Fleurieu Fresh
There has never been a better time to wine, dine, shop or stay on the Fleurieu. Over the past fifteen years the region has transformed from a handful of restaurants and just a smattering of cafes, to a fully-fledged foodie destination, with a smorgasbord of eateries, coffee, craft beer and distilleries to accompany its already world-renowned wineries. In the past year alone, FLM has counted close to thirty new businesses (including accommodation and retail) opening on the Fleurieu, with plenty more to come.
Onkaparinga Council’s latest visitor figures show spending – from tourists and locals alike – has almost doubled in the past four years, and increased by thirty per cent from 2015 to 2017 (from $160 million to $210 million). And the outlook is even brighter with SA Government figures predicting visitor spending on the Fleurieu, worth $437 million in 2017, could rise to $683 million by December 2020.
Meet some of the passionate entrepreneurs behind the impressive statistics to find out what makes them tick and why they’ve broken new ground on the Fleurieu.
Food
Beaches Organic Café, Port Elliot
Born-and-raised Port Elliot local Rosie Beach says North Terrace’s newest eatery fell into her lap. Her family, which owns Indonesian furniture shop Dog Dragon, planned to expand next door for years, and when they finally pulled thework,’ she explains. ‘I’ve always had a strong interest in making healthy food. Combining them sounded like a dream.’ The cafe serves vegetarian food, including grilled haloumi burgers and house-made granola, with a focus on local produce, and the Troppo Architectsdesigned building – filled with Dog Dragon touches – is a delight.
