Glenelg Beach

Okay, I’m probably going to stand out like a saw thumb but I’ve never been a big fan of Glenelg beach, at least when it comes to swimming. For a place to go and hang out with friends it certainly has everything that you could need from restaurants, to change rooms, to amusement parks, and the list goes on, but it is because of that that this place does becoming very, very crowded, so on those really hot days it can be nigh impossible to find a place to sit on the beach. Mind you, if you are into people watching then I have to admit that this place is second to none. It’s also easy to get to because there is a tram that runs here from the city centre (if you can handle the smell that is). Also, it actually isn’t a great swimming beach — no waves and shallow water — two things that really put me off swimming. If I want to go for a dip I want deep water so I can swim, and decent waves so I can body surf. Unfortunately if you want decent waves you probably have to head a lot further south (to, say, Port Elliot).

A real hidden gem with a tram at its shore, great mix of eateries at both sides of the pier precincts you can’t go wrong and the Oaks apartments eateries and bars to replenish the energy levels! A good safe beach amenities close by and volley ball nets if you want some ball action! Great water, safe and very clean. Overall a great family beach and you must remember to slip slop slap for sun protection!

Always the perfect spot to have a leisurely stroll and soak up the sun sea and sand.
Australia really does have the goods when it comes to beaches.
So many great coffee spots and gelato places to enjoy too :)

We went on a Tuesday afternoon on vacay, so it wasn’t too busy at the beach. Nice area, lots of restaurants near the pier. Showers and a nice boardwalk along the beach.

Such an icon and somewhere I send so many visitors, but I’d never swim here. The beach on a hot sunny day is usually overcrowded and chock full of people trying to swim, boogeyboard, play cricket and smack volleyballs at one another.
Parking is difficult on the busy days and restricted to 1 – 3 hours at time and you can find yourself parked a decent distance from the action.
There is the appeal with the lifeguards present for families, but the amount of times I’ve found beer bottles, cigarette buts and needles sitting in the sand rules out this beach as somewhere to sit and play with kids (and anyone really). Although close to the bustling Jetty Road, I’d much rather stroll down the road or head to the Beach House then take a dip in the drink.
Head to Henley Beach if you’d like somewhere to eat and grab an ice cream and somewhere nice to swim.

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Like most people in Adelaide, this is not the preferred beach spot near Adelaide, but it’s still good enough for more than two visits. This is the most popular beach in Adelaide, especially on NYE, thanks largely to its proximity to the Adelaide CBD.
Moseley Square, where Jetty Road meets the beach, is the terminus for the City-​to-​Bay Tram — a place with more personal stories involving late night club visits, first dates, long walks, a jump off point for jetty jumpers, out-​of-​town tourists, and great spot to stop by for a drink with your best mates.
Something about taking a long walk with your best friend through Jetty Road, through the pathway, gazing at the wondrous tall trees, and cool breeze that makes the experience absolutely worthwhile.
Catch a sunset, have dinner at a restaurant, walk through the beach, or in my case, just have a little glimpse of the many bikini babes. This beach is definitely worth the trip, I’ve been here several times growing up in Adelaide!

I’m another who isn’t a fan.
My reasons are pretty simple. It’s far too crowded, it’s not the most untouched beach in South Australia, and I’ve seen more than my fair share of fairly dodgy people here.
If your idea of a fun day out is to shop in shitty, overpriced shops, then have a very expensive (albeit probably fairly good) lunch and follow it up with sitting on the beach and developing a good case of skin cancer, then this is probably your dream location.
Not for me.

As far as beaches go in Adelaide, this is easily the worst. It’s great for tourists who can enjoy the shopping on Jetty Road and then duck to the beach for a swim to cool off. And the youth absolutely love hanging out here getting a nice cancerous tan and loudly socialising with what seems to be their whole school.
It’s always packed to the brim with all kinds of characters, getting their bits out and having a ball in the water. I’d suggest it to teenagers, but that’s about it. You can’t relax and enjoy the serenity a beach should have.
Brighton or Henley beach would be much better choices in my opinion.

I don’t care how much hype there is about Glenelg Beach. It’s crap. It’s gross. It’s horrible! I cannot stand being here. Yes, there are some really good restaurants and cafes around the place, but there are at Henley Beach too.
Not only are there copious amounts of people here (I cannot stand crowds) but every time I have been here, the sand is covered in shells, and the beach is filled with sea weed (which doesn’t seem to happen as often as the other Adelaide beaches), and these are things I just cannot like. At all. I don’t even like relaxing on the beach here because I don’t feel like I can relax.
The only good thing about Glenelg is the shopping and the tram. Don’t come here for the beach. Please.

Too many people, to put it lightly. It actually is a bit of a cringe worthy walk along Glenelg Beach in the summertime. leathery old ladies wearing next to nothing, over weight men wearing budgey smugglers, idiots throwing volleyballs at your head. get lost everybody, I’m trying to be peaceful.
It’s not a long beach, 15 mins max from one end to the other, there are some shells but most of the good ones have been snaggled already if you aren’t early enough. There is a jetty you can walk along and get your hair blown into a catwalk fashion, good for a walk along after dinner.
Did I mention there are too many people here.

I grew up not far from here and this was one of our local beaches. It has changed so much over the years and is a lot more commercialised nowadays but has so much to offer.
The foreshore in this area has really been worked on and you can walk or ride on a path all the way along it basically. There’s some nice grassed area’s where you can sit along the way under the shade of the beautiful trees.
They have some fantastic events here such as the beach volleyball, which attracts huge crowds daily. They have a great New Year’s Eve free concert even with fireworks at Glenelg beach each year but although it is a dry zone at the event itself a vast majority of the people in the area have been drinking at local venues so I have found it to have become a little rough for a family.
This beach is one of the busiest with the tram going all the way to the jetty almost. Parking can be a pain at Glenelg and sticker lickers are always out in force in the area so going early is the best bet or take public transport. There are always shops open and a craft market is sometimes held in the square. Lots of people, lots to see and heaps of things happening all the time.

I would love Glenelg Beach if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s terribly overcrowded most of the time. It’s a lovely and — in essence — a clean beach, with many options for eating and drinking around. It does, however, seem to attract a large portion of the Adelaide population and certainly most tourists who come to visit.
On a calm day, it’s nice to have a walk on the jetty but during the busy summer period you can hardly find enough space to make your way around the crowds. If you’re sensitive to noise and kids, I’d recommend going somewhere else like Grange or Henley beach. They’re both quieter versions of Glenelg and just as nice.
If you like to be seen and mingle with the crowds, this is definitely the place to go. If you make your way to Glenelg and want a bit of quiet, try heading towards the far end of the beach near the Marina, you might be lucky and find a few empty spots around there.

Glenelg Beach is the most well known of all the Adelaide beaches and where most of the international tourists head. I love it most, early in the morning, when the council has cleaned it to perfection and everything is still and pristine. However, for most people, they visit it on those hot summer days when it is swarming with people. If you like meeting people and being seen, this is the beach to primp and preen. It has volley ball courts where the young athletic types work on their ball skills and tan. They are available for anyone to play on but they do attract seasoned volleyballers so if you have inadequacy issues don’t venture into this domain.
Glenelg beach has a great jetty that is used for fishing, strolling and jetty jumping. In the height of summer, teenagers queue up to jump and gossip and generally hang out. The jetty is also a great place to sit under for relief from the sun. If you sit to the right of the Jetty, facing the sea, you are protected if you swim between the flags by the on duty lifesavers. If you don’t want to sit on the sand there is plenty of grassed foreshore. Amenities are pretty good, there are toilets and showers located nearby and plenty of eateries if you venture just off the beach.
Generally, Glenelg beach attracts an eclectic group of people but it is probably best suited to teenagers and young adults; there are more family friendly beaches, but they don’t have the glitz and glamour of Glenelg.
In the middle of summer just be careful to keep valuables close or hidden. Also parking can be hell on a busy day in Glenelg so I would recommend catching public transport. The tram stops right in the square within a stone’s throw of the beach.