Goolwa is by far the biggest town on the Lower Lakes and has every possible boating need. There is a big supermarket and plenty of bakeries and restaurants. There are numerous land based tourist attractions including train rides, paddle steamer rides, light aircraft and helicopter rides. The surrounding district has numerous wineries to visit and of course Goolwa is also a seaside town as well as a river port.

 Many sailing and motor vessels both old and new are permanently moored in the numerous marinas on the river at Goolwa.

 There are free public launching ramps and the yacht club also has a ramp available to visiting yacht club members.

 There is a new (2011) free public floating marina next to the town wharf. This is available for short stays including overnight. This area was dredged to channel depth prior to construction.

 There is also a pump out station for black-water next to the public marina.

 The yacht club also has some short stay berths which are available with prior arrangement with the club manager to visiting yacht club members.

 The club also has first class toilets, showers and kitchen facilities available to members and visiting yacht club members. There is also a bar open at various times, but Friday nights are a good time to visit as there are also cheap meals and an open fire in winter.

 All the navigable water is marked by channel markers and boats are advised to not venture too far outside the channels unless they are of shallow draft or have their centre-boards partially to fully raised. A little local knowledge goes a long way as there are some exceptionally shallow areas and some virtually at channel depth.

 From the yacht club in a nice breeze it is about a half hour sail down to the barrage, and also about a half hour sail upstream to the end of the town at Laffin Point.

 The Marina Hindmarsh Island is also worth a visit while boating around Goolwa and there is a restaurant just inside the marina entrance.