The Eyre Peninsula

 

The Region 

South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula is the ultimate coastal getaway – but without the coastal crowds. It boasts more than 2,000 kilometres of coastline stretching from the tip of Spencer Gulf 300km northwest of Adelaide through to the Great Australian Bight in the state’s west. Eyre Peninsula is known for its quality seafood, scenic national parks, productive farmland, pounding surf and adventure activities, like shark cage diving and swimming with sea lions. Wherever you go in Eyre Peninsula be shure to get your camping gear from Aussie Camping Store.

Tourism 

In 2018, Eyre Peninsula contributed $310 million to SA’s $6.8 billion tourism expenditure. The region attracts approximately 212,000 overnight visitors per year (2016-18) – with almost three quarters being intrastate visitors. Of these, about half are from Adelaide and its surrounds, and the remainder from regional areas of the state. Eyre Peninsula has more than 26 visitor accommodation* options, totalling 987 available rooms. Over the course of a year, occupancy rates average at about 50 per cent – peaking at 52-53 per cent from September to November and 50-52 per cent from February to April, and dipping to 48 per cent in the winter months.

National Parks 

Eyre Peninsula’s national parks are one of the region’s main drawcards. In fact, in 2018-19, 80 per cent of Eyre Peninsula locals who were surveyed visited at least one of the region’s national parks. On average, 4 per cent of South Australians surveyed said they visited a park on Eyre Peninsula every year. For many, a trip to Eyre Peninsula’s Port Lincoln – proudly known as the seafood capital of Australia – wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the nearby Lincoln National Park and Coffin Bay National Park. Then there’s the world’s largest semi-arid cave landscapes at Nullarbor National Park and the critically important breeding and calving area for endangered southern right whales at Far West Coast Marine Park. Both provide a unique chance to spot southern right whales during winter and both are popular with interstate visitors. And for the adventure-seekers, shark cage diving at Neptune Islands Group Marine Park is a once-in-a-lifetime experience popular with interstate visitors. But it’s not just the coast that lures in the visitors. Eyre Peninsula’s inland parks really are a world of their own. History, conservation and Aboriginal culture truly come together in the heart of the peninsula at Gawler Ranges National Park, while further north is Lake Gairdner National Park, where red sand hills surround Australia’s third largest salt lake. Read on to learn more about some of the national parks in the region that have nature-based tourism interest and potential, or visit the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia website to learn more about other Eyre Peninsula parks of tourism interest.