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.
Browse wildlife & nature by area
62 places
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.
Ucontitchie Hill
A lone granite dome of world-class geology
A solitary granite inselberg 32 km south of Wudinna, internationally significant for its flared slopes, honeycomb tafoni and wave-like rock structures.
Venus Bay Conservation Park
A chain of islands and peninsulas sheltering Venus Bay, a refuge for sea lions, ospreys and seabirds.
Venus Bay Foreshore & Lookouts
Pelicans, Cliffs & Quiet Water
A tiny fishing settlement on a sheltered inlet, with a pelican-filled foreshore and dramatic cliff lookouts at the Needle Eye and South Head.
Wanna Dunes
A vast field of white dunes tumbling to a wild surf beach in the south of Lincoln National Park.
Westall Way Loop
A self-drive scenic loop near Streaky Bay taking in Whistling Rocks, the Granites surf beach and sculpted coastal cliffs.
Whalers Way
Granite Cliffs at the End of the Earth
A privately owned stretch of spectacular, untamed coastline at the southern tip of the Eyre Peninsula, accessed by permit.
Whyalla Conservation Park
A pocket of semi-arid bushland with a trail up Wild Dog Hill through mallee and bluebush to long views over the plains.
Whyalla Cuttlefish at Point Lowly
The World's Only Mass Cuttlefish Gathering
Each winter, tens of thousands of giant Australian cuttlefish gather in the shallows at Point Lowly to breed — found nowhere else on earth.
Whyalla Wetlands & Mangrove Boardwalk
A boardwalk and trail through mangroves and constructed wetlands near Whyalla, rich in birdlife on the upper Spencer Gulf.
Woolshed Cave
A vast sea cave carved into the cliffs at Talia, north of Elliston, reached by a short walk and a cliff stairway.
Yanerbie Sand Dunes
A vast field of white coastal sand dunes near Sceale Bay, popular for sandboarding, beach fishing and big ocean views.
Yangie Bay
A tranquil, sheltered bay and campground at the gateway to Coffin Bay National Park, ringed by mangroves and birdlife.