Beaches
Sheltered swimming coves and wild surf-washed bays.
The best beaches in Marion Bay
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
13 places
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Hillocks Drive (Butlers Beach)
Seven kilometres of private coast for campers and anglers.
A generations-old family farm near Marion Bay with bush camping, clifftop pods and seven kilometres of wild private coastline, rock pools and surf-fishing beaches.
Innes National Park
Rugged cliffs, surf beaches and a ghost gypsum town.
The wild jewel at the foot of the peninsula, with surf breaks, turquoise coves, abundant wildlife and the Inneston ghost town.
Little Emu Bay
FreeA quiet bay near Marion Bay.
A small, quiet bay near Marion Bay favoured by local surfers and beach fishers.
Marion Bay
Gateway town to Innes National Park and the surf.
A small holiday town at the foot of the peninsula, the launch pad for Innes National Park, surf breaks and the Ethel wreck.
Marion Bay Beach
Marion Bay's broad sheltered beach and boat ramp, the launching point for the bottom of Yorke and the closest town to Innes National Park.
Pondalowie Bay
Legendary surf break and crayfishing cove in Innes.
A renowned surf break and sheltered crayfishing bay within Innes National Park, ringed by dunes and a popular campground.
The Gap
Cliff-framed surf beach deep in Innes National Park.
A dramatic cliff-backed surf beach in Innes National Park, reached by a steep walk down from the lookout.
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.