Walking & Hiking
Coastal clifftops, the Walk the Yorke trail and bush tracks.
The best walking & hiking in Yorke Peninsula
Lace up for the 500-kilometre Walk the Yorke trail that rings the entire peninsula, or take shorter clifftop and dune walks through Innes National Park where you might spot emus, kangaroos and the occasional pod of dolphins offshore.
Yorke Peninsula is laced with walking trails that hug dramatic coastline and trace its mining history. The signature experience is Walk the Yorke, a 500-kilometre shared trail that loops almost the entire peninsula coast, broken into manageable day sections for walkers and cyclists of all abilities.
The most spectacular hiking is found in Innes National Park, where trails lead to clifftop lookouts over the Ethel shipwreck, the historic West Cape Lighthouse and the rugged headland of Royston Head. Shorter heritage walks wind through the ruins of the Inneston gypsum township and the old Moonta mines.
From gentle foreshore strolls to challenging coastal hikes, the peninsula's walking and hiking trails reward you with sweeping ocean views, wildflowers in spring and frequent wildlife encounters. Carry plenty of water, wear sturdy shoes and check trail conditions, especially on exposed clifftop sections where the Southern Ocean weather can change quickly.
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21 places
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.
Cape Spencer
The wild south-western tip of Yorke Peninsula, where a lighthouse stands above cliffs looking out toward Kangaroo Island and the Southern Ocean.
Clinton Conservation Park
A coastal wetland reserve of mangroves and tidal flats at the head of Gulf St Vincent, rich in birdlife.
Cornish Mine Engine Houses
FreeStone engine houses of the copper era.
The surviving Cornish engine houses at Moonta Mines, stone landmarks of the 19th-century copper boom.
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.
Innes Pug Restaurant Ruins
Atmospheric stone ruins of the old Inneston gypsum-works store, set among the mallee in Innes.
Inneston Historic Township
The atmospheric ruins of a gypsum-mining town inside Innes, with restored cottages, a heritage walk and lakeside camping.
Kadina Wallaroo Moonta Heritage Trail
FreeThe Copper Triangle's heritage drive.
A self-guided heritage route linking the three Copper Triangle towns of Kadina, Wallaroo and Moonta.
Point Davenport Conservation Park
A wild, little-visited coastal reserve of dunes, samphire flats and rich birdlife near Edithburgh.
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.
Port Moorowie
A quiet south-coast hideaway of reefs and beach shacks.
A sleepy shack settlement on the Yorke Peninsula's south coast with sheltered swimming, reef walks, a boat ramp and a scenic stretch of the Walk the Yorke trail.
Royston Head
A dramatic clifftop walk to the southern tip of Innes, with sweeping ocean views and spring wildflowers.
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.
Stansbury Foreshore Walk
Six easy kilometres along Oyster Bay.
A 6.3 km accessible coastal trail from Stansbury's jetty to Pitts Cutting, with gulf views, rest stops, lookouts and outdoor gym stations along the way.
Stenhouse Bay Lookout
FreeCliff-top views over the old gypsum loading jetty.
A short walk to a clifftop lookout above the historic Stenhouse Bay gypsum jetty at the edge of Innes National Park.
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.
Troubridge Hill Lighthouse
The brick tower that took over from Troubridge Island.
A striking unpainted brick lighthouse on the clifftops west of Edithburgh, first lit in 1980 to replace the old Troubridge Island light.
Walk the Yorke
A 500-kilometre coastal trail circling the peninsula.
A signposted 500-kilometre walking and cycling trail that hugs the coastline all the way around Yorke Peninsula.
Wallaroo Mines Heritage Site
Where a shepherd's find sparked the Copper Coast.
The stone ruins of the great Wallaroo Mines on Kadina's edge, where copper was discovered in 1859, crowned by the heritage-listed Harvey's Enginehouse.
Wattle Point Wind Farm
Fifty-five turbines turning over the southern coast.
One of Australia's landmark wind farms, operating near Edithburgh since 2005, with a free public viewing area and interpretive displays beneath the turbines.
West Cape Lighthouse
A slender modern lighthouse on a boardwalk-accessed headland inside Innes, famous for sunset views and passing southern right whales in winter.
Walking & Hiking in Yorke Peninsula - frequently asked questions
What is Yorke Peninsula best known for when it comes to walking and hiking?
The signature experience is Walk the Yorke, a roughly 500-kilometre shared trail that loops almost the entire peninsula coastline, taking in limestone clifftops, sandy beaches, scrubland and historic towns. The other highlight is the rugged southern tip at Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, where clifftop and dune walks deliver dramatic coastal scenery and frequent sightings of emus, kangaroos and offshore dolphins.
Do I have to walk all 500 kilometres of Walk the Yorke at once?
No - the trail is deliberately broken into ten manageable map sections so you can tackle it as short day walks or a multi-day adventure, on foot or by bike. The trail itself is free to use, and walking times are based on an average pace of 4 kilometres per hour, so you can pick sections to suit your fitness and the time you have.
What are the best walks in Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park?
Popular short walks include the clifftop track out to Cape Spencer and its lighthouse, the historic Inneston township loop through a former gypsum-mining ghost town, and the longer Thomson-Pfitzner Plaster Trail that follows the old plaster railway line between Inneston and Stenhouse Bay. There is a real range here, from 30-minute strolls around Pondalowie Bay to longer dune treks and clifftop lookouts at spots like Royston Head.
Do I need to pay or book to visit Innes National Park, and can I bring my dog?
Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park normally charges a vehicle entry fee that you book and pay online before you visit, and camping must also be booked online in advance. Dogs are not permitted anywhere in the park, although registered assistance dogs are welcome, so plan a different coastal walk if you are travelling with a pet.
When is the best time of year to go walking on Yorke Peninsula?
Spring and autumn are ideal, with mild, dry days, uncrowded coastal trails and wildflowers dotting the scrubland in Innes National Park around spring. Summer walking is not recommended on the longer sections of Walk the Yorke because of extreme heat and fire risk, so carry 2 to 3 litres of water, watch the forecast, and remember mobile coverage can be unreliable on exposed coastal stretches.