Short on time? This easy two-day loop pairs the Copper Coast's heritage with the wild beaches of the south for a perfect weekend escape.
Only two and a half hours from Adelaide, the Yorke Peninsula is built for a weekend escape. This relaxed loop pairs the Cornish copper towns of the north with the wild surf coast of the south.
Day one: the Copper Coast
Drive up to Kadina for a coffee among its grand stone streetscapes, then continue to Moonta. Spend the morning at the Moonta Mines State Heritage Area, riding the tourist train and exploring the engine houses and museum, before grabbing an authentic Cornish pasty for lunch.
In the afternoon, cool off at Moonta Bay or drop a line from the Port Hughes jetty, where whiting and squid are the usual catch. Detour to Wallaroo for fish and chips on the beach and a look through the Heritage and Nautical Museum before settling in for the night.
Day two: south to the surf
Head down the peninsula to Edithburgh, where the natural tidal pool is perfect for a morning swim and the historic jetty is one of the state's best shore dives. From here, the wild south beckons.
Drive on to Marion Bay and into Innes National Park. Walk down to the Ethel wreck, take in the views from Cape Spencer, and watch the surfers at Pondalowie Bay. Keep an eye out for emus and kangaroos along the road.
Make it longer
If you can steal an extra day, add the sheltered east-coast towns of Port Vincent and Stansbury for calm swimming, oysters and a slower pace before the drive home.
