Beaches
Sheltered swimming coves and wild surf-washed bays.
The best beaches in Innes National Park
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
9 places
Browns Beach
A wild, west-facing surf beach inside Innes famed for big Australian salmon runs off the sand.
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.
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.
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.
Gym Beach
A remote southern beach and bush-camp at the edge of Innes, loved by surfers and beach fishers chasing solitude.
Shell Beach
A sheltered, shallow cove near Pondalowie famed for clear water and a beach made of tiny shells.
Shell Beach (Innes)
FreeA crescent of crushed shell on the park coast.
A short walk leads to this pretty crescent beach made of fine crushed shell within Innes National Park.
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.