Wildlife & Nature
Where the Wild Things Are
The best wildlife & nature in Coffin Bay
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
7 places
Almonta Beach
A dazzling white-sand and turquoise beach deep inside Coffin Bay National Park, often ranked among South Australia's most beautiful.
Coffin Bay National Park
Dunes, Surf Beaches & Sheltered Bays
A wild peninsula of windswept dunes, hidden bays and Southern Ocean surf beaches, much of it accessible only by four-wheel drive.
Coffin Bay Oysters
The World's Best, Straight From the Lease
Coffin Bay's pristine, nutrient-rich waters grow oysters regarded as among the finest on earth — and you can wade out to the lease and shuck them yourself.
Kellidie Bay Conservation Park
A sheltered tidal bay and mangrove wetland on the edge of Coffin Bay, rich in birdlife and walking trails.
Mount Greenly
A rugged granite peak inland from Coffin Bay, rewarding a steep scramble with sweeping coastal views.
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.
Yangie Bay
A tranquil, sheltered bay and campground at the gateway to Coffin Bay National Park, ringed by mangroves and birdlife.