Are you ready to join us on Adelady’s biggest South Australian journey ever?
In 2021, road trips are where it’s at and we travelled over 1,000km to find the best food and wine, accommodation and experiences we could on SA’s magnificent Eyre Peninsula!
From Whyalla to Elliston to Kimba to Cummins to Coffin Bay to Wallaroo to Port Gibbon and finishing up in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula is one of SA’s top nature-based holiday destinations. So, let’s crack open this oyster and show you where we went and what we did so you can copy our itinerary and try it with your own fam-bam.
Whyalla
Located on Eyre Peninsula’s Spencer Gulf, Whyalla is a mix of beautiful beaches, amazing sea life, small city charm and industrial vibes. So, what’s the game plan once you’re there?
Check out the foreshore! We arrived just in time for sunrise and boy-oh-boy, was it spectacular. We even had a show from the local dolphin who seemed very excited to see us.
Whyalla is famous for its cuttlefish — so much so that TV programs from all over the world, including David Attenborough’s team, has filmed there!While you’re exploring the foreshore, check out the Mosaic cuttlefish. It was designed and created by locals and it’s a big draw card to the Whyalla jetty.
If you have time and love to explore, you can take a boat charter out to get up close and personal with the Whyalla wildlife! If you’re more extreme and love to dive, the local dive shop in the main street is the place to go to get kitted up with all the gear!
While in Whyalla, we can’t let you pass through without visiting a delicious Adelady-style cafe. Whisk Away is as cute-as-a-button, and with a gorgeous garden area out the back, it’s super welcoming for parents with prams and small kids.
To find out more exciting things to see and do in Whyalla, head to their website.
Kimba
You’re officially at the halfway mark across Australia between Sydney and Perth, in this rockin’ town called Kimba! Kimba doesn’t have a gorgeous ocean or a stunning mountain range or anything naturally speccy. So, the wonderful people of Kimba make their own super creative tourist attractions — and it has very quickly became one of my fave spots to visit on the Eyre Peninsula.
Where are the must-see hotspots?
The Silo Art on Railway Terrace is absolutely beautiful. Kimba is one of the biggest producers of wheat in SA and the mural tells the story of the rich agricultural history of this farming town.
It’s also the home of an iconic BIG THING… the Big Galah on the Eyre Highway! I mean, you can’t not have a selfie with the Big Galah, right?
If you’re after a great parmy and a cocktail or beer, The Kimba Gateway Hotel is highly recommended by locals. And believe me, we chowed down on some of the best chicken parmies we’ve ever had.
While passing through Kimba, you must stop off at Workshop 26 — a creative hub where locals can sell their work. We’re talking soaps, homewares, vintage furniture, food and pottery, just to name a few! I think Adelaide CBD needs to take a leaf out of Kimba’s book with this absolute gem. You can grab a coffee and peruse the amazing wares in this super funky workshop and if you’re creatively inclined, well, why not rent a space!
To suss out Kimba in more detail, head over here.
Cummins
It’s no wonder people keep cummin’ back, time and time again! I mean, Cummins is your traditional regional farming town, with a good old bakery to help you refuel as you explore. But there’s one massive drawcard and it’s a 10/10 from us! Korinya Farm Gate is a family owned and run paddock-to-plate experience. From the second you arrive, you feel at home and ready to roll up your sleeves to make cheese with fresh milk, directly from their own cows! This husband and wife team have opened up their own farm for tours, workshops and even events. You always end your experience with a platter of whatever you’ve been busy making that day. It’s fabulous!
To find out more about things to see and do in Cummins, head over here.
Coffin Bay
On the Western side of the Southern tip of the Eyre Peninsula, you’ll find this coastal beauty. Coffin Bay is naturally exquisite and still small enough that you’ll feel world’s away from city life. It’s famous for oysters and you cannot visit without tasting one, fresh from the ocean.
So, where does one try fresh oysters?
1802 Oyster Bar is located on the esplanade and has a super trendy vibe, with alfresco dining looking out over the bay, as well as super modern decor inside. The best time to go is sunset. There’s nothing quite like a Coffin Bay sunset, with a drink in one hand and an oyster in the other. Although oysters are in their name, there are plenty of other less fishy things on the menu, as well as a great range of tasty cocktails.
Oyster Farm Tours at Oyster HQ is run by a husband and wife team, and from personal experience, this is a must-do experience when in Coffins. Picture this — it’s 8am, the sun has just risen over the gorgeous bay and there’s not a hint of wind around. I’ve slipped into sexy overalls and am making my way out to the oyster bar that sits 100m or so out in the ocean. There, I’m shucking Coffin Bay oysters direct from the sea and sipping on SA bubbles. I still pinch myself about this experience — it was truly magical!
To start planning your next Coffin Bay adventure , head over here.
Port Lincoln
Port Lincoln is super fun with so many things to do, places to shop, and experiences to be had. However, I’m going to cut straight to the chase and tell you about one particular place you must visit while in this gorgeous town.
Peter Teakle Wines’ cellar door and The Line & Label Restaurant. Let’s start with the food — Ocean Jacket Snouts, pickled chilli, typhoon garlic, sriracha? What about fried Spencer Gulf King Prawns, squid ink, wasabi and Katsuobushi, coupled with roasted corn, brown butter, tamarind and hazelnut? The dining experience is top-notch at The Line & Label and it’s no wonder people fly in from all over Australia to feast on their menu.
The winery has also recently been made extra special with the addition of a very speccy cellar door! Inside this architectural work of art, you can try their gorgeous wines and enjoy a tasting plate, all while overlooking rolling vineyards. You can also spot the female winemaker doing her thing through the glass viewing platform. That’s an experience in itself!
To find out more exciting things to do in Port Lincoln, head to their website.
Elliston
169 km north-west of Port Lincoln, and 641 km west of Adelaide, you’ll beautiful Elliston and its number one draw card is nature! There are natural wonders everywhere you look. From the Woolshed Caves, with sensational rock formations, and the Elliston sculpture trail along the coastline to Locks Well Beach and everything in between, it’s all postcard-worthy! Mind your step at Locks Well though. You will have to walk 283 steps down to the beach, but believe me, it’s worth it! This area is famous for salmon and every year they run a competition and the person who catches the heaviest salmon wins a large wad of cash!
To find out more exciting things to do in Elliston head to their website.
Easy Access!
Making it super-duper easy for Adeladies to visit the Eyre Peninsula, the Spencer Gulf Searoad offers comfy vehicle and passenger ferry transfers across the Spencer Gulf, between Wallaroo on the Yorke Peninsula and Lucky Bay (near Cowell) on the Eyre Peninsula. The area is relatively protected so you can sit back and enjoy the experience either up on the top deck or on ground level where you can watch TV and grab a coffee and a bite to eat.
Port Gibbon + Cowell
With kilometres of stunning coastline to explore, uninterrupted beachfront views and wild sunsets, Eco Eyre Port Gibbon EcoPods are the perfect place to base yourself in the region. Who needs a pool when you’re meters from the ocean in your luxurious EcoPod? The beaches are uncrowded, the oysters are a-plenty and your’e only a short drive away from Cowell’s Main Street so you can grab everything you need for the perfect platter, then sit back on your deck and enjoy the serenity.
To get more info about things to see and do in one of SA’s best fishing destinations (Cowell), jump over here.
