Coastal Way Road Trip

Kick back in a holiday shack where the beach is literally on your doorstep. Feel the sand between your toes and the salty breeze in your hair. Don’t wonder about the one that got away – it’s waiting at the end of your line cast at one of Yorke Peninsula’s famous fishing spots. Road trip around the Yorke Peninsula's sandy playground and discover pristine beaches, secluded hideaways, quirky towns and sprawling national parks on the Coastal Way road trip.

Your first stop of the Coastal Way road trip is the small town of Ardrossan. The Ardrossan lookout provides a phenomenal birds eye view of the town, the coast and the extensive impact the dolomite quarry and silos have had on the region. Drop anchor at the Ardrossan heritage museum, which casts insight into the region's maritime chronicles (shipwrecks included!) or visit Emoyeni Wines, a boutique winery that is family friendly too. Immerse yourself in the rich history of the region's First Nations people, with a hosted walking tour or gourmet bush food tour with Nharangga Aboriginal Cultural Tours. Overlooking the calm waters of Gulf St Vincent on the east side of the Yorke Peninsula, locals flock to the seaside village of Port Vincent for its safe, sheltered beach and laid-back coastal lifestyle. Soak up the sun on the sandy shores of the town’s protected stretch of sand, before diving into the tranquil turquoise water from the famous wharf jump. Refuel with fish and chips from the popular beachside kiosk, then hire a kayak or stand up paddle board from Neptunes to explore the coastline. When dinner calls, settle down at a table by the sea at the Ventnor Hotel for a quality pub meal. By night, check-in to the beachfront Port Vincent Foreshore Caravan Park or Seaside Cabins, or settle down at one of the town’s many beach side shacks. If you’re feeling hungry on the road, stop off at Stansbury; the stronghold for an impressive bounty of fresh oysters hauled straight from the Yorke Peninsula's waters. From October to April, the monthly Stansbury Seaside Markets take over the foreshore with stalls selling everything from fresh oysters to wine, arts and crafts, pastries and fishing supplies. For a dining experience that will satisfy your hunger, head to the Dalrymple Bar and Restaurant and tuck into delicious seafood mere metres from the beach.

On Yorkes you are never far from great beaches and Warooka is no exception, with Flaherty's Beach and Hardwicke Bay a short drive away. Whilst here make sure to check out local gallery Baker Bros. Top Shop Gallery or check Ballara's Art and Lifestyle Retreat events calendar. 35 minutes down the road, Marion Bay is an idyllic coastal town popular for swimming, fishing and surfing. With a sheltered swimming beach on one side and a surf beach on the other, it’s the perfect spot for your salt water fix. The town is also a popular fishing destination with plenty of spots to cast a line and try your luck at beach, jetty, rock and surf fishing. After a day spent beach side, quieten your rumbling stomach at the Marion Bay Tavern, where you’ll find all the local seafood staples, paired with a fine wine bar and wood fired pizza menu. At the end of the night, retreat to your very own deluxe beachfront cabin in a Hillocks Ocean Pod, seaside serenity at My Sister and The Sea or pitching your tent by the ocean at Marion Bay Caravan Park.

Escape to a remote coastal wilderness on the tip of the Yorke Peninsula and soak in the sun without another soul in sight. It’s easy to find your very own slice of utopia in Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park; after getting your entry permit, pull up the car, set up camp for the weekend and while away the days swimming, fishing, surfing, boating and bush walking through this remote slice of Australiana. Want to discover the wonders of the sea? Book an experience with Marion Bay Ocean Safari to see dolphins, black rays, the majestic osprey and cavorting seals in their natural habitats. The Yorke Peninsula is brimming with beautiful beaches and this neck of the woods packs more than its fair share. Be sure to check out Dolphin Beach, Shell Beach, Ethel Beach and Pondalowie Bay. Cape Spencer Lighthouse, the historic township of Inneston, the Maldives-material blue waters of Inneston Lake and the Ethel shipwreck are also well worth a look. 

The surf’s always up on the Yorke Peninsula and the breaks off the coast of Daly Head have become the stuff of surfing legend. On the southwest coast of the peninsula a stone’s throw from the small seaside village of Corny Point, the conditions of Daly Head’s pristine waters are renowned as some of the best for surfing in Australia and the world. One of only 19 National Surfing Reserves across Australia, keen surfers from around the country and abroad flock to these waters to carve up the impressive waves. Conveniently, there’s a bush camp right on the coast so you can pitch a tent and spend a few days soaking in the surf, sand and sun. Here's our guide to South Australia's best surf spots.

Reel in a whopper from Port Hughes, one of the best spots to cast a line on the Yorke Peninsula. Anglers flock to these waters with blue swimmer crabs, garfish, tommies and squid regular fare from the iconic long jetty. Want to hit the green? Head to Copperclub Golf Course and enjoy a spot of golf on a PGA standard course, designed by Australian golf legend Greg Norman. Port Hughes is also home to one of the most picturesque beaches on the peninsula and boasts an abundance of accommodation options - including the popular beachfront Port Hughes Tourist Park.

The shallow waters around Moonta Bay are a favourite for city-living families looking to get away from it all. This idyllic summer escape is the perfect spot to unplug, unwind and spend long summer days swimming, surfing and fishing aong the shoreline and watching the sunset over the ocean. Just a scenic two-hour drive from Adelaide, the waters around here are also teeming with delicious blue swimmer crabs at the right time of year (locals tell us that’s every month with an ‘r’ in its name). Moonta’s rich history has earned the town national heritage status and you can uncover its famous past on one of the Moonta Mines or inside the Moonta Mines Museum. Make sure you stop by at one of the bakeries to sample one of Moonta’s famous Cornish pasties – a delicious remnant from the historic town’s mining past. 

One of the most popular coastal escapes on the Yorke Peninsula, Wallaroo is a seaside paradise plonked in prime position on the west coast of the peninsula, just a two-hour drive from Adelaide. The holiday hotspot is a favourite family destination and boasts sandy beaches perfect for swimming, a rich maritime history, chic cafes and a plethora of beachside accommodation options. Fishing fanatics flock to Wallaroo to cast a line off the famous jetty; expect good hauls of King George whiting, squid and flathead. Check into Wallaroo Marina Apartments and head straight for a dip at Office Beach or drive right onto the sand at North Beach and dive into the surf before refueling with a cold one and fresh seafood at the Coopers Alehouse Restaurant. 

Point Broughton is ideally situated close to the Southern Flinders Ranges, Clare Valley wineries and the Copper Coast - making it a great place to base yourself and visit several different regions. If the family has energy to burn, a stay at the Port Broughton Tourist Park Waterslide and Splash Park is a must with hours of fun to be had for the whole family.