Visiting Tennyson Dunes in South Australia

Adventuring Akiva crawling through the sand at Tennyson Dunes, South Australia

Last week we went to Tennyson Dunes in South Australia.  Just a half an hour away from Adelaide, it is the last remaining example of pristine dunes on the Adelaide coast.  Most of the dunes that were originally there have been destroyed by buildings, which I think is quite sad.  It is a unique ecosystem that is pretty much gone now because humans wanted to have nice views of the ocean from their fancy homes.  Now, I would love to have such a view of the ocean – but I’d like to have the dunes in front of it, the way G-d made it!

Rabbi Ben playing with Akiva at Tennyson Dunes, Adelaide, South Australia

Anyway, this was a beautiful place to visit.  The dunes are really well preserved, although apparently the people who support it have had to plant spiky plants at the edges of the dunes to keep people out of them.  It meant we had to watch Akiva very carefully as he went adventuring!  But the dunes were really beautiful.

Because you have to hike through the dunes to get to the ocean, the beach is not very highly trafficked.  While we were there, we saw one or two locals walking their dogs and one woman walking the paths through the dunes.  The beach was practically deserted!  It was wonderful to have the place to ourselves.

Unfortunately, it got quite windy and we were not able to enjoy it properly due to the blowing sand.  This is a hazard with any beach on a windy day.  But the beach by the Tennyson Dunes was spectacular and I really look forward to visiting it again some day and getting a chance to take a longer wander through the dunes.  If you’re in South Adelaide, check it out!

The pristine beach and dunes at Tennyson Dunes, Adelaide, South Australia, with not a person in sight!