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TOP 10 THINGS
TO SEE & DO
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TOP 10 THINGS TO SEE & DO
Get up close to whales and sea lions, venture on the ultimate seafood safari and marvel at natural wonders, all along the Far West Coast of South Australia. Start exploring the Far West Coast with our top ten guide.
1. DISCOVER ABORIGINAL ART AND CULTURE AT ARTS CEDUNA
Find authentic artwork and artefacts from over 130 Indigenous artists across the Far West Coast of South Australia at Arts Ceduna. Expect hyper-coloured paintings, ceramics, sculptures and prints strongly influenced by their deep connection to the surrounding land, desert and sea. You’ll also find artwork available for purchase at the Scotdesco and Yalata Aboriginal communities.
2. SWIM WITH SEA LIONS AT FOWLERS BAY
An adventure to write home about! Swim with sea lions off the shores of Fowlers Bay with EP Cruisers. Slip into a wetsuit, throw on a snorkel and mask and spend the afternoon playing games and snorkelling alongside the bay’s friendliest residents – the Australian sea lion. You’ll learn the more active you are, the more these adorable puppy dogs of the sea want to play. Twist and twirl til your hearts content, and if you’re lucky enough they may come up to you for a kiss.
3. TASTE FARM FRESH OYSTERS WITH SA PREMIUM OYSTERS
Arrive in Smoky Bay, hop aboard the oyster barge, then cruise the 3 kilometres of pristine waters on a SA Premium Oyster Farm Tour. Learn about owners Jeff and Colleen Holmes’ flourishing oyster business, don some waders and walk in the waters a working oyster farm, see how oysters are grown, learn how to shuck like a pro, then taste these world-renowned oysters, plucked straight from the sea. If you’d prefer to stay out of the water, you can slurp down Far West Coast oysters and perfectly paired wine with SA Premium Oysters Shucking Shed Tour or purchase direct from one of 24 oyster farming producers at the Aquaculture Park. Here, the world really is your oyster.
4. VENTURE ACROSS THE LEGENDARY NULLARBOR PLAIN
Pack up the car and set your GPS for one of Australia’s greatest road trips – the Nullarbor Plain. Stretching over 1100km from Ceduna to Norseman in Western Australia, it’s an epic journey of extremes. Literally meaning ‘no trees’, the Nullarbor is best known for vast, flat, seemingly endless semi-arid limestone karst landscape, but venture off the main road and you’ll discover an array of natural wonders and quirky surprises. Spot abundant native wildlife, visit cool outback pubs, watch migrating whales cavorting in the waters below the Bunda Cliffs, play the world’s longest golf course or catch your dinner at renowned fishing haven Fowlers Bay. If you’d rather make the trek with a with some local guidance check out the awesome adventures offered by Nullarbor Traveller, Xplore Eyre and China Air.
5. EMBARK ON A WHALE WATCHING TOUR WITH EP CRUISERS
Jump onboard the ultimate interactive and informative whale watching tour with EP Cruisers in Fowlers Bay. Between June and October each year, Southern Right and Humpback Whales migrate to the bay to calve and nurse their young. Departing from the Fowlers Bay Jetty, tours last approximately two hours, where you’ll discover the whaling history of the area, learn about Whale Baleen Plate, hold rare Ambergris, listen to realtime underwater acoustics and experience the whales as they swim up to and around the boat. The water around here is brimming with marine mammals and ocean birds with Australian Sea Lions, New Zealand Fur Seals, Little Penguins, Bottlenose and Common Dolphins, White Bellied Sea Eagles and rare species of Albatross being a few other locals who may stop by to greet you.
6. DEVOUR WORLD-CLASS SEAFOOD IN CEDUNA
Known as the Oyster Capital of Australia in Eyre Peninsula’s Seafood Frontier, the Far West Coast produces some of the freshest and tastiest seafood in the world. Buy straight from the supplier or treat yourself to a dining experience with ocean views. Dine alfresco or indoor bistro at the Ceduna Foreshore Hotel for an ever changing menu focused on local seafood. At Thevenard Fish Processors you’ll find these fishmongers at the filleting table most mornings and receiving freshly caught fish in the afternoons. King George Whiting, snapper, crayfish, prawns, calamari, oysters and countless fish are all on the menu. Pick up a fresh catch and cook up a feast at home. For a unique experience sit rooftop at the Ceduna Oyster Barn with a feed of legendary local oysters or fish and chips and watch the road trains rumble into town.
7. MARVEL AT MOTHER NATURES PINK PALETTE
Lake MacDonnell may look every bit like a strawberry milkshake, but believe us when we say it’s not sweet. In fact, Lake MacDonnell is one of South Australia’s more spectacular, and therefore salty, pink lakes with a super high salt concentration producing its pink and magenta hues. The explanation behind these bubblegum shores – its the lakes high salinity levels, combined with salt-loving algae and halobacteria, known as pink bacteria, that turn it vibrant pink. But what makes Lake MacDonnell even more spectacular is its neighbouring green-blue waters, making it a watermelon avenue. Take the instagrammable road between these waters to Catcus Beach: a surf Mecca known for its epic breaks.
8. FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE (4WD) ALONG GOOGS TRACK
For a true four-wheel-drive (4WD) adventure venture the 200 kilometres through Googs Track, crossing more than 300 sand dunes before joining the Transcontinental Railway. The track is best travelled south to north. From Ceduna, Googs Track begins at the Dog Fence and continues north through granite outcrops and dry ales of the Yumbarra Conservation Park and the Yellabinna Regional Reserve. The park has no facilities, so you’ll need to be experienced and travel with plenty of food, water and fuel. Pitch a tent at Googs Lake – a large dry salt lake in a sea of sand dunes – and at Mt Finke where, from the summit, you can see an endless 360 degree view of untouched wilderness. Camping permits are required and available from the Ceduna Visitor Information Centre or Ceduna National Resources Office.
9. SURF WORLD CLASS BREAKS AT CACTUS BEACH
If you love uncrowded waves, long left and right handers and taking the road less travelled, then Catcus Beach is the place for you. Set up camp amongst the vintage caravans and 4WD dotted throughout the remote coastal scrub, meters from epic breaks that have lured surfers for decades. Of course you can just come for the surf, but the environmentally sustainable campsite is worth the stay with a communal kitchen, firewood topped up daily, flushing toilets and shower huts. There’s no electricity or service, but with so much coastal beauty around you, we doubt you’ll miss it. If you’re not a surfer spend your days swimming, fishing or fossicking along the shoreline, then head up to the Seat and soak in mind-blowing sunsets overlooking the Southern Ocean swells. As for the practical side of things you’ll need to bring your own drinking water and you can’t book, you turn up, pick your spot and pay caretaker Ronnie who comes around to collect fees.
10. REAL IN A BIG ONE ON A FISHING CHARTER
The Far West Coast boasts some of the best and biggest ocean fare in Australia and the best way to experience Australia’s freshest catch is at the source. Venture to Ceduna for a day on the water. Haul King George whiting straight from the sea with Ceduna Boat Charters or set out on a deep sea fishing expedition to Nuyts Archipelago Marine Park. With permit spend a night camping at Yalata Beach and surf fish for salmon and massive mulloway. Beach, boat or rock fish with Snapper Safaris Fishing Charters at Fowlers Bay, Mexican Hat, salmon Mecca Scotts Beach and countless other legendary spots along the Far West Coast.
