Marion Bay
A small holiday town at the foot of the peninsula, the gateway to Innes National Park, surf breaks and the Ethel wreck.
The foot of Yorke Peninsula
Marion Bay sits right at the southern tip of Yorke Peninsula, a small, relaxed coastal town that swells with holidaymakers each summer. It is best known as the gateway to Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, whose entrance lies only a few kilometres down the road, but the town stands on its own for an easygoing beach holiday - a tavern, a general store, accommodation and a sheltered swimming beach beside the jetty.
Surf, fishing and shipwrecks
The coast here runs from calm to wild in just a few kilometres. The jetty is a favourite for squid and mullet, with the autumn mullet run a local highlight, while the surf breaks at Pondalowie Bay and Daly Head draw board-riders. Within the park you will find the historic Ethel shipwreck, often half-buried in the sand, the Cape Spencer lighthouse and lookout, and quiet coves such as Berry Bay.
Into the park
Just inside Innes lies Inneston, a ghost town left from the gypsum-mining era of the early last century. Marion Bay makes the ideal base for it all, around a three-hour drive from Adelaide via Port Wakefield, Minlaton and Warooka.
Visiting Marion Bay - frequently asked questions
What is Marion Bay known for?
Marion Bay is best known as the gateway to Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park at the southern tip of Yorke Peninsula. It is a relaxed coastal town popular for fishing, surfing and beach holidays, with a sheltered swimming beach beside the jetty and a wilder surf coast nearby.
How far is Marion Bay from Adelaide?
Marion Bay is roughly 280 to 285 kilometres from Adelaide, usually around a three-hour drive. The common route heads north to Port Wakefield, then south down Yorke Peninsula through Minlaton and Warooka.
What is there to do in and around Marion Bay?
Visitors swim, fish, surf and explore the nearby national park, whose entrance is only a few kilometres away. Highlights include the surf breaks at Pondalowie Bay and Daly Head, the historic Ethel shipwreck, the Cape Spencer lookout and lighthouse, and coastal walking trails. Marion Bay's long jetty is also a popular spot for catching squid and mullet.
When is the best time to visit Marion Bay?
Autumn, around March to May, is often a pleasant time, when the winds tend to ease and the seas are calmer, and it coincides with the autumn mullet run. Summer is the busiest period as holidaymakers fill the town, so book accommodation well ahead if you are visiting in peak season.
How close is Marion Bay to Innes National Park?
The entrance to Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park is only a few kilometres from Marion Bay, making the town a convenient base for day trips. From here it is a short drive to the park's beaches, lookouts, surf breaks and historic sites, including the Inneston ghost town and the Ethel shipwreck.
Things to do in Marion Bay
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Stories from Marion Bay
Surfing and fishing the bottom of Yorke
From the legendary breaks at Pondalowie to the whiting jetties of the gulf coast, the bottom of Yorke is paradise for surfers and fishers.
June 2026 · 4 min read
A first-timer's guide to Innes National Park
Cliffs, coves, a rusting shipwreck and an abandoned gypsum town: here is how to make the most of a visit to Innes National Park.
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Image credits
- Marion Bay Jetty, Northwest view 20230209 2.jpg by DXR , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons