Victor Harbor has been a popular coastal playground for South Australians since the 1800s. With sun, surf, sand and stunning views it’s easy to understand why.

Ride the horse-drawn tram to Granite Island and you’ll journey back to 1864 when the wooden causeway was built to transport wool to American and European clippers. Wool came from as far away as Queensland, transported by paddle-steamer down the Murray River to nearby Goolwa and then freighted by rail to Victor Harbor.

In 1802 English explorer Matthew Flinders and French explorer Nicholas Baudin were both surveying the ‘unknown coast’ of Terra Australis when they met off the coast of Victor Harbor. At the time, their countries were at war. Their ships met side by side for a friendly encounter – hence the name Encounter Bay!

FAST FACTS!

• Passengers have been riding the horse-drawn tram since 1894 (it’s the only year-round horse-drawn tram in the world
• The local Ngarrindjeri and Ramindjeri peoples fished and hunted around Encounter Bay and believed the island was a spiritual place – they called it ‘Nulcoowarra’
• Granite Island is home to a wild colony of Little Penguins, the smallest penguins in the world at just 33cm
• From June to September, Southern Right Whales come to Encounter Bay to calve and care for their young