late afternoon dodges both the midday heat and the weekend cyclist rush.

More walks nearby

The Port Elliot Fenced Dog Park covers the off-lead run, and Cockles Cafe and De Groot Coffee Co handle the post-walk coffee.

More routes sit on the South Australia trails guide and the Port Elliot destination page.