Australia 17 - Adelaide & South Australia (Chapter)

(Darren Dugan) #1

Adel Aide & South Au


Str Ali A


EYRE


PENINSULA


&THE


WEST


COAST


Adel Aide & South Au


Str Ali A


INFORMATION


Adel Aide & South Au


Str Ali A


WHYALLA


restaurant here (mains $18 to $38, open
5.30pm to 8pm) is unbelievable!

Shoreline ̈Caravan ̈Park ̈ CARAVANPARK$
(%08-8642 2965; www �shorelinecaravanpark�
com �au;  Gardiner Ave;  unpowered/powered sites
$30/33, dm  $40,  cabins $65-130;as) It’s a
dusty site and a fair walk from town (and
the shoreline when the tide is out), but the
cabins are decent, plus there are simple
four-bed dorm units for backpackers. The
cheapest beds in town if you don’t fancy
sleeping above a pub.

Hot ̈Peppers ̈Cafe ̈ CAFE$
(34  Commercial Rd;  mains $7-16;h8�30am-5pm
Mon-Fri,8�30am-1�30pmSat) A buzzy little cafe
on the main street serving salads, quiches,
impressive homemade lasagne, baked pota-
toes and big sandwiches.

88 Information
Port Augusta Visitor Information Centre
(%1800 633 060, 08-86419193;www �port
augusta�sa �gov �au; 41FlindersTce, Wadlata
OutbackCentre;h9am-5�30pmMon-Fri,
10am-4pmSat &Sun) The majorinformation
outletfor the Eyre Peninsula,FlindersRanges
and outback� Part of the WadlataOutback
Centre�
Department of Environment, Water & Natu-
ral Resources(DEWNR;%08-86485300;
www �environment�sa �gov �au; 9MackaySt, 1st
floor;h9am-5pmMon-Fri)Information,maps
and road conditionupdatesfor the Flinders
Rangesand outback�

Whyalla
POP 21,130
An hour’s drive south of Port Augusta is
Whyalla − the third-biggest city in SA − with
a deep-water port sustaining steel mills, oil
and gas refineries and a morass of chugging
chimneys, portworks and industrial estates.
Ugly, yes, but the old town has some good
pubs, well-preserved domestic architecture
and migrating Giant Australian Cuttlefish in
the waters offshore (May to August).
Whyalla ̈ Visitor ̈ Information ̈ Centre
(%08-8645 7900, 1800  088  589;  www �whyalla�
com;  Lincoln Hwy; h9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 9�30am-
4pm  Sat  & Sun) can help with cuttlefish
info and accommodation listings, or head
straight for the utilitarian Foreshore ̈Mo-
tor ̈Inn (%08-86458877; www �whyallaforeshore�
com �au; WatsonTce; d/f from $145/170;aWs)
down by the wide white sandy expanse of
Whyalla’s foreshore.

Next to the visitor centre is the Whyalla ̈
Maritime ̈ Museum (%08-8645 8900; www �
whyallamaritimemuseum�com �au;  Lincoln Hwy;
adult/child/family $12/7/31;h10am-4pm, ship
tours  hourly 10am-2pm), which includes the
HMAS Whyalla, allegedly the largest land-
locked ship in Australia (...who keeps track
of these things?).

Port Lincoln
POP 15,000
Prosperous Port Lincoln, the ‘Tuna Capital
of the World’, overlooks broad Boston Bay on
the southern end of Eyre Peninsula. It’s still
a fishing town a long way from anywhere,
but the vibe here is energetic (dare we say
progressive!). The grassy foreshore is a busy
promenade, and there are some good pubs,
eateries and aquatic activities here to keep
you out of trouble.
If not for a lack of fresh water, Port Lin-
coln might have become the South Austral-
ian capital. These days it’s salt water (and
the tuna therein) that keeps the town tick-
ing. A guaranteed friend-maker here is to
slip Dean Lukin’s name into every conversa-
tion. Straight off the tuna boats, Big Dean
won the Super Heavyweight weightlifting
gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in LA −
what a champ!

1 ̈Sights ̈& ̈Activities
The annual Tunarama ̈ Festival (www�tuna
rama �net) on the Australia Day weekend in
January celebrates every finny facet of the
tuna-fishing industry.
There’s good beginner/intermediate surf-
ing at Fisheries Bay, Lone Pine and Wreck
Beach. For info visit Lincoln ̈ Surf (%08-
8682 4428;1King St; h9am-5�30pmMon-Fri,9am-
2pm Sat). They’re rumoured to be relocating,
so phone them if they’re not on King St.
If you’d rather be on the water rather
than in it, the local fishing is outstanding.
Ask Spot ̈ On ̈ Fishing ̈ Tackle (www�spoton
fishing�com �au; 39 TasmanTce; h8�30am-5�30pm
Mon-Fri,8am-4pmSat &Sun) about what’s bit-
ing where.

Adventure ̈Bay ̈Charters ̈ ADVENTURETOUR
(%08-8682 2979; www �adventurebaycharters�

com �au) (^) S Carbon-neutral Adventure Bay
Charters takes you swimming with sea lions
(adult/child $195/135) and Port Lincoln’s fa-
mous tuna ($95/65), which you hand feed in

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