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Calling Hallett Cove Beach a beach is rather a misnomer--it's not really a beach with a sandy shore and blue sea. The shore is rocky and stony and then there's the sea, and the water has strong rips and currents, so it's not advised as a good place to swim for those who aren't strong swimmers. The Boatshed Cafe overlooks it and it is a pretty view, and the cafe is also tucked up against the Hallett Cove conservation park, which, for hikers, has a lot of hiking trails featuring some amazing sites and geological formations, and also evidence of an Australian ice age from 280 million years ago. One such formation of interest is the Sugarloaf (top image). The park itself extends from Hallett Cove Beach through Hallett Cove (also not a beach or a cove, simply a series of sheer cliff faces that drop down to more rock and sea), and finally ends at Marino Rocks, which is also not a beach but has a more accurate name, given that it is also stones, rocks and sea.
In any event, hiking around the park was not the reason myself and B were in Hallett Cove Beach. We were there to have lunch at the Boatshed Cafe, whose online menu looked very promising. It was a long drive, given that Hallett Cove Beach is a good distance from Adelaide city, but it was a nice day and we made good time. [Google Map Link]
The cafe is obviously VERY popular with the locals as it was stuffed to the gills with people enjoying their lunch. For those seated outside with their dogs, there is a doggy menu called the Little Paws Menu, comprising not just puppycinos but also Puppy Porridge (warm oats, blueberries, honey, carob, lactose free milk), Oscar's Bolognese (lean beef mince, carrots, peas, pumpkin, pasta in a savoury broth), Snacks (weekly doggie treats), or Doggy Friendly Birthday Cake. According to their instagram, all menu items have been tested by the owners dog, Oscar.
The summer menu was what had caught my eye and in the end, I had the squid salad with chips on the side. It was a very generous serving and absolutely delicious. I couldn't finish the chips though, I was just so full! B had the fish and chips and she too couldn't finish her meal as it was so generous in serving size. We both agreed that this was definitely one to return to, and I'm acturally curious what their winter menu would be like.
Images from Restaurant Guru
Address: 1a Heron Way, Hallett Cove South Australia 5158, Australia
Hours: Cafe Open 7 days 8:00am to 5:00pm
***
Afterwards, we went to look at two op shops, the first being the Salvation Army in Morphett Vale. This is a good size op shop with plenty to go through, although some of the jewellry is extremely expensive. Clothes are good quality and prices, bric a brac and homewears are as well. There's not a lot in the way of books, unfortunately, but the staff are generally friendly and will let you look at things that are in the glass cabinets (such as the expensive jewellry). You can also buy online from the Salvos and from their eBay store.
Address: 140 Sherriffs Road
Morphett Vale SA 5162
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm
Sat 9am-5pm
Next is the Transit Lounge op shop, which is basically on the same stretch of road, but across a major stretch of highway and has a name change. Clear as mud in a beer bottle? Good! :) I liked this one, as there was a lot of quirky and interesting things in it, and it was housed in a, well, house. Prices are very good, variety is incredible, and I was very impressed. Both B and I did very well here, with a mixture of homewares for the both of us, children's clothes for B's grandnieces-and-nephews, and a couple of very vintage books for me. There were also plants outside the back of the property, but I didn't want to risk them falling over in the car during the long road home. (As it is a long road back.) If you're in the area though, I highly recommend this one.
Address: 104 Pimpala Rd, Morphett Vale, SA, Australia, South Australia
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm
In any event, hiking around the park was not the reason myself and B were in Hallett Cove Beach. We were there to have lunch at the Boatshed Cafe, whose online menu looked very promising. It was a long drive, given that Hallett Cove Beach is a good distance from Adelaide city, but it was a nice day and we made good time. [Google Map Link]
The cafe is obviously VERY popular with the locals as it was stuffed to the gills with people enjoying their lunch. For those seated outside with their dogs, there is a doggy menu called the Little Paws Menu, comprising not just puppycinos but also Puppy Porridge (warm oats, blueberries, honey, carob, lactose free milk), Oscar's Bolognese (lean beef mince, carrots, peas, pumpkin, pasta in a savoury broth), Snacks (weekly doggie treats), or Doggy Friendly Birthday Cake. According to their instagram, all menu items have been tested by the owners dog, Oscar.
The summer menu was what had caught my eye and in the end, I had the squid salad with chips on the side. It was a very generous serving and absolutely delicious. I couldn't finish the chips though, I was just so full! B had the fish and chips and she too couldn't finish her meal as it was so generous in serving size. We both agreed that this was definitely one to return to, and I'm acturally curious what their winter menu would be like.
Images from Restaurant Guru Address: 1a Heron Way, Hallett Cove South Australia 5158, Australia
Hours: Cafe Open 7 days 8:00am to 5:00pm
***
Afterwards, we went to look at two op shops, the first being the Salvation Army in Morphett Vale. This is a good size op shop with plenty to go through, although some of the jewellry is extremely expensive. Clothes are good quality and prices, bric a brac and homewears are as well. There's not a lot in the way of books, unfortunately, but the staff are generally friendly and will let you look at things that are in the glass cabinets (such as the expensive jewellry). You can also buy online from the Salvos and from their eBay store.
Address: 140 Sherriffs Road
Morphett Vale SA 5162
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm
Sat 9am-5pm
Next is the Transit Lounge op shop, which is basically on the same stretch of road, but across a major stretch of highway and has a name change. Clear as mud in a beer bottle? Good! :) I liked this one, as there was a lot of quirky and interesting things in it, and it was housed in a, well, house. Prices are very good, variety is incredible, and I was very impressed. Both B and I did very well here, with a mixture of homewares for the both of us, children's clothes for B's grandnieces-and-nephews, and a couple of very vintage books for me. There were also plants outside the back of the property, but I didn't want to risk them falling over in the car during the long road home. (As it is a long road back.) If you're in the area though, I highly recommend this one.
Address: 104 Pimpala Rd, Morphett Vale, SA, Australia, South Australia
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm
