Beaches
Sheltered swimming coves and wild surf-washed bays.
The best beaches in Yorke Peninsula
Wrapped by three gulfs, the Yorke Peninsula has a beach for every mood: calm, child-friendly bays on the eastern coast, long surf beaches on the wild west, and turquoise coves tucked beneath the cliffs of Innes National Park.
Yorke Peninsula is ringed by some of South Australia's most varied coastline, and its beaches are the heart of any visit. On the calm eastern gulf you'll find shallow, child-friendly bays at places like Stansbury and Port Vincent, where the water warms early and blue swimmer crabs can be raked from the shallows at low tide.
Drive to the rugged western and southern coasts and the mood changes completely. Inside Innes National Park, surf rolls in off the Southern Ocean at famous breaks, while sheltered coves like Shell Beach offer turquoise swimming pools framed by limestone cliffs. Anglers chase Australian salmon from the sand at exposed surf beaches, and rock pools at low tide reveal a world of marine life.
Whether you want a safe paddle, a long shore-fishing session or empty stretches of white sand, the peninsula's beaches reward every kind of beachgoer. Pack reef shoes, sun protection and a tide chart, and you'll have your pick of bays all year round.
Browse beaches by area
53 places
Ardrossan
Red-cliff town with big gulf views and crab fishing.
A working grain-port town on the east coast, famous for its red cliffs, blue swimmer crabs and panoramic gulf lookout.
Balgowan
A tiny west-coast holiday hamlet beneath low cliffs, long loved by anglers and shack holidaymakers.
Berry Bay
Long west-coast beach with a mellow beach break.
A sweeping west-coast beach known for its beginner-friendly beach break, dunes and great fishing.
Black Point
Long sandy spit famed for big swimming flats.
A narrow holiday settlement on a long sandy spit, with shallow safe swimming and a relaxed shack-life feel.
Black Rock Beach
FreeA rugged west-side beach near Marion Bay.
A rugged, rock-fringed beach near Marion Bay favoured by anglers and walkers exploring the bottom of Yorke.
Bluff Beach
A long west-coast beach below low bluffs, popular for surf fishing, beginner waves and beachcombing.
Browns Beach
A wild, west-facing surf beach inside Innes famed for big Australian salmon runs off the sand.
Burners Beach
FreeA quiet beach near Port Victoria.
A quiet sandy beach near Port Victoria, good for walking, fishing and watching the grain ships at anchor.
Cable Bay
A quiet camping and fishing bay on the western edge of Innes National Park, away from the crowds.
Cable Hut Bay
FreeA sheltered cove on the Innes coast.
A quiet, sheltered cove inside Innes National Park, good for swimming and snorkelling on calm days.
Chinaman Wells
FreeA remote west-coast surf and fishing beach.
A remote west-coast beach below Brentwood, known to surfers and beach fishers for its quiet swell and salmon.
Coobowie
Shallow, sheltered bay made for families.
A quiet seaside hamlet on a broad shallow bay, perfect for safe swimming, wading and small-boat launching.
Coobowie Jetty
FreeA gentle east-coast jetty for crabs and squid.
A short, sheltered jetty at Coobowie popular with families for crabbing, squidding and easy fishing.
Corny Point Lighthouse
Whitewashed 1882 light on the south-west corner.
A heritage 1882 lighthouse marking the corner where Spencer Gulf meets Investigator Strait, framed by quiet beaches.
Daly Head
Powerful reef break for experienced surfers.
A rugged headland on the west coast prized for its powerful, consistent reef break and remote feel.
Dolphin Bay
FreeA secluded swimming beach in Innes.
A secluded sandy beach inside Innes National Park, named for the dolphins often seen offshore.
Dolphin Beach
A picturesque white-sand beach in Innes National Park with clear turquoise water and frequent dolphin sightings.
Edithburgh Tidal Pool
Sheltered ocean swimming pool carved into the rocks.
A beloved natural tidal swimming pool set into the rocky foreshore, safe for families and topped up by the sea.
Ethel Beach
A rugged surf and shipwreck beach in Innes, reached by a steep stairway, where the rusting ribs of the Ethel lie scattered on the sand.
Ethel Wreck
Rusting ribs of a barque wrecked on the beach in 1904.
The skeletal remains of the Norwegian barque Ethel, driven ashore in 1904 and still visible on the beach below the cliffs.
Foul Bay
A small fishing settlement on the lower-west coast, a launching point for whiting grounds and quiet beach walks.
Gleesons Landing
Beachfront camping and a popular surf and fishing spot.
A laid-back west-coast camping reserve with a sandy beach, surf break and excellent shore fishing.
Gym Beach
A remote southern beach and bush-camp at the edge of Innes, loved by surfers and beach fishers chasing solitude.
Hardwicke Bay
A quiet west-coast holiday hamlet with shallow, child-safe water and reliable whiting and crabbing.
Beaches in Yorke Peninsula - frequently asked questions
What are the best beaches on the Yorke Peninsula?
Wrapped by three gulfs, Yorke Peninsula has a beach for every mood. The calm eastern gulf has sheltered, child-friendly bays at Stansbury and Port Vincent, the wild west coast has long surf beaches, and the turquoise coves beneath the cliffs of Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park - including Pondalowie Bay and Browns Beach - are the dramatic highlight at the southern tip.
Which Yorke Peninsula beaches are best for families and safe swimming?
The sheltered eastern coast is the gentlest, with shallow, slow-shelving water at places like Stansbury, Port Vincent and Edithburgh that warms early in the season. The Edithburgh Tidal Pool is a standout for young children - a historic walled pool dating to the 1880s, only around knee to waist deep, with steps for easy entry, plus lawns, picnic spots and barbecues alongside.
Where can I surf on the Yorke Peninsula?
The exposed west and south coasts catch the swell, with most of the best surf inside Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park. Pondalowie Bay is the classic spot with consistent waves and a beach and reef break, Chinaman's is a powerful left-hand reef break for experienced surfers only, and Berry Bay near Corny Point is gentler for learners. The Yorkes surfing competition runs in the park each October long weekend.
Can you go crabbing on Yorke Peninsula beaches?
Yes - the sandy, seagrass shallows of the eastern gulf are prime blue swimmer crab country. You can rake them from the shallows or net them off the jetties at calm spots like Stansbury, Port Vincent and Ardrossan. Crabs move into the warm shallows from roughly spring to autumn, with the local rule of thumb being any month with an 'r' in it.
Do you need to pay or book to visit the beaches in Innes National Park, and can you bring a dog?
The beaches themselves are free, but Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park charges a vehicle entry fee (around $12 per vehicle per day) that you book and pay online, as cash is no longer taken at the park. Dogs are not permitted anywhere in the national park, so for beach walks with your dog stick to the many beaches outside it, where dogs are generally welcome off-leash provided they stay under effective control.