The Granites

Granite on an endless beach

About 20 kilometres north of Kingston SE, a cluster of pink-grey granite boulders rises out of the sand and surf of the great Coorong ocean beach. They are the only rock outcrop along roughly 180 kilometres of coast running south from the Murray Mouth, which makes them both a geological curiosity and an unmistakable landmark on this otherwise unbroken sweep of sand and southern lagoon country.

Smoothed by thousands of years of waves, the boulders are at their best in low light. Sunset turns the wet granite pink and gold, and photographers regularly make the short detour off the Princes Highway just for that hour. At low tide kids can scramble over the lower rocks while the swell breaks beyond.

A signposted turn-off leads to a car park and a viewing area above the beach. There are no facilities here, so bring water and take rubbish with you. The beach itself is a popular four-wheel-driving run; if you drive on, check tide times first and stick to the firm sand. The Granites also make a natural first or last stop on the run between Kingston SE and the Coorong.