Wildlife & Nature
Where the Wild Things Are
The best wildlife & nature in Eyre Peninsula
Swim with sea lions and dolphins at Baird Bay, watch Australia's largest mainland sea lion colony haul out at Point Labatt, spot wild koalas at Mikkira Station and dive into the world's only mass cuttlefish aggregation at Whyalla. The Eyre Peninsula is one of the great wildlife encounters in Australia.
The Eyre Peninsula is one of the best places in Australia to get genuinely close to wild animals. Off Port Lincoln you can swim with wild sea lions and dolphins, dive in a cage alongside great white sharks, or watch tuna and giant cuttlefish in their natural habitat - the Whyalla cuttlefish aggregation is a globally significant winter spectacle.
On land, the parks teem with life. Emus and kangaroos graze the Gawler Ranges, ospreys and sea eagles nest along the cliffs, and rare southern hairy-nosed wombats burrow inland. At Point Labatt, one of Australia's only mainland Australian sea lion colonies lounges on the rocks below the lookout, while the Head of Bight hosts southern right whales between roughly May and October.
Much of this wildlife is protected within national and conservation parks, so come prepared and keep a respectful distance. Combine sightings with the region's walking trails and beaches for days that move easily between encounters. Winter is prime for whales and cuttlefish; summer suits sea lions and seabirds.
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59 places
Kolay Mirica Falls
A series of stepped rock pools and seasonal cascades over volcanic rock in the Gawler Ranges, ringed by ancient ironbark.
Lake Gairdner National Park
A salt lake the size of a small country
Australia's third-largest salt lake - 160 km of blinding white salt ringed by red dunes north of the Gawler Ranges, and the venue for Speed Week land-speed racing.
Lake Gilles Conservation Park
A wild expanse of salt lake, mallee and granite between Cowell and Kimba, with rich arid-country wildlife.
Lake Newland Conservation Park
The Eyre Peninsula's biggest wetland, hidden behind dunes
A 38 km coastal park north of Elliston where a 20 km saline lake - the peninsula's most extensive wetland - hides behind giant dunes, alive with waterbirds.
Lincoln National Park
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.
Lipson Cove
A turquoise cove with its own island
A perfect crescent of white sand and turquoise water north of Tumby Bay, with low-cost camping behind the beach and a seabird island you can walk toward at low tide.
Memory Cove
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.
Mikkira Station
Wild Koalas Under the Manna Gums
A historic sheep station where wild koalas doze in the manna gums - one of the few places on the Eyre Peninsula to see them in the wild.
Mount Greenly
A rugged granite peak inland from Coffin Bay, rewarding a steep scramble with sweeping coastal views.
Needle Eye Lookout
A dramatic clifftop lookout near Venus Bay where the ocean carves the limestone into arches and stacks.
Organ Pipes Lookout
A wall of ancient volcanic rhyolite columns in Gawler Ranges National Park, formed over 1.5 billion years ago.
Parnkalla Trail
Boston Bay, one footstep at a time
A shoreline walking trail tracing the curve of Boston Bay through Port Lincoln - first landing site, beaches, marina and headlands, with the city never far away.
Pinkawillinie Conservation Park
A large mallee wilderness north-east of Wudinna, one of the peninsula's biggest tracts of untouched scrub.
Point Avoid
A dramatic clifftop lookout in Coffin Bay National Park with views over Golden Island, surf-pounded reefs and frequent whale sightings in season.
Point Labatt Sea Lion Colony
Australia's Largest Mainland Sea Lion Colony
A clifftop lookout above a permanent colony of Australian sea lions - the largest mainland breeding colony of this endangered species.
Point Lowly Lighthouse
A heritage lighthouse and keeper's cottages on a narrow spit east of Whyalla, gateway to the famous cuttlefish snorkelling.
Point Sinclair & Cactus Beach Surf
A world-renowned trio of surf breaks at remote Point Sinclair near Penong, drawing pilgrims to Castles, Caves and Cactus.
Polda Rock
A granite outcrop and historic catchment reserve near Wudinna, with a short walk, spring wildflowers and a heritage rock-water dam.
Port Gibbon
Beach camping where the grain ships once called
A tiny seaside settlement south of Cowell with beachfront camping, the remains of an old jetty, resident dolphins and the occasional sea lion hauled out at the point.
Searcy Bay
A scenic bay near Sceale Bay framed by rugged cliffs and offshore islands, with sweeping coastal views and quiet beaches.
Speeds Point
A sheltered point and tidal flat on the Streaky Bay foreshore, good for calm-water fishing, wading and watching shorebirds.
Stamford Hill Lookout
A summit walk in Lincoln National Park to a Flinders monument, with 360-degree views over Boston Bay and the islands.
The Tub at Talia
A near-perfect circular sinkhole eroded into the cliff top at Talia, where the ocean churns far below through a rock window.
Tumby Island Conservation Park
A small island off Tumby Bay protecting seabird breeding habitat, reachable by kayak across calm gulf water.
Wildlife & Nature in Eyre Peninsula - frequently asked questions
What wildlife is the Eyre Peninsula known for?
The Eyre Peninsula is one of Australia's best regions for genuine wild animal encounters. Highlights include swimming with wild Australian sea lions and dolphins at Baird Bay, watching the country's largest mainland sea lion colony at Point Labatt, spotting wild koalas at Mikkira Station near Port Lincoln, snorkelling the world's only mass cuttlefish aggregation at Whyalla, and great white shark cage diving at the Neptune Islands.
Can you really swim with wild sea lions and dolphins on the Eyre Peninsula?
Yes. Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience, in a small fishing village between Streaky Bay and Port Lincoln, is one of the only places in Australia where you can swim with both wild Australian sea lions and bottlenose dolphins on the same tour. Tours run small groups in the sheltered bay and operate seasonally during the warmer months, so booking ahead is essential.
Where can I see sea lions for free on the Eyre Peninsula?
Point Labatt Conservation Park, about 39km south of Streaky Bay, is home to the largest permanent breeding colony of Australian sea lions on the mainland. A free clifftop viewing platform sits roughly 50 metres above the beach where you can watch the colony year-round, so bring binoculars or a zoom lens for the best view. Access to the beach below is not permitted in order to protect the animals.
When is the best time to snorkel with the giant cuttlefish at Whyalla?
The giant Australian cuttlefish aggregation at Whyalla runs each year from about May to August, with peak numbers typically in June and July. Tens of thousands gather in shallow water from around one to six metres deep near Stony Point, making it accessible to both snorkellers and scuba divers. Water temperatures are cold in winter, so a good wetsuit is essential, and guided tours and gear hire are available locally.
Can you see wild koalas on the Eyre Peninsula, and do you need to book?
Yes. Mikkira Station, a private property around 25km south of Port Lincoln, has wild koalas living in its old manna gum trees alongside roaming kangaroos and emus. Self-drive day visits are generally available in the cooler months for a per-vehicle entry fee, with a permit purchased in Port Lincoln, and guided tours run year-round. Dogs are not permitted on the property in order to protect the koalas.