What to See in One Week on the Yorke Penninsula in South Australia
- Feb 1
- 3 min read
Updated: May 10
With a short trip to Adelaide planned for January I decided it was the ideal time for my first visit to the Yorke Penninsula. Knowing I only had a free week the drive across from NSW was done in two days, with overnight stays in Wagga Wagga NSW and Mildura VIC.
In Wagga Wagga I'd booked the International Hotel and was initially disappointed to find out the onsite restaurant at the time was closed, however, on the opposite corner is the Farmers Home Hotel which was perfect for a casual dinner.
In Mildura I'd booked the Comfort Inn Deakin Palms and found the staff were really friendly, the pool was deeply appreciated given the hot summer temperatures, and the food was lovely at their onsite restaurant Botanica.
On route to Wallaroo for the first night at the top of the Yorke Penninsula I detoured via Lake Bumbunga. It was definitely worth seeing yet not as pink as some of the incredible photos seen online. The monster in the lake was an amusing touch.
Arriving in Wallaroo the view from the apartment at the marina was impressive, and a great start to the upcoming week of adventure.
One of the first stand out things about the Yorke Penninsula is that it was less crowded than many of Australia's tourist stops. This meant that at most stops there were people around but it never felt crowded, and occassionally it was possible to be completely on your own which I love. It is easiest to really enjoy the beauty of a location when the sights and sounds are pure nature.
Visiting South Beach the beach was beautiful, but I couldn't capture the beauty I'd seen online in various aerial shots, partly due to the clouds and naturally there is a perspective from above that's impossible to replicate on the ground.
Balgowan Cliffs was well worth the stop, there was no-one around and the contrast of the orange clliffs with the water was stunning.
I'd booked to stay two nights in Port Victoria which worked out well because it was a really lovely AirBnB.
Flaherty's Beach was fascinating and would look radically different depending on the tide. During my visit it had the characteristic big white sand flats, cars were driving on the sand, and it was a surprisingly long walk out to the water which was beautiful but shallow. Not great for a quick dip but very pretty.
Some more beautiful beach views were from Berry Bay.
Staying near Marion Bay at the Hilltop Ocean Pod for two nights was a real pleasure. The pod was simple but the experience of staying in such a private spot with magnificant views was really special.
Situated right above Butler's Beach the view at all times of day was exceptional, and it was the perfect place to stay to explore some of the excellent coast views accessible within this private property.
Driving through the Yorke Penninsula I was surprised by how flat and agricultural the land was, balanced by the unspoilt nature of the coast. If you are looking for a quieter holiday with access to wild coast views the Yorke Penninsula may be your perfect destination.
