Top five perfectly peaceful piers

Who knows, you might want to throw in a line yourself or just make a beeline to the nearest fish and chip shop. Feel like a drive? Go find one of these.

You can’t drive much further than the town of Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula without getting your tyres wet, but to go that little bit further into the ocean try a peaceful stroll on the 250 metre-long jetty. With Bass Strait on one side and Westernport Bay on the other it’s a pleasant place to be, especially in summer when the town can get busy. It’s a good spot to fish for squid or as an added bonus, there are mussels for sale either to take home or eat cooked on the spot.

Hervey Bay, the gateway to Fraser Island, is famous for its whale watching but on a smaller scale the whiting that inhabit the sandy-floored sea are right up there as well. But how to catch them without a boat? That’s where the Urangan Pier comes in because at about one kilometre long you can actually walk a fair way out to sea. For non-fishing types there’s a great view back to town and the chance of seeing dolphins and other marine life too.

Not Australia’s longest pier and more a timber platform, Tathra Wharf is nevertheless one of Australia’s more historic. Built in the early 1860s, it has since been remodelled and extended but still clings to the red-hued rocks on this pretty south-coast inlet. There’s a museum of local history on the landward side and it’s a great place to watch whales during the migratory season, and seals often pop in to visit.

Now here’s a town that knows how to celebrate having a magnificent jetty. Busselton’s is huge – some 1.7km long but don’t worry, if you’re not up for the walk there’s a tourist train that can take you to its end. There’s also an underwater observatory from which to eyeball some fish, or you can dine on their cousins in Australia’s only underwater restaurant. Check out the museum, maybe go for a helmeted underwater stroll (air hose included) or just walk the walk. Great fun for all the family.

If you’re in Adelaide and feel like a swim with a difference head down the Fleurieu Peninsula to Rapid Bay. The recently reconstructed public jetty is a haven for some pretty wonderful sea life so take a mask and snorkel, walk the 240 metres to the steps at the end and pop into the clear waters. You might see the elusive leafy seadragon, a blue-ringed octopus (don’t touch!) or even a multi-hued giant Australian cuttlefish. Other than that, it’s a lovely area with tall cliffs leading down to the sea.

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