Best Eyre Peninsula Tours & Vacations 2023/2024

Vast, remote and brimming with ocean-meets-outback beauty. The Eyre Peninsula is one of the crown jewels of South Australia.

Ancient rock formations that hold the secrets of time, huge salt flats, screensaver-worthy beaches and heaps of unique flora and fauna—experience it all on our Eyre Peninsula tours. Join your Intrepid guide on a journey through the arid lands of Port Augusta and the Gawler Ranges to the salty shores of Penong and Coffin Bay, while learning about First Nations Cultures along the way. Whether you want to go on a wildlife and natural history safari, watch sea lion pups learning how to swim off Point Labatt, eat some of South Australia's best seafood or discover the rich culture of the Scotdesco Aboriginal Community, the Eyre Peninsula promises to be an adventure you'll never forget.

Our Eyre Peninsula tours

Eyre Peninsula Adventure

9 Days From 3600

Spend nine days exploring South Australia’s stunning Eyre Peninsula, from Adelaide to...

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Highlights of the Eyre Peninsula

An aerial view of an oyster farm in Coffin Bay

Visit a working oyster farm

The nutrient-rich waters along the Eyre Peninsula coastline produce some of Australia’s tastiest seafood, and if you've ever fancied trying your luck at oyster farming, now's your chance. Throw on a pair of waders, hop aboard a small fishing boat and cruise out to a working oyster farm in the crystal clear waters of Coffin Bay. You'll learn all about oyster farming and what makes the Eyre Peninsula's seafood so delicious. We bet you'll be shucking (and eating) oysters like a pro in no time!

An aerial view of a van driving past Lake Macdonnell

Drive along Watermelon Avenue

It's hard to believe your eyes as you drive along the long, dusty road that separates the ocean and  Lake Macdonnell, or ‘Watermelon Avenue’ as it’s warmly nicknamed by locals. The cotton-candy colour of the lake pops against the sparkling turquoise water thanks to algae that feed off the salt and secrete red pigments into the water. So, technically you’re marvelling at an algae poop-filled lake. Still, it’s a sight you’ll never forget. Winter and early spring are the best times to visit when there’s plenty of water in the lake.

The Organ Pipes in Gawler Ranges National Park

Explore Gawler Ranges National Park

Jump in a 4WD with your Intrepid leader for an epic wildlife and natural history safari tour of the Gawler Ranges National Park. As well as learning all about the history of these ancient landscapes and geological wonders, you’ll see plenty of local residents including emus, kangaroos, rock wallabies and maybe even a wombat or two. Jump out to explore on foot including the colourful rocks near Sturt’s Lake, the wavy formations of Pildappa Rock and the otherworldy Organ Pipes that hold over 1500 million years of history.

Enjoy a native-inspired lunch

With dry and seemingly lifeless landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see, you might not think life could thrive in the Outback... but it definitely can! After exploring the Arid Lands Botanic Garden, pop into the café for a delicious native-inspired lunch made with bush herbs and produce from the gardens. Tuck into lemon myrtle pancakes, homemade scones with quandong jam, or the arid tasting platter featuring kangaroo mettwurst, quandong chutney, native flavoured dukka and wattle seed damper.

Stay at Scotdesco Aboriginal Community

Spend two nights in the wonderful Scotdesco Aboriginal Community in Bookabie (wombat country) where you’ll visit local Aboriginal art galleries and take part in cultural activities to gain a deeper understanding of the community. You’ll also learn about the community’s unique rainwater harvesting system – the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. The community is completely reliant on rainwater and plans to be fully sustainable when their solar farm project is finished.

Sea lion mothers and their pups on the shore at Point Labatt

Visit Point Labatt sea lion colony

After a short walk to the clifftop viewing platform at Point Labatt, you'll be greeted with an amazing view of the local sea lion residents – the only permanent sea lion colony on mainland Australia. Watch these inquisitive mammals hanging out on the beach or lapping up the sun on the rocks. If you’re here during mid-winter or mid-summer (birthing season alternates every year) you might be lucky to see a couple of gorgeous seal pups playing with each either or learning how to swim under the watchful eye of their mammas.

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Eyre Peninsula FAQs

Do I need a COVID-19 vaccine to join an Intrepid trip to the Eyre Peninsula?

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 proof of vaccination policy

Where is the Eyre Peninsula?

The Eyre Peninsula is a 320 km (200 miles) promontory located in the middle of South Australia between the Great Australian Bight in the west and the Spencer Gulf in the east. The main towns include Port Augusta, Ceduna, Port Lincoln, Whyalla and Coffin Bay.

How do I get to the Eyre Peninsula?

The easiest way to get to the Eyre Peninsula is via Adelaide. There are daily flights into Adelaide from all major cities in Australia including Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. From Adelaide, you can drive to Port Augusta (3.5 hours) where you can either take the coastal route or go inland towards the Gawler Ranges. There are also three regional airports located within the Eyre Peninsula in Ceduna, Port Lincoln and Whyalla with daily flights to and from Adelaide.

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How do I get around the Eyre Peninsula?

Spanning 320 km, the Eyre Peninsula is a huge region with heaps to see and do, and the easiest way to get around is by driving or going on a tour. You can take a coach to Ceduna, Whyalla and Port Lincoln with Premier Stateliner, but public transport within these destinations is scarce or non-existent, and it’ll be difficult to get around if you don’t have your own transport.

When is the best time to visit the Eyre Peninsula?

The Eyre Peninsula has a Mediterranean climate with mild weather and below-average rainfall throughout the year. June is the wettest month, but even still, it’s dry compared to more southern parts of South Australia.

Along the Eyre Peninsula coast, summer is warm and dry with average highs ranging between 24-32°C, while winter highs linger between 12-18°C. It generally gets hotter and drier the further inland you go, with places such as the Gawler Ranges experiencing summer highs of 31-33°C and 16-18°C during winter. Summer (December-February) is the busiest time of year when people flock to make the most of the weather and the great outdoors, so if you want reliably good weather and smaller crowds, consider planning your trip during the shoulder season at the end of spring (November) or autumn (March).

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What should I pack for the Eyre Peninsula?

An Eyre Peninsula tour is active with lots of walking, swimming and exploring on the itinerary. Make sure you bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes or hiking boots, a pair of thongs, bathers, a sun hat, sunglasses, a daypack and clothing that you can layer up or down. You might also like to bring one or two smart casual outfits in case you visit restaurants and bars in the evening. If you're visiting in winter, you'll need a warm jacket and/or rain jacket to stay warm and dry.

Are Intrepid’s Eyre Peninsula tours accessible for travellers with disabilities?

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid