Beaches
Wild & Empty Coast
The best beaches in Port Lincoln
From the turquoise calm of Coffin Bay to the booming Southern Ocean surf at Locks Well, the Eyre Peninsula has some of the most beautiful and least crowded beaches in the country. Expect squeaky white sand, granite headlands and the very real chance you will have the whole bay to yourself.
Read our guide to beaches ↓Browse beaches by area
Fishery Bay
View →A Southern Surf Stalwart
A long, exposed surf beach near Whalers Way, one of the most consistent and well-loved breaks in the Port Lincoln area.
Fishery Bay Lookout
View →A clifftop vantage over the wild surf and pale sand of Fishery Bay, south of Port Lincoln.
Greenly Beach
View →Granite, Swell & Empty Sand
A spectacular west-coast surf beach framed by granite boulders and looking out to Greenly Island, beloved by surfers and photographers.
Lincoln National Park
View →Headlands, Bays & Memory Cove
A rugged coastal park just south of Port Lincoln, with sheltered swimming bays, dramatic headlands and the protected Memory Cove Wilderness.
Memory Cove
View →A Wilderness Named in Grief
A pristine white-sand cove in a strictly protected wilderness area, named by Matthew Flinders for the crew he lost here in 1802.
September Beach
View →A popular family camping and swimming beach in Lincoln National Park, with sheltered water and a campground just behind the dunes.
Sleaford Bay
View →A long, powerful arc of surf beach south of Port Lincoln, exposed to Southern Ocean swell.
Wanna Dunes
View →A vast field of white dunes tumbling to a wild surf beach in the south of Lincoln National Park.
About beaches in Eyre Peninsula
Few coastlines in Australia rival the Eyre Peninsula for sheer, uncrowded beauty. Hundreds of kilometres of white sand curve between Whyalla and the Great Australian Bight, ranging from glassy, family-safe bays to wild Southern Ocean surf beaches where you may not see another soul.
The sheltered eastern gulf beaches around Tumby Bay and Cowell offer calm, shallow water ideal for swimming and wading, while the rugged west coast near Elliston and Streaky Bay throws up towering cliffs, granite headlands and powerful breaks. Inside Coffin Bay and Lincoln national parks, four-wheel-drive tracks open onto squeaky-white sand and turquoise shallows.
Many beaches double as fishing, surfing and wildlife spots - sea lions haul out, dolphins patrol the shallows and ospreys nest on the cliffs. Pack supplies, check tides and conditions, and remember that remote beaches have no services. Summer brings warm swimming, while autumn and spring deliver calm, clear days perfect for exploring the coast.
Beaches in Eyre Peninsula - frequently asked questions
What is the Eyre Peninsula known for when it comes to beaches?
The Eyre Peninsula is known for squeaky white sand, granite headlands and hundreds of kilometres of uncrowded coastline running from the gulf country down to the Great Australian Bight. It spans two distinct moods - sheltered, turquoise, family-safe bays like those around Coffin Bay, and wild Southern Ocean surf beaches such as Locks Well and Anxious Bay where you may not see another soul.
Which are the best beaches to visit on the Eyre Peninsula?
For calm swimming and sheer beauty it is hard to beat Almonta Beach and Gunyah Beach in Coffin Bay National Park, which have some of the whitest sand in the region, while the bays of Lincoln National Park offer crystal-clear, sheltered water. For wild scenery head to Locks Well near Elliston or Woolshed Cave at Talia, and for world-class surf, Cactus Beach at Point Sinclair and Anxious Bay are the standouts.
Do I need to pay to enter the national park beaches like Coffin Bay?
Yes, beaches inside Coffin Bay National Park and Lincoln National Park require a vehicle entry fee, which must be booked online at parks.sa.gov.au before you arrive. The fee is waived if you book a campground in the park, and frequent visitors can buy a single-park or multi-park annual pass. Beaches outside the parks, such as Perlubie and Locks Well, are free to access.
Which Eyre Peninsula beaches are safe for swimming and good for families?
The sheltered eastern gulf beaches and protected bays are the safe choice - Coffin Bay township, Almonta Beach and the northern and eastern bays of Lincoln National Park have calm, shallow, family-friendly water. Take care on the exposed Southern Ocean surf beaches like Locks Well, Anxious Bay and Cactus Beach, which have strong currents and rips and are not patrolled, so several are not safe for swimming.
When is the best time of year to visit the Eyre Peninsula's beaches?
Summer (December to February) brings the warmest weather and the calmest swimming conditions, with sea temperatures peaking around 19 to 21 degrees in late summer and early autumn, though it is also the busiest period during school holidays. Spring and autumn are quieter and still pleasant for walking and exploring, while surfers often favour the winter swells at Cactus Beach and the salmon runs that draw anglers to Locks Well from June to August.