Yorke Peninsula Drive
A trip of nearly 490 kilometres which starts at Port Wakefield (allow an hour to travel up Highway One from Adelaide) and proceeds first to Kadina - 51 kilometres, then Kadina to Moonta via Wallaroo - 26 kilometres, Moonta to Port Victoria - 56 kilometres, Port Victoria to Marion Bay via Minlaton and Corny Point - 143 kilometres, Marion Bay to Edithburgh - 86 kilometres, Edithburgh to Port Wakefield via Stansbury, Port Vincent and Ardrossan - 126 kilometres.
Just over an hour from Adelaide is the Yorke Peninsula. Famous for stunning coastal scenery, historic country towns and one of South Australia's best national parks.
North of Adelaide, Port Wakefield was established in the nineteenth century to ship copper from the Burra mines. From here, travel to Kadina - the largest town on Yorke Peninsula. Along with Wallaroo and Moonta, the area is known as Australia's Little Cornwall, due to the large number of Cornish miners who settled in the area.
Wallaroo is a beautiful port with a lovely beach and excellent fishing, and popular with scuba divers and home to the Spencer Gulf prawn fleet. From Wallaroo, head for Moonta. Visitors can gain an insight into the copper mining industry by visiting the Moonta Mines State Heritage Area.
Back on the road head for Maitland, and then Port Victoria - known as the last of the windjammer ports. Visit the local National Trust Museum to discover more about the town's maritime history. From Port Victoria head inland to Minlaton - the barley capital of the world and home to The Red Devil - an historic monoplane flown by WW1 fighter pilot, Captain Harry Butler. From here it's sun, surf and sea at Corny Point, known for its lighthouse built in 1881.
Take the spectacular drive to Berry Bay - a popular surfing spot - and then on to Marion Bay. Marion Bay has a safe, sheltered swimming beach and a separate surf beach, with a number of accommodation options.
Spend today exploring Innes National Park. Dedicated in 1970 to protect the Great Western Whipbird, the park offers spectacular coastal scenery, abundant wildlife and a fascinating heritage. After exploring the park drive to Edithburgh - the first town planned and proclaimed on southern Yorke Peninsula. Stroll along the boardwalk at Sultana Point or watch the fishing boats unload their wares at the harbour.
Next head to Stansbury, home to several oyster farms, so be sure to sample the local delicacy while you're there. Back in the car head for Port Vincent. Look out for the two-kilometre foreshore walking trails that winds its way to a cliff lookout.
Your next stop is Ardrossan, a thriving sea port and home to our third largest grain bulk-handling facility. From Ardrossan, it's a comfortable drive back to Adelaide via Port Wakefield. The coastal towns of Yorke Peninsula are great for a holiday of rest and relaxation. Make sure you stay a couple of days to unwind and catch some of the local attractions:
- Visit the Kadina Heritage Museum, wander through historic Matta House - a former mine manager's residence, and The Banking and Currency Museum, with its extensive display of money and banking paraphernalia.
- Pay a visit to the Wallaroo Nautical and Maritime Museum to learn about the town's shipping history.
- Take the five-kilometre walking trail from the Stansbury Foreshore Caravan Park along the town's seafront.
- Dive Wardang Island. There are eight shipwrecks dotted along the coast of the Island, and a waterproof booklet - containing maps and wreck site plans - is available from The Environment Shop in Adelaide.
- Have a go at beach fishing at Marion Bay with the autumn mullet a major drawcard for beach anglers.
- Visit Inneston village - the site of an old gypsum mine and now a ghost town except for a few secluded cottages managed by National Parks.
- The Investigator Strait Maritime Heritage Trail is a good way to discover the stories of the various vessels that are shipwrecked off the coast of Innes National Park.
- If you get the chance take a tour to Troubridge Island. It's home to 1,000 Little Penguins and is an important bird breeding area. There's also an historic lighthouse.
- Try your luck at catching delicious Blue Swimmer Crabs off Ardrossan beaches.
- Take a look at the Ardrossan Museum to find out more about the Stump Jump Plough.
