Over 50’s 4WD Group SA Clayton Bay Capers 3 – 6 September 2026
Our Capers Group met at Clayton Bay Riverside Holiday Park on Thursday for happy hour, BBQ tea and conversation in the large, impressive camp kitchen.
Participants were Lesley & Wayne S, Raelene & Rodney, Chris & Barry T, Pat & Chris C, Cecilia & Kent M, Edith & Stuart S, with leaders Julia and Bruno. Bob Both, Lesley Strachan and Brenda & Les B joined us for lunch on Friday and Brenda & Les returned for Saturday’s outing.
Friday we enjoyed a relaxing lunch at “The Local Clayton Bay” followed by a scenic drive through lush pastures to Point Sturt. Cecilia & Pat explored the Point’s cliff top, looking across Lake Alexandrina. That evening we congregated in the cosy camp kitchen for happy hour, dinner, a quiz about body parts and rummikub.
Saturday, we visited Rusticana Wines for morning coffee, a wine and horseradish tasting. Rodney & Chris inspected the cement mixer which crushes the horseradish.
Onto Bleasdale’s winery & museum, learning about the Potts family &. historic redgum grape press.
tions
Leaving Bleasdale's, our group checked out a popular nearby free camp spot, Alfred Potts Reserve.
Minutes later we settled in at Bremerton Wines for our alfresco gourmet lunch in windy conditions.
However, pizzas, beef and wine pies, ploughman's lunches, affogatos and sticky date puddings sustained us.
Inside dining was fully booked.
Later, we arrived at Alfred Langhorne Park amid temporary fencing, where some of us tested our pétanque skills. A major walking/bike trail linking Bremerton and Bleasdale wineries is about to start.
Onto Lake Breeze Wines and function venue where some of us sampled their award winning wines.
Back at Clayton Bay we vacated the camp kitchen for the group of 33 lady campers who held a special celebration. That evening we played board games in our vans.
Sunday, the weather was cool and calm for our 12km trip to Milang. We arrived for a morning tea break and boardwalk to the foreshore jetty and unique shacks Half the jetty was in disrepair & closed, but that didn’t deter a few fisher people. We were intrigued by the Sculpture Trail’s,” Run Like the Wind”. Unfortunately, the caravan park is not up to the Clayton Bay Park standard.
From Milang we travelled a 43 km round trip to Tolderol Game Reserve. The water level of the 20 wetland ponds is regularly checked and this international Ramsar site is a haven for migratory birds and mosquitos! We drove along numerous levee tracks, following the paper maps provided at the entrance. Sadly, we couldn’t find the elusive bird hide!
The Milang Lakeside Butter Factory took several years to be renovated by volunteers and now caters for visitors’ Friday night pizza, Saturday & Sunday for breaky, lunch and wine tasting. We were entertained by a live musical duo while enjoying a Sunday roast cooked by locals. Photos, crafts & memorabilia decorate the two large dining spaces and an impressive library is tucked away in a side room. A great place to relax!
We followed the scenic bitumen road along Lake Alexandrina back to Clayton Bay and noticed the many new homes in the township and a well-maintained community centre.
Across the bay from the caravan park is Old Clayton and here rests the 2m long yabby from the former “Yabby City Restaurant” which operated from 1974-2009.
Sunday evening Bruno stoked the fire and we chatted during happy hour and our meals. Raelene won the quiz about the history, geography, and points of interest around Clayton Bay.
Monday morning we said our goodbyes after an enjoyable Clayton Bay Capers.
Report by Julia G and some photos contributed by group members.
