Best of Both in South Australia
A medley of diverse regions, South Australia has something for everyone; from the incredible wildlife haven of Kangaroo Island, to the vibrant city of Adelaide and the famous vineyards of the Barossa.
But intrepid adventurers that we are, we’ve discovered the lesser known Eyre Peninsula bordering the Gawler Ranges an area that offers both coastal living and Outback adventure, but without the crowds.
Eyre Peninsula
With its ruggedly beautiful coastline covering more than 2000 kilometres, the Eyre Peninsula ensures you get as much space to yourself as you need. Explore the area and you'll see sheltered coves and bays that are perfect for fishing, secluded beaches, and stunning cliff faces that provide the best vantage point for spotting giant whales as they undertake their annual migration through the Southern Ocean.
The coastal lifestyle is never more evident than in the amazing range of marine activities and the chances to interact with some of the worlds most beautiful, but also the strangest, sea creatures. One of the most unforgettable experiences is swimming with sea lions and dolphins at Baird Bay in their naturally wild state. As for the strange, you can even swim with farmed Bluefin tuna at Boston Bay, or snorkel among hundreds and thousands of Australian giant cuttlefish, watching these chameleons of the sea change colour and texture as they undertake their courtship displays in their annual spawning grounds just off Whyalla. For those who’d rather observe, at Head of Bight each May to October you’ll be able to watch over 100 Southern Right Whales as they migrate from the Antarctic to the warmer waters of South Australia.
Home to the unique Seafood and Aquaculture Trail, Eyre Peninsula is renowned for producing 60% of South Australia’s mouth-watering seafood. The trail guides you around a number of local seafood businesses, shows you southern Bluefin tuna that can be worth as much as $5000 AUD a fish, and gives you the chance to sample oysters fresh from the farm gate. With locally caught seafood including prawns, rock lobster, abalone and King George whiting featured on menus across the region, together with locally produced wine from award-winning Boston Bay Winery, you can look forward to a gastronomic treat.
Gawler Ranges
Venture up the northern border of the Eyre Peninsula, beyond ancient caves and the start of the vast, treeless Nullabor Plain, and you’ll reach the spectacular Gawler Ranges.
As remarkable for its vast populations of kangaroos, Wedge-Tailed eagles and wombats, as for its stunning 1500 million year old volcanic scenery, the Gawler Ranges National Park is one of the most beautiful landscapes in South Australia.
The dramatic variations of habitat and the Parks location between the mallee country and the drier arid area to the north, mean wildlife from both zones can be found here. In fact, surveys record over 400 different native plants and animals, with 21 rare and threatened species including the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby, Central Long-eared Bat, Sandhill Dunnart, Malleefowl, Major Mitchells Cockatoo, Honey Myrtle, Woolly Spinifex, and the locally endemic Crimson Mallee.
In spring the desert comes alive with a carpet of wildflowers covering the landscape and is home to over one hundred species of birds with colours that are something to be seen! The Park also contains several sites of Aboriginal heritage significance, which are mainly archaeological and burial sites from the Wirangu and Parnkalla (or Pankala) peoples who once occupied the Gawler Ranges.
Sea Lion & Outback Experience
Very few regions offer both relaxed coastal lifestyle and adventurous Outback experiences in such close proximity, making the Eyre Peninsula perfect for a self-drive or specialist tour holiday.
Gawler Ranges Safaris are run by a passionate team of Aussies who have lived in the area all their lives. Their Sea Lion and Outback Experience travels from the Outback to the coast over four days, covering diverse terrain that includes age-old volcanic landscape with gorges and rocky outcrops, and changes from arid to semi desert and back. Once you reach the coast, youll experience the thrill of swimming with Australian sea lions and dolphins in Baird Bay. Each Safari caters for two to six people and accommodation is either at Kangaluna Camp in luxury tents with private bathrooms, or at a wild camp which gives you the freedom to select a spot, set up your swag and gaze at the stars all night long. Getting to Eyre Peninsula
Many international airlines offer direct flights to Adelaide, including Qantas, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. From Adelaide, you can pick up a hire car and head north to meet the ferry between Wallaroo on Yorke Peninsula and Lucky Bay on Eyre Peninsula. Or you can take a daily 50-minute flight to Port Lincoln from Adelaide.
