Yorkes Truly: your holiday guide to the Yorke Peninsula

With an array of attractions ranging from fishing and swimming to farmers’ markets and distilleries, the Yorke Peninsula is the holiday destination that keeps on giving.

It’s probably safe to say there wouldn’t be many South Australians that don’t have a favourite holiday memory of time spent on Yorke Peninsula. Holidays on Yorkes and the easy laidback lifestyle draw visitors back year after year to holiday in beachside caravan parks, or bush camping sites within walking distance to family friendly sandy beaches.

Heading north from Adelaide you can be on the Copper Coast Highway in less than an hour and a half, with the car full of water toys, the beach cricket set and fishing gear and set yourself up comfortably on your own piece of paradise somewhere along the 700 plus kilometres of coastline.

Fishing

Many people visit Yorkes for the fishing with consistent catches from the jetties including King George whiting, tommies, bream, garfish, mullet, as well as squid, and blue swimmer crabs. With more than 20 boat ramps, it’s a popular destination for boaties too as much for a peaceful day of bobbing on the water as for catching schooling fish like garfish, and kidney thumping whiting.

Beach fishing is another popular pastime for anyone to try their hand at especially when it can be as easy as taking a few steps away from your accommodation to the water’s edge. Days don’t begin much better than watching the sunrise over water, while dolphins and pelicans cruise by at the start of the day. For some of the best fishing try Port Hughes, Moonta Bay, Edithburgh, Wallaroo and Port Vincent.

Beer, wine and spirits

When the fish are off the bite it’s a good time to discover what’s on offer away from the coast. These days Yorke Peninsula has diversified from its grain and cereal cropping farms with craft breweries and a distillery now part of the scene. They may be small but they are making top quality drinks, and winning awards in the process.

It shouldn’t come as any surprise that the region where the stump jump plough originated from is still being innovative in agriculture. Not only are they producing their own beers, wines and spirits but Yorke Peninsula grain makes up a piece of most Australian beers. Visit Sunny Hill Distillery Arthurton, Watsacowie Brewing Minlaton, Barley Stacks Wines Maitland. Not only do they make good drops but they are also family and pet friendly.

Friendly towns, markets and murals

Every town on Yorke Peninsula has its own reason for visitors to return and you can easily have a day touring and taking scenic inland roads to visit a few favourites as you crisscross the peninsula. Building ruins and remnants of the peninsula’s history sit right alongside modern windfarms and thriving agriculture.

On weekends many of the towns hold farmers markets where you can buy locally made and grown produce, arts, crafts and bric-a-brac. As you drive through towns keep an eye out for colourful murals adorning buildings that depict the history of towns. For markets and murals visit Stansbury, Wallaroo and Kadina.

Coastal scenery

Wherever you drive you’re never far from spectacular coastal scenery, a bright blue ocean and white sandy beaches. As peaceful as it can look at times, this coast has had a treacherous past with 85 shipwrecks dotted around the coastline. Some can be seen protruding from their watery graves at low tide, while the metal bones of the Ethel wreck rest on the beach in Innes National Park.

As you take a coastal drive look for a number of unique looking lighthouses, none more so maybe than the Troubridge Hill Lighthouse. This imposing 32 metre structure is constructed of custom-made wedge shaped clay bricks. Visit Edithburgh, Marion Bay and Innes National Park for wild coastal views and birdlife always keep your eyes peeled for roaming wildlife in this natural scrub area too.

Sunrises and Sunsets

Yorke Peninsula not only gives you the option of seeing the sunrise over water every morning but because it averages a mere 40 kilometres from one side to the other, it’s also possible to watch the sun sink into the water every evening.