Yorke Peninsula Guides Attractions Events in South Australia

An easy 90 minute drive from Adelaide on the east coast of Yorke Peninsula, Ardrossan sits on top of imposing red cliffs providing excellent views of Gulf St Vincent. Wander down the jetty at sunrise to see the cliffs' amazing display of colour in the morning light.

If Blue Swimmer Crabs are your favourite, then this is the place to be; drop a net from the jetty or rake in the shallows and you won't be disappointed. Fishing from the jetty or boat will often return you a catch of Tommy Ruffs, Mullet, Garfish, squid or the prized King George Whiting. A sought after holiday destination, Ardrossan offers you a wonderful place to enjoy spectacular coastline and all of the activities it has to offer.

A main agricultural centre for surrounding districts, Ardrossan is a well serviced town offering good shopping and facilities. Drop in to the golf club or Ardrossan Motel Hotel. Ardrossan Museum is located in the former factory of CH Smith, developer of the Stump Jump Plough. This plough has legendary status in South Australia's history and is at the heart of the Ardrossan Museum's displays.

Ardrossan has a temperate climate with regular sea breezes. The maximum temperature is usually a few degrees cooler than Adelaide.

The town was proclaimed in 1873 and named by Governor Fergusson after Ardrossan in Ayrshire, Scotland. The jetty was built in 1876 and proclaimed a port in 1878. Early European settlers new the area as 'Clay Gully' or 'Parara'. A busy grain port, produce was carried along the jetty by horse-drawn trolleys to the ships and hand loaded by skilful deckhands to ensure the load was secure in rough seas. Steamers also provided a passenger service to Port Adelaide on Tuesdays and Fridays, which took four hours to make the crossing in good weather. South Australia's first silo was erected at the site in 1952 and today the silos can handle in excess of 250,000 tonnes of grain.

Black Point's long stretch of sand lining a glistening bay makes it a popular destination for holiday makers.

Stay in a beachfront holiday home and soak up the ocean views. Relax while fishing, swimming, sailing, boating or crabbing - the perfect summer holiday.

Black Point is centrally located on eastern Yorke Peninsula, which is home to fantastic beachside towns, premier surfing destinations, heritage sites, great restaurants and more. Make Black Point your base as you explore this delightful region of South Australia.

Sitting on the north west tip of the Yorke Peninsula, Corny Point is a delightful seaside town.

Corny Point offers sheltered beaches as well as some excellent surf beaches within 15 minutes drive, including Rock Pool, Salmon Hole, Daly Head and Berry Bay. It also offers a wide variety of water sports, time to relax and some amazing scenery. And from Corny Point to Point Turton, you'll find some wonderful rock and beach fishing, offering Salmon, Snook and Trevally.

It's an easy drive away from Innes National Park and Stenhouse Bay and some great coastal drives - making it the perfect base for travelling the foot of Yorke Peninsula.

Corny Point is 260 kilometres from Adelaide and you can find accommodation in the Corny Point Caravan Park, as well as local holiday homes.

It was named Corny Point by Captain Flinders in 1802 due to the fact that it looks like a growth on the toe of the Yorke Peninsula. The town was originally established as a place for a lighthouse, which was completed in 1882 and is 12.2 metres high. Built of local limestone, it was initially serviced by a head keeper and assistant. The lighthouse ceased being manned in 1920.

The small township of Curramulka is located 186 kilometres from Adelaide, and is part of a busy farming community. It is within easy driving distance of the coastal townships on either side of the Peninsula, and is only a short drive from Minlaton.

Curramulka is acknowledged as having the most extensive chain of limestone caves in the southern hemisphere. They are not open to the public for exploration but the Police Rescue Squad are a regular visitor to the caves, who use the caverns as part of their training exercises.

In the late 1800's Curramulka became an important service centre, providing services to the farmers who were travelling to the main port of Port Julia with their grain. It is local folklore that the name Curramulka came from the Aboriginal words 'gorry' meaning 'emu, and 'moolka' meaning 'stone watering holes'.

Edithburgh is a delightful holiday destination just 233 kilometres from Adelaide with a population of around 450. Once the third busiest port in South Australia, today it is a popular tourist and fishing village, making it the perfect place for a family holiday. There are nearly 200 hundred lakes most of which are salt, in the Edithburgh area, it is no wonder that this town was once a major salt provider to South Australia.

Established in 1869, Edithburgh is Southern Yorke Peninsula's oldest town. Edithburgh is named after Governor Sir James Fergusson's wife Edith and the two main roads after his daughters Edith and Blanche. The town was laid out with terraces and parklands allowing for a beautiful environment. The Jetty was built in 1873 and salt, gypsum and lime were shipped off to Adelaide. Salt was one of the major industries of this town; prior to 1891, 7,000 tonnes of salt were provided to South Australia by scrapings. Between 1891 and 1900 they were supplying over 40,000 tonnes per year and a number of salt factories. By 1950 this business had ceased.

Edithburgh and Troubridge Island are home to a number of shipwrecks, one of the worst being the 'Clan Ranald' where close to 40 lives were lost. Their graves can now be found in the cemetery.

Nowadays the town is known as being an excellent location for the keen fishermen with mullet, yellow fin, whiting and larger fish. Fishing is available off both jetty, beaches - try Sultana Point Beach, great for those with kids - and boat with an all weather boat ramp.

Edithburgh is the perfect place to take the family for a holiday, with great swimming beaches and a tidal swimming pool with a shallow area for kids. The sandy beaches are perfect for fishing, swimming, scuba diving or snorkelling and sail boarding. Why not have a picnic or BBQ on the foreshore or enjoy one of the many walks ranging from historical to scenic and coastal.

A short drive from Edithburgh, south-east along Sheoak Beach Road, is the Wattle Point Wind Farm. A newly constructed viewing area allows visitors to stand right underneath one of these amazing 68m high structures, and learn about how they capture nature's renewable resource.

Beautiful pristine sandy beaches, perfect for young children, make Hardwicke Bay irresistible to families, retirees or romantic couples alike. A well sheltered bay is perfect for swimming, fishing, yachting and boating which are all popular pastimes especially during holiday seasons. This peaceful sleepy town offers everything for anyone wanting to relax and looking for the great escape.

Hardwicke Bay initially evolved as a small shack settlement for the locals on weekends and a base for professional fisherman in the 1940's. The council opened land up in the 1960's and a farmer subdivided his land in the 1980's. Today the Bay is rapidly developing with permanent and holiday dwellings.

Story of Interest:
In the 1950's a fisherman built a tin and brush dwelling around a tree, on the beach. He, his wife and several children lived there for sometime. Their original means of transport was a Harley Davidson Motorcycle and box sidecar, which was used for supplies, carting water and transporting fish to the market.

Only 148 kilometres from Adelaide, Kadina is the largest town on the Yorke Peninsula, with a population of around 4,000.

It houses The Farm Shed Museum & Tourism Centre, just out of town towards Moonta. Kadina is also one of the homes of the Kernewek Lowender festival, the world's largest Cornish Festival held every two years on the uneven years since 1973.

The name Kadina is believed to have come from the Aboriginal word Kadiyinya meaning 'lizard plain'. Today Kadina is the main commercial centre for a very prosperous agricultural region. However, copper mining was once the main industry for this town; hence Kadina is part of the Copper Coast, which includes Wallaroo and Moonta (also known as 'Little Cornwall').

Copper was first found in 1859 at Wallaroo Mines near Kadina. The population in this area quickly grew and the town of Kadina was surveyed in 1861. The main ethnic group to arrive in this area was the Cornish, bringing with them their mining techniques, labour practices, architecture and the Methodist religion. In 1862 the Wombat Hotel (named after the animals that had discovered the copper) was open for business and a horse-drawn railway was operating at the Wallaroo Mine. By 1891 there were 12,000 people living in the Copper Triangle. The mines closed in 1923, however in this time they removed 170,000 tons of copper.

The original European settlers from this area were mainly Cornish, and examples of Cornish architecture can be found in Kadina including the Royal Exchange and Wombat Hotels (originally a boarding house for new miners), the Kadina Hotel (originally a single storey hotel called the Miner's Arms) and a number of the churches. Kadina has great walks around the town looking at these old building as well as being a base to explore the surrounding mines.

Kadina offers all the facilities of a large town and a wide range of accommodation as well as been close to a number of stunning scenic and family friendly beaches, in Moonta Bay, Port Hughes and Wallaroo. In addition to this it great base for exploring the northern end of the Yorke Peninsula and its rich history.

Situated a top of a ridge over looking the Spencer Gulf and Yorke Valley, Maitland is geographically the central town on Yorke Peninsula. Due to higher rainfall than other parts of the Yorke Peninsula, Maitland is surrounded by some of the best barley country in Australia. The town's layout was designed to be like Adelaide with plenty of parklands and straight streets, making it a very pretty town. Maitland does not swell much during the tourist seasons, possibly due to the fact that it is not based on the sea. It is however the main town servicing many of the beach towns, and is only a short distance (15 minutes) from both the east and west coasts. Maitland has great community spirit with a number of events based around the town and is the base for the district football and netball.

Named after the wife of the First Lord of Kilkerran in Scotland, Lady Jean Maitland, the town was proclaimed in 1872. Initially Maitland was known as Yorke Valley. The native Aborigines, the Narungga tribe, called it Madi Waltu, meaning 'White Flint' in reference to the White Limestone Cliffs. The Maitland Hotel was one of the first buildings built in 1874; initially it was only one storey high and used as the local community hall.

Story of interest:
In the early days the licensees of hotels were required to use the hotel for other purposes than accommodation and the selling of liquor. Other uses include when there was no police station within two miles, it would receive corpses for the Coroner's inquest. The first police station was not built until 1879. Until the Courthouse was built in 1914 court cases were held in the Institute (The Maitland Hotel) and it would appear in some instances, in the parlour of the hotel.

On the 'foot' of Yorke Peninsula, Marion Bay is the gateway to Innes National Park. With surf and swimming beaches, and a variety of fishing available, visitors are sure to enjoy this small town.

Marion Bay has a small population of approximately 130 permanents; this swells to 500-900 during holiday periods. The beaches at Marion Bay offer the best of both worlds - a sheltered swimming beach, popular with families and a surf beach on the other side. Fishing is available for everyone offering boat, jetty, beach, rock and surf fishing.

Being on the foot of the Yorke Peninsula incorporates high winds of south-easterly nature during the summer months. The best times to visit are the months of March, April and May where the winds die down and the seas are calm with a mild temperature. Summer months can become very hot and winters can be bitterly cold. Marion Bay has a moderate rainfall and generally does not receive as much rain as Adelaide or surrounding districts.

Located 197 kilometres west of Adelaide and 88 metres above sea level, Minlaton is the main service centre for the surrounding rural districts. Offering a variety of facilities for travellers venturing to the 'bottom end' of Yorke Peninsula, Minlaton is a picturesque township with wide welcoming streets.

The town was originally named Gum Flat because it is the only area of the Southern Yorke Peninsula where red gums grow naturally. The name was changed to Minlaton, which is derived from the local Aboriginal word 'minlacowie' which means 'sweet water'.

The area was settled in the 1870s by farmers who found the conditions ideal for growing wheat and barley and the grazing of sheep. Today this small township promotes itself as 'The Barley Capital of the World' and offers many facilities for locals and tourists alike.

Moonta is a pretty coastal town that is steeped in history.

Just 165 kilometres from Adelaide, it's popular with holidaymakers, especially families. Nearby, you'll find Moonta Bay - a delightful holiday spot with excellent accommodation and facilities. Its sandy beaches and jetty make it a drawcard for fishermen, families and holidaymakers alike. While here, take the opportunity to go on a fishing charter, and use local knowledge to find secret fishing spots for a great catch.

Take to the Moonta Mines Walking Trails, or ride the 50-minute round trip on the Moonta Mines Tourist Railway. You can also discover more about the town at the Moonta Mines Museum.

Port Hughes is a close neighbour. The Port Hughes jetty offers excellent fishing opportunities, and the area is also popular with boat fishers and charter boats.

South Australia's second largest town in its heyday, Moonta was predominately settled by Cornish miners and their families. Moonta owes most of its prosperity to the Moonta Mining Co.

During the prosperous late 1800s, Moonta had the largest urban population outside of Adelaide, with 12,000 people including many Cornish miners who brought their skills and lifestyle. For this reason Moonta is known as 'Australia's Little Cornwall'. The town of Moonta helps host the Kernewek Lowender (or Cornish Festival) along with the towns of Kadina and Wallaroo, which is held every two years (in odd numbered years). It's a chance to enjoy street processions, dance, music, theatre, a vintage car rally and more.

The name Moonta comes from the Aboriginal words 'Moonta-Moonterra' meaning impenetrable scrub. It has a population of 3,500 which rises to 10,000 during the summer holiday season.

Did you know: One of the things Moonta is most famous for is the Cornish Pasty. Miners used to take their lunch to work in a package of pastry - so it wouldn't get dirty. The pastry was joined along the top with a ridge so that it could be easily carried. The miner would open the pastry, and find in one end meat and vegetable; the other end would have fruit and jam for dessert. Today you can still buy delicious meat and vegetable filled traditional pasties in Moonta.

A popular holiday town with good beaches, jetty and fishing, Moonta Bay is located on the shores of Spencer Gulf 168 kilometres from Adelaide. Its sandy beaches and jetty make this township a real draw card for fishermen, families and holidaymakers alike. While here, take the opportunity to go on a fishing charter, and use local knowledge to find the secret fishing spots for a great catch.

Moonta Bay and Port Hughes are close neighbours of the small business centre of Moonta. The towns are very popular with people in retirement and holidaymakers, especially families. The Port Hughes jetty offers excellent fishing opportunities, and the area is also very popular with boat fishers and charter boats. The beaches are stunning to look at with wide sandy shores, flat clear blue green water and are excellent for families; and the jetty provides beautiful views of the coast and beaches when looking back to the mainland.

Copper was discovered here in 1861 and led to the establishment of the Moonta Mining Company. An interesting way to take in the history of this mining region is on the tiny tourist train that runs on weekends. The train station is opposite the Moonta Mines National Trust Museum, in the former Moonta Mines School.

There is a range of accommodation available, some of which is within walking distance of sandy beaches, jetties and cafes.

Paskeville is famed as the host town for the Yorke Peninsula Field Days, held every September in odd numbered years.

This event is the oldest in Australia and one of the biggest, exhibiting millions of dollars worth of farm machinery. Named Community Event of the Year 2006, the field days also offer fantastic food and entertainment and a chance to mix with the locals.

This small town is 131 kilometres from Adelaide and a reception point for grain deliveries.

Yorke Peninsula is one of South Australia's most popular holiday destinations. It offers plenty of seaside accommodation, swimming beaches, fishing, walking trails and more.

Point Turton is a delightful town overlooking the calm waters of Hardwicke Bay. Situated only two and a half hours from Adelaide, Point Turton offers miles of beaches, reefs for walking, shell collecting. Or for those into some water sports the year round sheltered bay offers excellent conditions for diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, sailing, jet skiing, boating and fishing. Point Turton's population has grown a reasonable amount in the last decade with the population now around 250, which swells considerably during the summer holiday period.

The jetty at Point Turton was built in 1876 to ship out the local barley, and stone; the quarrying of stone ended in 1917. After this the jetty was used for a number of reasons including the shipment of grain, superphosphate, heavy freight and local provisions. The jetty today is used for unloading the local catches of salmon and prawns.

Story of Interest:
Captain John Hutchinson, a marine surveyor, named Point Turton to celebrate a double wedding between Governor Daly's youngest daughter to Mr H H Turton, Manager of the Savings Bank of South Australia and the Governor's eldest daughter who married Mr John Souttar, Manager of the Bank of Adelaide.

Port Broughton is ideally situated neighbouring the Mid North, Lower Flinders Ranges, Clare Valley and the Copper Coast, making it the perfect spot to visit a number of different regions and caters for many different interests. Being in the top end of the Peninsula means that it a little drier and warmer than much of the rest of Yorke Peninsula. This delightful town is perfect for relaxing and enjoying the local seafood and fine cuisine that the peninsula and surrounding districts have to offer.

Initially pastoralists used the land around Port Broughton, however the land was not suitable for grazing. In 1869 the land was sold into acre lots with 97 local landowners. The town was surveyed in 1871 with another 60 allotments for sale in 1872. The town soon grew into a large wheat port. The first proper jetty built in 1874 was 1,260 feet long and cost £1,200. The jetty however was replaced in 1876 after a railway was built between Mundoora and Port Broughton. The new jetty meant that the bottom of the harbour had to be dredged; the jetty was 1,245 feet long and had a railway going the length of the jetty. The new jetty was built at a cost of £3,715.

Port Broughton received its name from the river flowing north of the township, named by Edward John Eyre in 1839 after the first Anglican Archbishop of Australia. Port Broughton is a delightful town with attractive beaches and is very popular with tourist, and people looking to fish and relax. Port Broughton provides the opportunity to see dolphins, pelicans, and superb sunsets. The population of Port Broughton is around 1,000 with it becoming increasingly popular with retirees; the population in the summer holidays reaches 4,000.

Port Clinton is the northern most town on the Yorke Peninsula facing the St Vincent Gulf, with wide sandy beaches that are perfect for crabbing, fishing or just doing nothing. The town is situated 130 kilometres south of Port Pirie and 125 kilometres from Adelaide.

Port Clinton is a peaceful town, that is the perfect place to go if you want to get away from it all. For those interested in bird and animal life, mangroves that provide the perfect location to see nature's wonders, surround Port Clinton. The mangroves are full of crabs and provide plenty of shelter making it the perfect nursery for fish.

Not actually located on the Yorke Peninsula, Port Gawler is at the start of the Samphire Coast, which goes along Gulf St Vincent up to Port Clinton. The Samphire Coast is great for those interested in bird life, with the coast containing sites that are regarded as the third and fourth ranked for shore birds.

Port Gawler was once a booming town due to its wharf and surrounding grain areas. Today it is well known for crabbing and the only off-road hire park for motor bikes, four wheel drive vehicles and go-carts in South Australia.

Port Hughes, only two hours away from Adelaide, is a picturesque coastal town with pristine beaches, clear blue green water, and fantastic jetty with great fishing. Ideally located only minutes away from Moonta and Kadina, Port Hughes has one of the prettiest beaches in the northern Yorke Peninsula. The jetty is very popular with fisherman and there are plenty of deep-sea charters to choose from.

Port Hughes was surveyed in 1863 and was named after Sir Watson Hughes, who is one of the founders of the University of Adelaide.

The waters around Port Hughes are clear and calm, and are perfect for families, boating and water sports. Port Hughes is one of the many towns on the peninsula that has a large amount of development going on.

Enjoy jetty or boat fishing, safe swimming and other water sports, or take a stroll along South Beach towards Cape Elizabeth.

Situated on the western side of Yorke Peninsula with the Spencer Gulf lapping its shores, Port Rickaby lies in a clearing between long coastal sand dunes. A shallow bay guarded by north and south reefs creates a sheltered, sandy swimming beach ideal for family holidays.

Fishing opportunities from the jetty, boat or beach attracts fishers of all ages with boat ramp facilities allowing beach launching for small or medium sized boats. A local kiosk is well stocked offering takeaway meals, fuel, ice and general supplies available.

Port Rickaby was once a busy grain port visited by ketches and steamships. Large wheat stacks dominated the land now occupied by the caravan park.

The jetty was once three times its current length with up to nine ketches moored at the same time. The names of some of the ketches and steamships that frequented these waters are now used as local street names, for example: Falie, Waimana and Coringle.

Centrally placed on Yorke Peninsula and only 192 kilometres from Adelaide, Port Victoria is an ideal base to explore from. Overlooking the shores of Victoria Bay towards Wardang Island, the town is a popular destination for family holidays, fishing or diving experiences. The waters around Wardang Island hide nine shipwrecks, with eight of them included in the Underwater Maritime Heritage Trail enjoyed by many diving enthusiasts.

Commercial fishing is still an important industry with recreational fishing from jetties, beaches or boats being a huge attraction to the area.

The traditional owners of Yorke Peninsula are the Adjahdura Aboriginal people, whose land reached from Port Broughton in the north to the Hammock Ranges in the East. Today Point Pearce and Wardang Island are Aboriginal Lands of the Adjahdura people. The Narungga Aboriginal Progress Association Incorporated (NAPA) has been formed to provide the means and opportunity for Aboriginal people to become more self-sufficient. To provide employment, skills/training opportunities, raise self-esteem and increase economic development.

In 1802 Captain Matthew Flinders mistook Wardang Island for part of the mainland and named the area Point Pearce. It wasn't until 1839 when the area was surveyed by Robert Cook and James Hughes, in a schooner called 'Victoria' that they realised there was a separated island, they named the bay Victoria Harbour in 1839 after their boat.

In 1976 the town was initially proclaimed as 'Wauraltee', however the local residents always called it Port Victoria, so its name was changed in 1940. Pastoralists took up most of the land for the first few years, followed by farmers. In the late 1870's the Hotel was the first building established and the jetty was constructed in 1878. In the 1880's the farmers around the area began experimenting with growing barley for human's to eat as well as just to feed the stock.

The town soon became a major grain port, exporting as far away as England. Ships were anchored in the harbour and loaded by a smaller craft, sometimes taking up to six weeks to fill one vessel. At one point during the Second World War 50,000 bags of grain were stored.

Known as the 'Last of the Windjammers' ports, Port Victoria was once alive with ships of all sizes from the massive Windjammers, Schooners, Baroques, Ketches and Steamships.

Port Vincent, known as the water sport centre of the Yorke Peninsula, is the ideal location for fishing, boating and sailing.

The attractive and peaceful bay provides swimming for families, while spectacular walking trails take you along the cliff top north of the town with stunning views across Gulf St Vincent and new marina. Port Vincent is one of Yorke Peninsula's most popular resorts, with a permanent population of 470, which rises dramatically at peak periods, and during this period the bay is full of boats.

The townsfolk take pride in their beautiful town and in 2004 won the KESAB tidiest town award. The marina has 90 berths and a boat ramp.

Port Vincent not only offers water sports, but a spectacular walk that takes you along the cliff tops to a lookout, past the marina and through a scenic valley. You are also able to see a pioneer well, and rocks that have been dragged from Victor Harbor by a glacier.

Initially called Surveyor's Point, the town of Port Vincent was laid out by an Adelaide Solicitor in 1877. The town, historically like most of the towns on the Yorke Peninsula, is an old port. It was once one of the old landing spots for the ketches going up and down the peninsula.

Captain Matthew Flinders explored the coast of Yorke Peninsula in 1802, naming bays and geographical features; he did not however name Port Vincent bay. Surveyor Robert Cock was commissioned to survey land around the area, he named the township, Port Vincent and called the bay Port St. Vincent. Pastoralists took up sections of land facing the bay and in 1854 some of the land was sold and wheat crops were grown. By 1869 wheat farming began replacing sheep runs, the grain needed to be shipped to Port Adelaide and 1877 the construction of a jetty at Port Vincent began.

Port Vincent differed from other ports on the peninsula coasts in two ways. Firstly the jetty was privately built and owned and secondly it was the only port on the eastern coast to have a wharf. (This was constructed in three stages between 1902 - 1909, and the jetty demolished in 1918). From 1877 -1970, Port Vincent thrived as a port by shipping bagged grain and receiving general supplies. In 1970 a grain silo opened at Port Giles and bagged grain was phased out as bulk handling of grain took over.

Port Vincent was also the homeport of full time and part time fishermen, fishing licences were introduced in 1904. The introduction of Government regulations in the late 1970's saw many changes to the local fishing industry. In 1960 there were 11 full time fishermen fishing from Port Vincent and today there is only one. The end of bagged grain handling could have seen the end of Port Vincent as a town: instead it was the beginning of a new era.

With a magnificent coastline and sheltered bay, Port Vincent became a popular retirement town and holiday destination and continues to grow in popularity today.

Port Wakefield is well known to the travelling public for the many roadhouses that line Highway One, providing valuable refreshments for the weary traveller. But the town also encourages you to venture off the highway, take a break, and discover the heritage and charm that lies behind the busy highway.

Take the time to wander into this historical township and you will be pleasantly surprised. Stretch your legs along the waters edge or discover the many old buildings and historical sites, walk along boardwalks through mangrove forests and view the abundant bird life or take a dip in the local swimming area.

If you wish to stay longer, Port Wakefield's the perfect location, only 99 kilometres north of Adelaide, a fantastic fishing destination and the gateway to many of South Australia's foremost tourist destinations.

The town has a seafaring atmosphere with an emphasis on recreational fishing and its wharf, where small boats await the fishermen. Boardwalks and bird identification signs provide an insight into the environment. Port Wakefield was the first government town north of Adelaide and boasts many well preserved historic buildings. A commemorative wall features residents' family histories. The Rising Sun Hotel has a gallery of portraits dating back to the 1800s.

A monument in town recalls the area's first meeting with Europeans when Captain Flinders discovered the head of the gulf, on 30 March 1802 and named it Gulf St Vincent after Admiral Lord St Vincent.

Port Wakefield was the first town to be established north of Adelaide in the colonising of South Australia. Initially named Port Henry; it was changed to Port Wakefield after the River Wakefield when the town was surveyed. The port was established to ship copper from the rich mines of Burra and later served as the main local outlet for wheat and wool.

In 1849 it was reported that the location would be perfect as a port. Between 1850 and 1877 the township prospered with huge quantities of copper ore passing through it from the Burra and Kooringa mines. The town started to dwindle in 1857 when they began to transport copper ore by rail, however the port was still used in the 20th century for transporting wool and wheat.

Stansbury sits on the pristine waters of Oyster Bay in Gulf St Vincent against a background of Norfolk Pines.

Located on Yorke Peninsula, a two and a half hour drive from Adelaide, it's an ideal base to explore the region. Stansbury is centrally located for access to Innes National Park, 110 kilometres to the south, and the Copper Coast 110 kilometres to the north.

The Mediterranean climate, sandy beach and calm waters of the bay are ideal for beach activities, swimming and water-skiing. The well maintained foreshore features one of the best children's playgrounds on the peninsula with two colourful play stations. There are also shaded barbecue and picnic facilities along the foreshore and at the jetty reserve. Enjoy the monthly, bustling Stansbury Seaside Markets.

An all-tide two-lane boat ramp, and beach and jetty fishing provide the angler with plenty of opportunity for fishing. Popular seasonal catches include King George Whiting, Garfish, Mullet, Tommies and squid. Blue Swimmer Crabs can be raked from the shallows or netted from the jetty or boat.

Tourism, oyster farms and limestone are some of the major industries of today found at Stansbury. The development of oyster farms now supplying fresh, locally produced oysters is another popular attraction, as are the many beautiful older buildings and even fence lines constructed of limestone.

The first settler in the district was Alfred Weaver who brought 7,000 sheep with him. Weaver built a shearing shed in 1846 where Stansbury now stands. Due to the abundance of oysters found in the bay, Stansbury was originally known as Oyster Bay and had a reputation for the best oysters in South Australia. For a number of years there were between 15 and 20 oyster dredges working the bay, until eventually it was fished out.

The name Stansbury came into being when Governor Sir Anthony Musgrave renamed it in 1873 after his friend Mr Stansbury. Find out more about the town's history at the Stansbury Museum.

Wallaroo is one of the state's favourite holiday spots, being very popular with families as it is great for swimming, and an excellent place for fishing, relaxing and sightseeing the Copper Coast. Wallaroo is growing very quickly especially with the construction of the new multimillion-dollar marina. Wallaroo is only 160km north of Adelaide and has a great deal to offer, it is a deep sea port, with a jetty which is one of the most popular in the state for fishing. The town is home to the Spencer Gulf Prawn fleet, and is the perfect spot to experience the Peninsula's excellent produce.

Wallaroo offers the traveller many facilities and a variety of accommodation, as well as the many different experiences to enjoy in the area. The town today is a mix of a seaside resort and a working industrial town, surrounded by some of the best grain growing and grazing land in Australia, and the sea. The main industries today include grain and fertilizer. Wallaroo fast became one of the busiest ports in the state and remains so to this day.

The name Wallaroo comes the Aboriginal word 'Wadlu Waru' meaning wallabies urine. The early settler's tried to copy the aboriginals by calling it Walla Waroo, however they found this too big to stamp on the wool bales, so they shortened it to Wallaroo.

Robert Miller first settled the area in 1851 as a sheep grazier; he then sold the land to Walter Watson Hughes in 1857. The land at this time was scrubby Mulga and not of much use for anything but grazing. In 1859 copper was discovered in the Kadina region. Two shepherds working for Hughes found the copper, James Boor in 1859 at Wallaroo and Patrick Ryan in Moonta 1861, in a wombat's hole. The first copper smelter was lit in 1861 at Wallaroo. Copper mining soon became a huge industry and the township of Wallaroo grew rapidly. With the population in 1865 being 3,000, by 1909 it had grown to 4,000, and reached 5,000 in 1920. In the town today there is much evidence of this prosperous era. The township of Wallaroo was formally proclaimed in 1862, from 1861-1923 the port was the most important on the Yorke Peninsula and the largest and most important on the Spencer Gulf until 1890 when Port Pirie built large smelters. The production of copper ceased in the Copper Coast in the 1920's, and the town population started to decline after this.

The jetty in Wallaroo was built 1861; ships brought to the port food, timber, coal and mining equipment. The first load of refined copper was shipped from Wallaroo in 1862 and by 1868 over 100 tons were been produced each week.

Situated 228 kilometres west of Adelaide, Warooka is a small town known as the gateway to the bottom end of the Yorke Peninsula. The name Warooka comes from the Aboriginal word wiruka meaning 'muddy waterhole'. Warooka is a major service centre for the surrounding area, and offers an excellent central location to explore the bottom end of the Yorke Peninsula, as well as a white sandy and very attractive, sheltered beach perfect for swimming or windsurfing with white sand.

Wheat and sheep farmers first settled Warooka in the 1850's, however it was not until 1876 that it was officially established with settlers beginning to move into the town in the late 1870's. Many Irish people settled this area and in 1876 the first stone was laid to the first Catholic Church, in 1877 the Warooka hotel was built.

Interesting story:
On September 19 1902 at 8.30pm Warooka was hit by an earthquake, measuring six on the Richter scale. The earthquake caused huge damage with the first known deaths from an earthquake ever recorded in Australia.

Wool Bay is an attractive small seaside town situated between Stansbury and Coobowie. The town of Pickering was founded in 1876 and later in 1940 its name was changed due to the fact that the jetty (built in 1882), was wide enough to roll a bale of wool down; consequently the locals called it Wool Bay Jetty, and the name of the town changed to Wool Bay.

With a permanent population of approximately 100, sandy beaches and moderate year round weather, Wool Bay is now the perfect place to leave behind a fast paced life, lie back, relax and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Wool Bay initially was a wool, grain and lime exporting town. The uniquely designed Lime Kilns are situated on the cliffs above the town, for some mysterious reason the kilns here never worked properly. The kilns have now been restored and bear testimony to another long gone commercial activity.

Yorke Peninsula is lazy days under the beach umbrella. Cold beers around a barbecue sizzling with the day's catch. Historic wooden jetties that lead right out to where the fish are biting. And sunsets over boat-filled bays.

The toughest thing about a trip to Yorke Peninsula is dragging yourself off the beach. But there's plenty to see "off-shore" … like kicking up your heels at the world's largest Cornish festival; wandering through time in historic copper mining towns; meeting entrepreneurs and enthusiasts on the Yorke Peninsula Home Grown Trail; strolling along coastal trails and hiking through rugged bushland at Innes National Park.

With more than 600 kilometres of coastline and a host of sunny seaside towns, "Yorkes" is much loved by South Australians. And many of its best beaches are just a couple of hours from Adelaide.

Surf Action

Surf the breaks of Chinaman's and Pondalowie Bay down at the base of Yorke Peninsula. Grab a waterproof map marking a scuba diving trail to eight shipwrecks around Wardang Island off Port Victoria. Visit in September for Yorke's surfing classic, held annually at Innes National Park. Walk along trails in Edithburgh, Port Vincent, Stansbury, Barkers Rocks and Port Victoria. Search for big-bellied seahorses and Port Jackson sharks on a dive just off Edithburgh Jetty.

Innes National Park

Hike through tranquil coastal mallee in the 9,200-hectare Innes National Park, keeping a lookout for emus, kangaroos, 90 species of birds, and Southern Right Whales in winter. The historic ruins of Inneston village offer an intriguing insight into the area's harsh days of gypsum mining, while the Investigator Strait Maritime Heritage Trail reveals 26 shipwrecks lying just off the rocky coast.

Luck of the Cornish

Journey through time in the Copper Coast towns of Kadina, Wallaroo and Moonta, where Australia's richest colonial copper mines operated in the late 1800s. Ride on the Moonta Mines Railway (part of the extensive Moonta Mines State Heritage Area); sample a bottle of Swanky and try a traditional Cornish Pasty; and count the coins at the Banking and Currency Museum. Visit during the month of May in odd-numbered years for the Kernewek Lowender Cornish festival.

Fisherman's Basket

Catch your fill of King George whiting, dive for scallops just off the beach and rake the shallows for blue swimmer crabs. The Yorke Peninsula is dotted with historic jetties and pristine surf beaches perfect for snaring the catch of the day, from snapper, garfish and salmon to tommy ruffs, mullet, crabs and squid. And boaties should try out the multi-million-dollar marina developments at Port Vincent and Wallaroo. To learn about the best fishing locations, and hints for catching the big one while in the region, pick up a copy of the Yorke Peninsula Fishing Guide.

Home Grown Trail

Go behind the scenes of key and quirky rural enterprises on the Yorke Peninsula Home Grown Trail, a self-drive guide to everything from olives to ostriches. Grab a copy of the Yorke Peninsula Visitor Guide before tasting the region's wines, following the process for creating hand-made papers and stroking a baby alpaca.

Troubridge Island

Retreat to your very own island for the weekend. The Troubridge Island lighthouse was commissioned in 1856 after a series of shipwrecks off the Yorke Peninsula coast near Edithburgh. Today the island is a beacon for migratory birds and fairy penguins, and has clean sandy beaches for swimming and snorkelling.

Surf and Turf

Eat the freshest seafood and drink the coldest beer at great country pubs, cafes and restaurants. Some of the best Yorke Peninsula dining experiences are gourmet wood-fired pizzas and the signature dish 'Marion Bay Oscar' at Marion Bay Tavern; giant seafood platters at The Boat Shed Restaurant at Wallaroo; a traditional Cornish Pasty from The Cornish Kitchen, Moonta; or try a coastal dining experience at the Wallaroo Marina Hotel.

Yorketown as the name suggests takes its name from the peninsula. It's considered to be the hub of the Southern Yorke Peninsula. The town sits at an intersection of five roads to other towns. It's 230 kilometres from Adelaide, in the heel of the Yorke Peninsula's foot - practically in the centre between Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent.

Take the town walk to discover the area's history. You'll also find two friendly hotels, a caravan park and playground.

In the early days Yorketown was called 'Weaners Flat', because it was where the pastoralists separated the lambs from the ewes. The name changed in 1876 and suggestions for a new name included Salt Lake City after the salt lakes within a 13 kilometre radius.

Yorketown owed most of its prosperity in the early days to the salt lakes surrounding the town. With 200 salt lakes nearby, it's no wonder that the salt industry flourished. The salt industry reached its peak during the First World War with 57,000 tonnes farmed in a year, and production ceased in the 1950s when the salt refinery closed in Edithburgh.