Eyre Peninsula National Parks
Three parks, from surf coast to volcanic outback
The plan
The Eyre Peninsula's national parks span an astonishing range, from surf-pounded white beaches to a billion-year-old volcanic outback. This itinerary strings together Lincoln National Park near Port Lincoln, the dune-and-inlet country of Coffin Bay, and the remote Gawler Ranges, where the Organ Pipes rise from the arid plain.
A park pass and a capable vehicle help; the coastal parks reward an ordinary car driven carefully, while the Gawler Ranges are best with high clearance.
Day 1 - Lincoln National Park
From Port Lincoln, cross into Lincoln National Park and climb Stamford Hill for a 360-degree panorama over Boston Bay and the islands. Drive out to Cape Donington Lighthouse, swim in the sheltered coves, and soak up the meeting of bay and ocean.
Day 2 - Coffin Bay National Park
Move west to Coffin Bay, where the park splits between calm inlets and a raw surf coast. Walk from Yangie Bay, stand among the towering mobile dunes above Gunyah Beach, and finish at Point Avoid as the sun drops over the Southern Ocean.
Day 3 - Into the Gawler Ranges
Turn inland for the long drive to Gawler Ranges National Park. Stand beneath the Organ Pipes, a cliff of ancient rhyolite columns, walk to the quiet rock pools of Kolay Mirica Falls, and watch for yellow-footed rock-wallabies among the boulders under enormous skies.
Day 1
2 stops-
1
Stamford Hill Lookout
Port LincolnClimb to the Flinders monument for sweeping views over Boston Bay.
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2
Cape Donington Lighthouse
Port LincolnVisit the historic lighthouse and swim the sheltered coves.
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Day 2
3 stops-
1
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2
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3
Day 3
2 stops-
1
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2
Kolay Mirica Falls
Gawler RangesWalk to the quiet rock pools and watch for rock-wallabies.
See place →
On the map
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Image credits
- Western grey kangaroo, Coffin Bay National Park.jpg by Richard Kervin , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons