We are going to have a look at the Eyre Peninsula along the coast from Port Augusta in October. We will have three to four weeks for the trip traveling from Melbourne. We have not been down that way before other than a month when I maintained the BHP computer centre at Whyalla many years ago. Has anyone got any tips on the places to stay and see? Our friends that will be travelling with us aren't set up for free camping but we will do some using our rig. So we are looking for free camps, caravan parks that don't want you to mortgage the house to stay there and the must see locations. That's right we are planning this trip, not our normal style, we normally head out the drive and decide on left or right and see where it gets us. This time we are catering for friends that will be travelling with us who have to get back home to work so we have to run to a time table.
Port Lincoln Caravan Park is at North Shields about 15 ks from Pt Lincoln. Reasonably priced and literally right on the waters edge. There is another park in Pt Lincoln as well. Google for prices. Try Coffin Bay but if you want to fish and relax, move further west to Smoky Bay about 20 odd ks from Ceduna. Great part of the world.
Lived in Elliston from 1989-1992 - great area. Both caravan parks are good - and pick anywhere along the coast between Lincoln and Streaky to free camp and you won't be disappointed. If you call in to Rally's Roadhouse at Elliston for fuel or stores - say g'day from THE SCOEYS - they will know who you mean.
Coffin Bay is a lovely spot but everyone goes there - but still worth a visit - if you stay at the park there, don't get a spot under a tree - the local parrots drop gum nuts and everything else all night long. Lincoln National Park nearby is also worth a day visit. Smokey Bay is really nice - nice little park.
Talia Caves, Camel Beach, Murphy's Haystacks, Venus Bay - all great spots - enjoy.
Lots of lovely spots on the Eyre Pen. If you like oysters we bought them at Smoky Bay for $7 dz. when we were there in April this year. They sell them in the industrial units on the left as you drive into town. They Bring them in about 10am each morning straight out of the water. They are huge!!! Been there twice in the past 2 yrs .
We go down one side of the peninsular and up the other.
Howdy Drifters,
some brief points of lovely spots to look at, Port Gibbon (take road alongside Franklin Harbour past 4 Mile [good crabbing place] and then after Gibbon to Elbow Hill onto the main road, Red Banks Beach [rough track in for about 1k], Arno Bay [home of Shaun Rehn - Crows entity], Port Neill, Lipson Cove.
Alternatively, half way to Cowell from Whyalla, take the Scenic Route to Cleve. This is a beautiful, scenic drive with settlement history along the way. Then continue the back inland route via Verran. Mt Hill etc. - all dirt but well maintained as the roads are mostly school bus routes and the local councils really know how to maintain dirt roads.
Up the west side add Talia Caves, Cape Labatt, Sceales Bay to all of the other well known bays and spots.
One really needs a year to do it all justice.
Cheers - Mobi (aka Ian & Sally)
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Cheers - Ian
I slowly realise as I get older that I am definitely NOT the fastest rat in the race.
Also the older I get the more I realise I do not know.
Thank you all for some great tips. We will include your information in our plans. By the looks of things it is a pity we only a few weeks to explore. I am especially interested in the heritage elements. We will soon be heading off on our full time trip and it looks like we might get lost in this area for a few months. we prefer to linger in places and get to know people as we travel we think it is the only way to really understand the area and its people.
Living in Whyalla I feel I can give you some good advice
Re fuel Whyalla is most of the time cheaper than port augusta but not always
If you drive down from post Augusta to Whyalla you can turn up the Port Bonython Road to point Lowly for a camp at the lowly area $5 a night no power/cold showers
At the back of Fitgerald Bay there are another 2 free camps no power one has water and a toilet
At Whyalla you can give the caravan parks a miss as I now wouldn't recommend either of them
Alternatives are the show grounds operated by council water /power/dump point not sure about showers not cost but cheap
Croatia soccer club camp at $10 a night showers /toilets and I think power
Cowell has 2 parks either one ok
If you drive down the coastal road towards Arno Bay (dirt road but usually quite good-caravans ok) there are quite a few spots set aside for camping- no facilities
Next stop Port gibbon (last time there was a donation) Toilet and a shower cubicle -supply your own shower bag)
Arno Bay
Good caravan park or a camping area behind the pub I think $10 a stay and for that you get a $10 voucher to spend in the pub
Port Neill and Tumbay Bay both have good caravan parks
Louth bay next has a good little caravan parking area no power but toilets (not sure about showers)
