Eyre Peninsula accommodation from AU$90

History

The Eyre Peninsula has been home to Aboriginal people for thousands of years, and the region has a number of traditional languages. Dutchman Pieter Nuyts was the first European to discover the area in 1627, but it was Matthew Flinders who spent nearly three months charting the coast in 1802. In the process, eight members of his crew drowned at Memory Cove. The region was named after Edward John Eyre, the first explorer to make the journey from Adelaide to Albany, along with his Aboriginal friend Wylie.

Things to do

Fancy a swim? Maybe you’d like some sea lions with that? Take a half-day tour to Seal Cove to meet these creatures in their natural habitat. If the seals are too cute for you, jump into a cage and come face to face with Great White sharks. The cage is toughened, but are you tough enough to brave it?

Surf at west coast beaches like Venus Bay, or make the trek to somewhere a bit more remote like Cactus Beach and Fowlers Bay for a quieter surfing experience. Venus Bay and Locks Well are also excellent spots to fish at.

Hit Port Lincoln for seafood restaurants, art galleries and museums, or wineries. Visit Whyalla and take a tour of the former mine at Iron Knob, and check out Elliston’s heritage-listed jetty and the impressive ocean views and sculptures from Clifftop Drive.

Coffin Bay National Park has beaches that are only accessible by 4WD, large sand dunes and coastal cliffs. Gawler Ranges National Park is a different experience: red dirt, rocky gorges, gullies, and rock formations like Organ Pipes, which formed from volcanic activity over 1500 million years ago. Use Ceduna as the last major stop on your journey west to The Nullabor, an almost treeless area of dusty, arid country.

Dining

The Southern hemisphere’s largest fishing fleet is based on the Eyre Peninsula, and they’re serious about seafood. There are fish and chip shops with top quality whiting, fancy restaurants with fresh oysters paired with wine and ocean views, and fisherman’s markets where you can get your goods fresh.

Getting here

Getting to the Eyre Peninsula is easy. Just book a flight to Port Lincoln to go with your Eyre Peninsula accommodation. And remember your swimmers. Image of Great Australian Bight, Eyre Peninsula, SA. Courtesy of South Australian Tourism Commission.