Is Strathalbyn a good stop for caravanners?
Why Strathalbyn is worth the detour
Strathalbyn sits a short way off the main run through the Fleurieu, and it is the sort of town that people mean to stop at for an hour and end up staying the night in. If you are towing, the practical stuff matters more than the pretty stuff, so this is both.
The logistics, first
There are caravan parks in town with power sites and dump points, and there is enough room to get a rig in and out without the reversing performance you get in some of the tighter towns. A lot of the sites take pets, so the dog does not have to stay home.
Parking in town is generous by country standards. You can leave a van somewhere sensible and walk the main part of town in an afternoon.
The river, which is the reason to stay
The Angas River runs right through the middle of town and the parks along it are the best thing about the place. Chairs under a tree, a barbecue, and a couple of hours doing nothing. The Soldiers Memorial Gardens is the spot most people end up in, and there is plenty of grass and shade.
History you can walk through
The heritage buildings along High Street are still in use rather than roped off, which is what makes it interesting. Antique stores, galleries and cafes occupy them, so you can wander for an hour and come out with something you did not plan on buying.
The Strathalbyn Museum is worth the time if you like knowing why a town ended up the way it did.
Fishing, driving and walking
There are fishing spots within easy reach for anybody who has gear in the van, and the drives around the Fleurieu are the sort you take slowly with the windows down. Walking and cycling trails run along the river, from a flat riverside stroll to something with a bit more in it.
With kids in tow
Playgrounds and open parks, and enough cafes and pubs doing a decent feed that you are not hunting for somewhere at 1pm. A riverside picnic is the easy option and the gardens have the room for it.
When to come
Spring puts colour through the gardens, summer is for the river and long evenings, autumn turns the whole place gold, and winter is cafes and a fire. It works in all four, which is not true of everywhere.
Before you head off again, sort these out
We are the hardware store on Milnes Road and this is the part of town that matters to a traveller.
- Gas. Refills on 9kg and under, and Swap-and-Go on 4kg and 9kg. Have a look at the LPG supply page, or ask Cassie, which will answer most gas questions without you having to ring.
- Drinking water. The Mt Lofty water exchange is here. Drop the empty, take a full one.
- Ice. Bagged ice, for the esky.
- Camping, fishing and 12V gear. Torches, lamps, chairs, cooking gear, Anderson plugs and leads, rods, tackle and frozen bait. It is in camping and fishing and automotive.
Shop related products
- Hard Unit 280lm LED Camping Lamp, USB charge. Charges off the same bank as everything else, so no separate batteries to carry.
- Hard Unit Remote Control Camping Light. For turning the awning light off without getting up.
- Voltflow Anderson Style Connector 50A. The fitting everybody needs a spare of eventually.
- Neptune Tackle Barrel Swivel Size 4. If the rods are coming out while you are here.
Did you know we also keep a proper tackle section and a freezer of frozen bait in store, including pilchards, cockles, prawns, squid, whitebait and blood worms, plus berley, rigs, sinkers and squid jigs. None of that is on the website, so give us a ring on (08) 8536 4333 to check what is in the freezer.
We are open 7 days, Mon to Fri 7:30am to 5pm, Sat 8:30am to 4pm and Sun 9am to 2pm, at Building 2, 34-52 Milnes Rd.
Cheers,
Candeece
I blog about Strathalbyn and the surrounding area and my goal is to highlight all the organisations and events that make our area great.
Follow Our Strathalbyn on Facebook: Our Strathalbyn
Follow our Facebook page: Strathalbyn H Hardware
