Region: Eyre Peninsula

Point Labatt

With a landscape that varies from harsh semi-desert in the north to pretty seaside towns on the rugged west coast and southern parts, Eyre Peninsula offers visitors the opportunity to savour the Australian outback without leaving good paved roads, or having to travel too far away from the comforts of civilisation.

The main attractions for visitors to the peninsula are not just the beaches, fishing and watersports of the southern reaches of the peninsula that have turned that area into a popular recreational destination for South Australians, but also the variety of scenic coastal vistas of the whole peninsula which are little known and appreciated outside of South Australia.

The peninsula boasts some 1600 km of spectacular coastline, much of it on the Great Australian Bight and open to the Southern Ocean. The scenery here changes dramatically as one travels south, from quiet beaches in the north, to stark, wind and wave-eroded red cliffs near Streaky Bay to the dramatic crevasses of the peninsula's tip where the Southern Ocean pounds the headlands.

Lincoln Highway, which follows the shoreline of the peninsula, is one of Australia's quieter highways as it is not a through road to anywhere, therefore travellers often have the road - and the scenery - all to themselves. If you are seeking to escape the crowds associated with Australia's more popular and well known tourist destinations, and to drive a road less-travelled, this is the place for you.

Along the coast are found many species of marine birds including White-bellied Sea Eagles, five species of Cormorants, Rock Parrots and Ospreys. Pied and Sooty Oyster Catchers and Silver and Pacific Gulls are also frequently seen. Other species include red-capped Dotterels and the enndangered Hooded Plover.

Off shore the many islands have colonies of sea-lions, seals and penguins, while the peninsula itself is home to kangaroos, emus, the Hairy nosed Wombat and Euros. In the Gawler Ranges the magnificent Wedge Tailed Eagle can be seen soaring majestically around the volcanic peaks. The flora of the peninsula includes colourful and attractive Sturt Desert Pea, which is the state floral emblem.

Ucontitchie Hill

How To Get There

Tumby Bay jetty

Access by road is via Port Augusta around the top of Spencer Gulf, but i It is also possible to fly to Port Lincoln or Whyalla by Regional Express and hire a car there.

By nature of the small size of the towns and the distances between them, there is no public transport to and from the region, therefore access must be either by car or an organised tour through the region. By road, travel north from Adelaide to Port Augusta (306 km) at the head of Spencer Gulf. Travel west along Eyre Highway for a short distance before taking Lincoln Highway south. The highway follows the shoreline of the peninsula south to Port Lincoln (646 km from Adealide) then north-west all the way to Ceduna.

Venus Bay

Best Time To Go

Port Lincoln

The southern tip of the peninsula around Port Lincoln is an all year destination. Due to the insulating effect of the surrounding ocean waters, it experiences a delightful Mediterranean climate, which is warmer than Adelaide in winter and cooler than Adelaide during the hot summer months. Rain falls mainly during the winter months, the summers are warm, the winters mild, and the weather balmy during autumn and spring. The climate becomes more extreme the further north up the peninsula you travel.

Summer in the north can be quite dry and hot, and night time temperatures in winter quite chilly. Thus if you intend touring the whole peninsula, avoid the summer months (December-February) and be aware that nights can be cold in the north from June to August. The localities of Port Lincoln and Coffin Bay can be quite busy with South Australian holidaymakers during school holiday times, particularly Christmas, January and Easter.



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