With more than 700 kilometres of coastline and a host of sunny seaside towns, the Yorke Peninsula is much-loved by local South Australians. And many of its best beaches are just 90 minutes north of Adelaide. Offering a relaxed pace of life the region also offers fantastic fishing spots, heritage sites, great restaurants, pubs and accommodation. Hike through tranquil coastal mallee in the 9,200-hectare Innes National Park, keeping a lookout for emus, kangaroos, more than 90 species of birds and Southern Right Whales in winter. The historic ruins of Inneston village offer an intriguing insight into the area's harsh days of gypsum mining, while the Investigator Strait Maritime Heritage Trail reveals 26 shipwrecks lying just off the rocky coast. Journey through time in the Copper Coast towns of Kadina, Wallaroo and Moonta, where Australia's richest colonial copper mines operated in the late 1800s. Ride on the Moonta Mines Railway (part of the extensive Moonta Mines State Heritage Area); dress up as a miner at the Wheal Hughes Copper Mine; and count the coins at the Banking & Currency Museum. Catch your fill of King George whiting, dive for scallops just off the beach and rake the shallows for blue swimmer crabs. The Yorke Peninsula is dotted with historic jetties and pristine surf beaches perfect for snaring the catch of the day, from snapper, garfish and salmon to tommy ruffs, mullet, crabs and squid. And boaties should check out the multi-million-dollar marina developments at Port Vincent and Wallaroo. Go behind the scenes of key and quirky rural enterprises on the Yorke Peninsula Home Grown Trail, a self-drive guide to everything from olives and oysters to ostriches. Grab a copy of the Yorke Peninsula Secrets Visitor Guide before strolling through fragrant lavender fields, tasting the region's first wines, learning the history of hand-made papers and cuddling a baby alpaca. Retreat to your very own island for the weekend. The Troubridge Island lighthouse was commissioned in 1856 after a series of shipwrecks off the Yorke Peninsula coast near Edithburgh. Today the island is a beacon for heaps of migratory birds and fairy penguins, and has clean sandy beaches for swimming and snorkelling. Eat the freshest seafood and drink the coldest beer at great country pubs, cafes and restaurants (some even come with free sea views). There's gourmet wood-fired pizzas at Marion Bay Tavern; monster Kahuna burgers at Kadina's Kahuna Café; giant seafood platters at Skinners Jetty Café at Wallaroo; and divine balcony dining at Faversham's Restaurant in Edithburgh. Surf the breaks of Chinaman's and Pondalowie Bay down at the base of the peninsula. Walk along pretty trails in Edithburgh, Port Vincent, Stansbury, Barkers Rocks and Port Victoria. Search for big-bellied seahorses and Port Jackson sharks on a dive just off Edithburgh Jetty. Or grab a waterproof map marking a scuba diving trail to eight shipwrecks around Wardang Island off Port Victoria. Visit in October for the Yorke's surfing classic, held annually at Innes National Park. |
Visitor
Information
Centres
Harvest Corner Visitor Information & Craft Centre
29 Main Street, Minlaton
Telephone +61 8 8853 2600
The Farm Shed Museum and Tourism Centre
50 Moonta Road, Kadina
Telephone freecall 1800 654 991 (Australia)
Moonta Tourist Office
Moonta Railway Station, Blanche Terrace, Moonta
Telephone +61 8 8825 1891 |
