Australia: Yorke Peninsula
Lazy days under the beach umbrella. Cold beers around a barbecue sizzling with the day’s catch. Historic wooden jetties that lead right out to where the fish are biting. And sunsets over boat-filled bays.

The toughest thing about a trip to Yorke Peninsula is dragging yourself off the beach. But there’s plenty to see “off-shore” … like kicking up your heels at the world’s largest Cornish festival; wandering through time in historic copper mining towns; meeting entrepreneurs and enthusiasts on the Yorke Peninsula Home Grown Trail; strolling along coastal trails and hiking through rugged bushland at Innes National Park.
With more than 600 kilometres of coastline and a host of sunny seaside towns, “Yorkes” is much loved by South Australians. And many of its best beaches are just a couple of hours from Adelaide.

Surf Action
Surf the breaks of Chinaman’s and Pondalowie Bay down at the base of the peninsula. Grab a waterproof map marking a scuba diving trail to eight shipwrecks around Wardang Island off Port Victoria. Visit in September for Yorke’s surfing classic, held annually at Innes National Park. Walk along trails in Edithburgh, Port Vincent, Stansbury, Barkers Rocks and Port Victoria. Search for big-bellied seahorses and Port Jackson sharks on a dive just off Edithburgh Jetty.

Yorke Peninsula National Parks
You’ll find 12 parks on Yorke Peninsula, varying from small rock outcrops to expansive bushland and coastal parks.

Innes National Park
The most popular park on Yorke Peninsula is Innes National Park, located in the rugged “toe” of the peninsula and about three hours’ drive from Adelaide.
Covering 9,141 hectares of natural bushland, Innes is one of only few remaining pockets of significant vegetation in the region and today boasts heritage trails and some of the best surf breaks in Australia. You’ll also see towering cliffs, rocky headlands and stunning beaches.

The historic town of Inneston can also be found deep within the park. It was a major gypsum mining site from 1913 to 1930 and today includes 12 houses, a restored post office building and the ruins of an old store, factory, bakery and stables. You can also stay in the town, choosing from the Engineers House, the Managers House, Miners Lodge, Norfolk Lodge and Gatehouse Lodge.

Look out for a diverse assortment of flora and fauna including Western Grey Kangaroos and more than 100 bird species, and check out the series of walking trails through historic Inneston and along the coast. Other activities include fishing, surfing, snorkelling, bush-walking and bird watching, while from May to October you might also spot Southern Right Whales on their annual migration from Antarctic waters to Head of Bight.

Troubridge Island Conservation Park
Get away from it all by renting out your own island. Stay in cottage accommodation once used by the light keepers and have a ball swimming, fishing and watching the park’s diverse wildlife including Little Penguins and terns. Access to the island is by permit only. For details contact the Department for Environment and Heritage on + 61 8 8854 3200. For bookings contact Troubridge Island Charters on +61 8 8852 6290.

Luck of the Cornish
Journey through time in the Copper Coast towns of Kadina, Wallaroo and Moonta, where Australia’s richest colonial copper mines operated in the late 1800s. Ride on the Moonta Mines Railway (part of the extensive Moonta Mines State Heritage Area); dress up as a miner at the Wheal Hughes Copper Mine; and count the coins at the Banking and Currency Museum. Held biennially, in odd-numbered years is the Kernewek Lowender Cornish festival.

Fisherman’s Basket
Catch your fill of King George whiting, dive for scallops just off the beach and rake the shallows for blue swimmer crabs. The Yorke Peninsula is dotted with historic jetties and pristine surf beaches perfect for snaring the catch of the day, from snapper, garfish and salmon to tommy ruffs, mullet, crabs and squid. And boaties should try out the multi-million-dollar marina developments at Port Vincent and Wallaroo.

Home Grown Trail
Go behind the scenes of key and quirky rural enterprises on the Yorke Peninsula Home Grown Trail, a self-drive guide to everything from olives to ostriches. Grab a copy of the Yorke Peninsula Visitor Guide before tasting the region’s first wines, following the process for creating hand-made papers and stroking a baby alpaca.

Troubridge Island
Retreat to your very own island for the weekend. The Troubridge Island lighthouse was commissioned in 1856 after a series of shipwrecks off the Yorke Peninsula coast near Edithburgh. Today the island is a beacon for migratory birds and fairy penguins, and has clean sandy beaches for swimming and snorkelling.

Surf and Turf
Eat the freshest seafood and drink the coldest beer at great country pubs, cafes and restaurants. There’s gourmet wood-fired pizzas at Marion Bay Tavern; monster Kahuna burgers at Kadina’s Kahuna Café; giant seafood platters at The Boat Shed Restaurant at Wallaroo; and divine balcony dining at Faversham’s Restaurant in Edithburgh.

Climate
Sea breezes and moderate summer maximum temperatures. During January, average daily maximum temperatures lie between 25ºC at Edithburgh and 30ºC at Kadina. Winter temperatures are also modified by proximity to the sea, with maximum temperatures ranging from 14ºC at Maitland to 15ºC at Edithburgh and Kadina during the coldest month of July. Annual average rainfall totals in the Yorke Peninsula range from 389 millimetres a year at Kadina to 502 millimetres on average each year at Maitland.

Distance and Drive Time Guides
Adelaide Wool Bay 224 kilometres 2 hour 30 minutes.
Adelaide Yorketown 230 kilometres 2 hours 30 minutes.
Adelaide Port Wakefield 99 kilometres 1 hour.
Adelaide Balaklava 92 kilometres 1 hour.
Adelaide Ardrossan 149 kilometres 1 hour 30 minutes.
Adelaide Edithburgh 233 kilometres 2 hours 30 minutes.
Adelaide Kadina 148 kilometres 1 hour 30 minutes.
Adelaide Maitland 169 kilometres 1 hour 45 minutes.
Adelaide Marion Bay 278 kilometres 2 hours 45 minutes.
Adelaide Minlaton 197 kilometres 2 hours.
Adelaide Moonta 167 kilometres 1 hour 45 minutes.
Adelaide Port Broughton 174 kilometres 1 hour 45 minutes.
Adelaide Port Clinton 125 kilometres 1 hour 15 minutes.
Adelaide Port Hughes 171 kilometres 1 hour 45 minutes.
Adelaide Port Vincent 196 kilometres 2 hours.
Adelaide Stansbury 213 kilometres 2 hours 15 minutes.
Adelaide Stenhouse Bay 284 kilometres 3 hours.
Adelaide Wallaroo 160 kilometres 1 hour 45 minutes.
Adelaide Warooka 228 kilometres 2 hours 30 minutes.

For further information about this gem of the South visit the website at www.yorkepeninsula.com.au



Information and pictures provided by www.yorkepeninsula.com.au

The Travel-Informed Team

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