Cliffs, coves, a rusting shipwreck and an abandoned gypsum town: here is how to make the most of a visit to Innes National Park.
At the very foot of the Yorke Peninsula, Innes National Park protects a stretch of coast so wild and beautiful it feels a world away from the gentle gulf beaches further north. Limestone cliffs plunge into turquoise water, surf rolls into hidden coves, and the bush is alive with emus, kangaroos and ospreys.
The must-sees
- Cape Spencer Lighthouse sits on dramatic cliffs at the south-west tip, with views to Althorpe Island and, on clear days, Kangaroo Island.
- The Ethel wreck, a Norwegian barque driven ashore in 1904, lies as rusting ribs on the beach below a clifftop lookout.
- Pondalowie Bay offers world-class surf, a crayfishing fleet and a walk-in campground.
- Inneston, a gypsum-mining town abandoned in the 1930s, is now an eerie cluster of ruins slowly returning to bush, with some buildings restored for accommodation.
Where to stay
The park has a string of campgrounds, from the dune-backed sites at Pondalowie to sheltered Stenhouse Bay, plus heritage cottages at Inneston. Marion Bay, just outside the park boundary, has a tavern, store and accommodation if you prefer a base with services.
Plan ahead
A park entry pass is required, fuel and supplies should be bought before you arrive, and the nearest substantial shops are back in Yorketown or Warooka. Spring brings wildflowers and active wildlife; summer is busy and hot.
Give yourself at least a full day, and ideally a couple of nights, to do this special corner of the peninsula justice.
