South Australian metro-bound 4WDers prepared to drive a couple hours out of town are blessed with enough world-class offroad destinations east and west of the capital to explore all year.
The Yorke Peninsula is a boot shaped peninsula less than two hours drive west of Adelaide that is truly a coastal traveller’s dream.
The long sandy isthmus is bound to the west by Spencer Gulf and to the east by St Vincent Gulf and offers visitors some 700km of coastline to explore with some ripper offroad drives available, as well as a wealth of coastal campsites and some outstanding fishing opportunities.
If you’re not much of an angler, be sure to pay a visit to one of the community fishing co-ops to purchase some of the freshest, tastiest seafood in the country.
STUFF TO DO
4WDING is generally limited to sand driving of the more gentle nature, however there is some more challenging dune driving available at Gleesons Landing, as well as fun beach runs available at Balgowan, Point Hughes, Foul Bay and between Point Victoria and Point Rickaby.
FISHING is arguably the Yorke Peninsula’s most popular pastime, and it’s certainly worth trying your hand at catching a few of the local specialties while you’re in the area.
King George whiting can be taken from many of the open and more protected beaches, while tommy ruff and garfish are perennial favourites for jetty bound fishos.
Those making use of the peninsula’s many long jetties can also try their hand at jigging up a haul of succulent southern calamari squid – a favourite in these waters that can be caught in big numbers by those adept as flinging a prawn jig.
IMPORTANT INFO
LOCATION: around 190km west of Adelaide, the Yorke Peninsula offers visitors unfettered access to its 700km of picturesque coastline.
CAMPING is available all over the peninsula at campgrounds such as Gleesons Landing and Burners Beach which are equipped with basic facilities including toilet blocks and picnic tables, as well as much more basic free campsites at the Gap, the Bamboos, Tiparra Rocks, Wauraltee Beach and Barkers Rocks which offer no facilities.
CAMPING PERMITS must be acquired to camp anywhere on the peninsula and are available by phoning the Yorke Peninsula Visitors Centre on 1800 202 445.
FUEL is available at Adelaide, Wallaroo and Moonta.
MORE INFO is available at www.yorkepeninsula.com.au
