Wildlife & Nature
Where the Wild Things Are
The best wildlife & nature in Cowell
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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4 places
Arno Bay Foreshore & Estuary
A laid-back coastal town with a tidal estuary boardwalk, safe swimming beach and a jetty over Spencer Gulf.
Franklin Harbour
A near-landlocked tidal bay at Cowell, prized for its oysters, calm-water fishing, crabbing and birdlife.
Lake Gilles Conservation Park
A wild expanse of salt lake, mallee and granite between Cowell and Kimba, with rich arid-country wildlife.
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.