Trail Fast Facts
Bashams Beach Circuit Walk is a 6km, grade 3 hike in Ratalang Basham Beach Conservation Reserve, South Australia. This hike typically takes 2 hours to complete.
Hike Overview
The Ratalang Bashams Beach Circuit Walk is a moderately easy (grade 3) 6km loop located within the Ratalang Basham Beach Conservation Reserve in South Australia. This scenic hike takes approximately 2 hours to complete.
The trail winds through the reserve, following designated walking paths and a shared-use section of the Encounter Bikeway. The journey begins at Horseshoe Bay in Port Elliot and stretches towards Middleton. Along the way, you'll encounter diverse coastal landscapes, including sandy bays, rocky headlands, coastal dunes, and vibrant heathland. Viewing platforms conveniently placed along the route offer prime opportunities for whale watching during migration seasons.
Keep an eye out for interesting geological features like the remains of a quarry site, the fascinating Seal Rock blowhole, and stunning pink granite cliffs. The walk allows for flexible starting points - either the beach at Horseshoe Bay or the carpark at the end of Bashams Beach Road.
This trail caters to walkers of varying fitness levels. As you explore at a leisurely pace, take time to appreciate the beauty of the natural vegetation, the unique rock formations and boulders lining the coast, and the mesmerizing turquoise waters that crash against them. The Ratalang Bashams Beach Circuit Walk promises a delightful exploration experience for visitors seeking to immerse themselves in the coastal environment.
Track Grade
Grade 3 (Moderate) - Walks for Most Fitness Levels: Grade 3 on the AWTGS represents moderate walking tracks. These are ideal for walkers with some fitness who are comfortable with some hills and uneven terrain. While suitable for most ages, some bushwalking experience is recommended to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Tracks may have short, steep hill sections, a rough surface, and many steps. The total distance of a Grade 3 walk can be up to 20 kilometers.
Map and GPX file
Max elevation: 15 m
Min elevation: 2 m
Total climbing: 53 m
Total descent: -51 m
Trail Location (trailhead)
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Getting there
The Ratalang Bashams Beach Circuit Walk offers two convenient starting points for hikers. Those arriving from Port Elliot can begin their journey at Horseshoe Bay. Alternatively, if traveling from Middleton, the walk commences at the carpark located at the end of Bashams Beach Road.
Photo gallery
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About the region
The Ratalang Basham Beach Conservation Reserve, formerly known as Basham Beach Regional Park, is a significant natural area on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. Stretching along the coast from Horseshoe Bay in Port Elliot to Middleton, Ratalang serves as a scenic buffer between the two towns. The reserve encompasses diverse landscapes, including long sandy beaches, coastal dunes with heathland vegetation, rocky coastlines with headlands and bays, and extends inland to the railway line.
This area holds cultural importance for the Ngarrindjeri people. Their creation stories describe Ratalang as a key point in the journey of Ngurunderi, a figure in their ancestral dreaming lore. According to the story, Ngurunderi chased his wives from the Murray River to Cape Jervis, shaping the land features along the way. One such stop was at Basham Beach, where Ngurunderi is said to have thrown a tree into the sea to create a seaweed bed and hunted a seal whose dying gasps can still be heard in the rocks.
Ratalang also witnessed the arrival of the first European sailing ships, marking the initial contact between the Ngarrindjeri people and European sealers and whalers. Unfortunately, this contact brought with it social disruption and pain as European invasion and colonization unfolded.
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Explore Safe
While planning your hike, it’s important to check official government sources for updated information, temporary closures and trail access requirements. Before hitting the trail, check local weather and bushfire advice for planned burns and bushfire warnings and let someone know before you go. Plan ahead and hike safely.
Let someone know
Adventure with peace of mind: Fill out your trip intentions form. Before you hit the trail, fill out an online form to privately send important details about your hike to your family or friends. If you don’t return on time, they can easily alert emergency services, preventing worry and ensuring a swift response. Hike with peace of mind and enjoy your outdoor adventure to the fullest. Be smart, be safe: Register your plans here.
Gear to consider
What you carry in your pack will depend on the weather, terrain, time of year, type of adventure, and personal preferences. Having trouble deciding what gear’s right for you? My free planning, food and packing checklists provide an introduction to things your could consider (as well as the Ten Essentials) on your day, overnight and multi-day adventures. Customise your kit according to your personal needs, always considering safety first.Â
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Acknowledgement of Country
Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.