Eyre Peninsula Drive

This drive of 745 kilometres starts at Port Augusta (allow 3.5 hours to travel up Highway One from Adelaide) and proceeds to Whyalla - 74 kilometres, then Whyalla to Cowell - 106 kilometres, Cowell to Port Lincoln via Tumby Bay - 160 kilometres, Port Lincoln to Elliston via Coffin Bay - 170 kilometres, Elliston to Streaky Bay via Venus Bay - 126 kilometres, and Streaky Bay to Ceduna - 109 kilometres.

From Adelaide head to Port Augusta, passing through Crystal Brook and Port Pirie - home to the world's largest lead smelter.  There are excellent facilities in the town and it's a good spot to stock up on supplies.

From Port Augusta head to Whyalla, gateway to the Eyre Peninsula. Settled in 1901, Whyalla enjoys around 300 days of sunshine each year so it's the perfect spot for enjoying the great outdoors. From Whyalla travel to Cowell, one of the safest and best fishing areas in South Australia. There's a burgeoning oyster farming industry in the town, and also home to one of the largest jade deposits in the world.

Continue along the coast to Tumby Bay, a seaside town complete with white, sandy beaches and crystal blue waters.  Just off the coast lie the Sir Joseph Banks Group of Islands - a marine conservation park that's home to sea lions, dolphins and abundant birdlife.

Next stop is Port Lincoln. With a harbour three times the size of Sydney, Port Lincoln is definitely a water-based destination. It was discovered by Matthew Flinders in 1802, who named the spot after his native Lincolnshire in England. Today, Port Lincoln is home to a major tuna-fishing fleet and is also a good spot for the recreational fisher. Boat and yacht charters are available.

From Port Lincoln drive to Coffin Bay, another oyster growing area. Take the scenic Oyster Walk which winds its way for eight kilometres along the foreshore, through natural bushland and to a lookout. And continue to Elliston, another pretty coastal town situated on the shores of Waterloo Bay. On the way, stop at Locks Well Beach and take the 279-step staircase down to one of the best fishing beaches in South Australia.

Next stop is Baird Bay. Here you can take a tour that includes swimming with sea lions and dolphins - an experience you'll never forget.

Drop by Streaky Bay, a thriving commercial fishing area, with King George Whiting, Southern Rock Lobster, Abalone and shark the most valuable catches. Apart from beautiful beaches and scenery, Streaky Bay has several good attractions including the Powerhouse Restored Engine Centre.

Last stop before heading across the Nullarbor or back towards Adelaide is Ceduna, another oyster farming community and home to the annual Ceduna OysterFest held every October long weekend. You'll need to set aside at least three to four days to experience and enjoy the sights of the Eyre Peninsula:

• Tour the BHP steelworks at Whyalla every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
• Visit the Whyalla Maritime Museum which exhibits the largest permanently land-locked ship in Australia - the HMAS Whyalla.
• Check out the 70-metre mangrove walk at Tumby Bay and the Koppio Smithy Museum 30 kilometres from Tumby Bay.
• Dive with Great White Sharks off the coast of Port Lincoln (in a shark-proof cage, of course).
• Lincoln National Park, at the southern tip of Eyre Peninsula, comes complete with isolated sandy beaches, high rugged cliffs and a good network of walking trails.
• Sample some of the local seafood for dinner at one of Port Lincoln's many pubs or restaurants.
• Blackfellows beach at Elliston is considered to have some of the best waves in Australia.
• Felchillo Oasis at Streaky Bay offers a self-guided tour of a quandong orchard, gardens and a fauna park.
• Visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the School of the Air in Port Augusta. Both are open to visitors, however it's a good idea to phone ahead to check visiting times.
• Port Augusta's Wadlata Outback Centre and the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden are both worth exploring.