Coorong National Park
| Location | Coorong National Park |
| Start/End Point | 9696 Princes Highway, Coorong |
| Distance | 1.2 km return |
| Time | 20 minutes |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Activity | Walking |
| Region | Limestone Coast, Fleurieu Peninsula |
| Accommodation | Camping, mid-range and premium options — see Limestone Coast and Fleurieu Peninsula accommodation |
| Key Feature | Viewing area overlooking pelican breeding islands |
A Window onto One of Australia’s Great Pelican Colonies
The Coorong is one of Australia’s most important wetland systems — a long, narrow lagoon stretching over 130 kilometres behind the sand dunes of the Younghusband Peninsula, fed by the waters of the Murray River and the Southern Ocean. Within this vast ecosystem, certain islands serve as breeding grounds for one of the most iconic birds in the Australian landscape: the Australian pelican. The Jack Point Pelican Observatory Walk is a short, family-friendly trail that winds through the dunes to a viewing area overlooking these breeding islands, providing an intimate window into the lives of these extraordinary birds.
The Coorong National Park is a wetland of international importance, recognised under the Ramsar Convention for its ecological significance. The park supports an extraordinary diversity of waterbirds, fish, and aquatic invertebrates, and has been a vital resource for the Ngarrindjeri people for thousands of years. Visitors come for bird watching, boating, kayaking, fishing, camping, walking, and to experience the serenity of a landscape where water, sand, and sky merge at the horizon.
The Walk
The trail begins at the Princes Highway and follows a well-defined path through the coastal dune vegetation. The walk is short — just 1.2 kilometres return — and easy, making it accessible to walkers of all ages and abilities. The dune vegetation provides shelter from the coastal winds and creates an enclosed, intimate passage that opens dramatically at the viewing area, where the pelican breeding islands are spread before you.
Australian pelicans are among the largest flying birds in the world, with wingspans reaching up to 2.5 metres. Watching them on their breeding islands, you can observe the full range of pelican behaviour — courting displays, nest building, feeding of chicks, and the spectacular take-offs and landings that seem almost impossibly graceful for birds of such size. The viewing area is positioned at a distance that allows observation without disturbance, and binoculars will greatly enhance the experience.
Planning Your Walk
The Jack Point Pelican Observatory Walk is located along the Princes Highway within the Coorong National Park. The trail is free and accessible year-round, though breeding activity is seasonal — the best viewing occurs during the nesting period. Bring binoculars for the best experience. The walk is ideal for families and can be combined with the many other walking trails, kayaking routes, and fishing spots throughout the Coorong. Several tour operators offer guided experiences of the broader Coorong ecosystem.
The Jack Point Pelican Observatory Walk is one of those rare experiences where a twenty-minute walk delivers an encounter with nature that stays with you far longer. Standing at the viewing platform, watching pelicans tend their nests on islands in one of Australia’s great wetlands, you understand why the Coorong has been a place of gathering — for birds and for people — for thousands of years.
Where to Stay
Planning an overnight trip? See our Fleurieu Peninsula Accommodation Guide for the best places to stay near this trail.