Yorke Peninsula

Cape Spencer Lighthouse, Innes National Park, Yorke Peninsula, SA.  Photo credit:  Adam Bruzzone/South Australian Tourism Commission

Yorke Peninsula

Once the riches of Yorke Peninsula were found beneath its surface in the form of copper. Today, you’ll find the wealth is in grain, with most of the original landscape given over to agriculture. Yet there’s more to Australia’s breadbasket than bread…

 

 

Yorke Peninsula is the boot-shaped promontory that sits across the waters of Gulf St Vincent from Adelaide.

It contains four national parks: Innes National Park, Clinton Conservation Park, Leven Beach Conservation Park, and Troubridge Island. Travelling to Yorke Peninsula is swift and simple: it’s about an hour’s drive from the city.

Yorke Peninsula activities

Moonta Mines Museum
Explore the life and hardships of the 19th Century copper miners through clothes, photographs and household items from the period.

The Butler Memorial, Minlaton
The WW1 Bristol Fighter plane is believed to be the only one of its kind left in the world. Known as the Red Devil, it was flown by Captain Harry Butler, a local who flew the monoplane in Australia and France. Their story is told at the site.

Cape Spencer Lighthouse, Stenhouse Bay
This 1950 automated beacon sits on the cliffs of Innes National Park’s southern coastline. Walking to it gives a stirring view of the cliffs. Information boards around the lighthouse explain the maritime history of the area.

Corny Point Lighthouse, Corny Point
On the north coast of the peninsula ‘boot’ is Corny Point. The lighthouse here has survived earthquakes, meteors and threatened Japanese invasion since it opened in 1882. There are no tours but it is open to the public.

 

Beaches
Looking for a more energetic selection of Yorke Peninsula activities? Head to the beach…

  • Stansbury Beach: On the east coast of the peninsula. Bay with calm waters suitable for swimming. You might spot dolphins. Jetty or boat fishing is available, as are water skiing, windsurfing and kite surfing.
  • Port Vincent: 15 minutes drive north along the east coast from Stansbury Beach. A sheltered bay with clear waters suitable for swimming and dolphin spotting. Has a pontoon from which you can fish.
  • Marion Bay: Try boat, jetty and beach fishing on the underside of the peninsula’s ‘big toe’ has two beaches: the bay side is suitable for swimming; the other for surfing.

 

Diving
With a host of natural and manmade attractions beneath the waves, it’s little surprise that diving holidays on Yorke Peninsula are one of this coast’s essential activities.

   Edithburgh Jetty: On the southeast coast. You’ll find seahorses, Port Jackson sharks, leafy sea dragons and cuttlefish beneath the jetty. Snorkelling, fishing and crabbing are also available.
   Zanoni Shipwreck: Explore the most intact and interesting 19th Century merchant shipwreck in South Australian waters. About 10 nautical miles off the coast of Ardrossan, on the east side of the peninsula. It’s a popular dive spot and you’ll need a permit from the Maritime Heritage Branch of the Department for Environment and Heritage.

 

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The Copper Coast

 

The Adjahdura (Narungga) people still live in communities at Maitland and Point Pearce (you’ll find cultural tours at Point Pearce). The area’s modern history begins with settlement in the 1840s when it was (re)named after Charles Philip Yorke, former British Home Secretary.

The area gained national importance when copper was found in the triangle of land between the towns of Kadina, Moonta and Wallaroo in 1859.

The copper attracted miners from Cornwall – giving the area yet another name: ‘Little Cornwall’. You might expect to find more Cornish heritage here, but little remains. Although they do love their Cornish pasties…

The Copper Coast Visitor Information Centre is in Kadina.

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