Eyre Peninsula Overview

Although the landscape may not look promising from the highway, the Eyre Peninsula is as spectacular as it is underappreciated. It encompasses the stretch of coastline from Ceduna to the start of the Nullarbor Plain. Free from hordes of tourists, the tiny fishing villages remain picturesque, basking in the salty breezes of the Southern Ocean. While the east coast has gentle rolling dunes and calm waters, the aquamarine waves of the west coast caress rock faces and rough-hewn cliffs. An abundance of fish on both coasts makes the Eyre Peninsula Australia’s premier fishing destination. The free Seafood and Aquaculture Trail Guide lists a series of interesting, unusual tours along the peninsula that highlight the importance of the sea in the local economy and culture. The trail includes visits to rock lobster colonies and a seahorse breeding facility in Port Lincoln. The Eyre is also home to several phenomenal national parks, most notably the three clustered at the southern tip of the peninsula: Lincoln National Park, Coffin Bay, and Whaler’s Way. Towns are covered below from east to west, as they would be encountered coming from Adelaide on Alt. Hwy. 1.

Premier Stateliner (Adelaide ☎08 8415 5555, Port Lincoln ☎08 8682 1288, Whyalla ☎08 8645 9911) is the only public bus carrier on the Eyre with anything approaching frequent service, though Greyhound Australia stops in Ceduna on the way to Perth. Stateliner runs between Adelaide and Whyalla (M-W 4 per day, Th-F 5 per day, Sa-Su 3-4 per day; $52.50, concessions $26.25). Buses also leave Adelaide bound for Port Lincoln, stopping in towns along the east coast. (M-F and Su 2 per day, Sa 1 per day; $92.10, concessions $46.05.) Traversing the Eyre Peninsula by car means diverging from the Eyre Hwy. (Hwy. 1), which runs 468km across the top of the peninsula from Whyalla to Ceduna. The highlights of the Eyre are on a triangular coastal route via the Lincoln and Flinders Hwy. (Alt. Hwy. 1), which takes 763km to connect the same towns.