Walking & Hiking
Trails Along the Edge
The best walking & hiking in Tumby Bay
Walk the granite-cliffed coastline of Whalers Way, the dunes and bays of Coffin Bay National Park, or the rugged headlands of Lincoln National Park. Short clifftop strolls and full-day coastal treks reward you with sea-lion colonies, wildflowers and endless ocean horizons.
Walking the Eyre Peninsula means trading crowds for clifftops, granite domes and empty beaches. The trails here run from short, family-friendly foreshore strolls to rugged coastal hikes inside the national parks, almost always with the ocean or a sweeping inland horizon for company.
In the south, Lincoln National Park and Coffin Bay lace together lookouts, headlands and dune walks, with the climb to Stamford Hill rewarding effort with panoramic coastal views. Inland, the Gawler Ranges open up ancient volcanic country, waterfalls and the towering Organ Pipes, while granite monoliths like Mount Wudinna and Pildappa Rock offer easy scrambles to big views.
Many walks double as wildlife outings - you'll pass nesting ospreys, grazing emus and wildflowers in spring. Carry water, sun protection and a map, as remote trails have no facilities and patchy phone signal. Autumn through spring brings the most comfortable walking weather, with wildflowers peaking after winter rains.
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Walking & Hiking in Eyre Peninsula - frequently asked questions
What are the best walks and hikes on the Eyre Peninsula?
The signature walking is coastal, concentrated in the south around Port Lincoln. Standouts include the granite-cliffed trails of privately owned Whalers Way, the Stamford Hill loop and long-distance Investigator Trail in Lincoln National Park, and the Yangie Bay walks in Coffin Bay National Park. For an inland contrast, the Gawler Ranges National Park has the short Organ Pipes Walk through billion-year-old rock formations and the wave-like granite of nearby Pildappa Rock.
Is the Stamford Hill walk in Lincoln National Park worth doing?
Yes - it is one of Australia's recognised Great Short Walks and the most popular hike on the southern peninsula. The roughly 5.7 km loop climbs steadily to the Stamford Hill lookout and the Flinders Monument, with sweeping views over Boston Bay, Port Lincoln and the park itself. It is moderately steep but achievable for most reasonably fit walkers, and the lookout is also the high point of the longer Investigator Trail.
Do I need a permit or pay an entry fee to go walking here?
Lincoln National Park and Coffin Bay National Park charge a vehicle entry fee (around $13.90 per car, or less with concession), which you pay before entering. Whalers Way is privately owned, so you buy a separate access permit per vehicle that also includes a night of camping on the property. The Gawler Ranges, Pildappa Rock and most coastal foreshore strolls around towns like Elliston are free to access.
Can I bring my dog walking on the Eyre Peninsula trails?
Not into the major national parks - dogs are prohibited in both Lincoln National Park and Coffin Bay National Park, with only assistance dogs permitted. You can still walk a dog around the townships and many foreshore and beach areas, including in Coffin Bay town itself, so it is worth checking dog-friendly beaches in the area if you are travelling with a pet.
When is the best time of year for walking and hiking on the Eyre Peninsula?
Autumn (March to May) and spring (September to November) are ideal, with mild days well suited to clifftop and coastal treks. Spring also brings wildflowers to the Gawler Ranges and coastal heathlands, while the cooler months from June onwards add southern right whales offshore. Summer is best avoided for longer or inland walks, as there is little shade and the heat can be intense, especially in the Gawler Ranges.