The Eyre Peninsula juts out into the ocean in a triangle shape. At the southern tip is the pleasant tuna fishing town of Port Lincoln. The Eyre Hwy runs inland across the top of the Peninsula from Port Augusta to Ceduna. This guide follows down the east coast road from Port Augusta to Port Lincoln then up west coast road to Ceduna. The west coast is more remote and has a spectacular coastline. The east coast in dotted with tiny fishing villages where not much ever happens.

Whyalla (population 25 000) (76km south of Port Augusta)

Whyalla is a steel production town with associated port facility. Iron ore is brought to Whyalla on the coast from mines 100km inland. Whyalla is the biggest town in South australia after Adelaide.

Tourist Information Centre is on the Lincoln Hwy at the northern end of town. Phone 08 8645 7900. Open 9am to 5pm weekdays, 9am to 4pm Saturday, 10am to 4pm Sunday.

BHP Steel Works Tours are Monday, Wednesday and Saturday departing 9.30am from the tourist centre. Cost $8. You must wear long pants, long sleeved shirt and closed footwear.

Maratime Museum is next door to the tourist information centre.

Whyalla Foreshore Caravan Park has on-site vans for $24 and cabins from $28. Broadbent Tce. Phone 08 8645 7474.

u u Bayview Hotel 11 Forsyth St. Phone 08 8645 8544. 16 rooms. Single $25, double $45, extra child $10. Laundry.

u u Lord Gowrie Hotel 10 Gowrie St. Phone 08 8645 8955. 9 rooms. Single $33, double $44.

u ² Hotel Eyre Cnr Playford Ave and Elliot St. Phone 08 8645 7188. 15 rooms. Single $39, double $40, extra child $5. Barbeque.

There are other more expensive motels.

Cowell (population 700)

Cowell is on the coast and used to be a jade mining town but the mines are closed now.

u u ² Cowell Jade Motel Lincoln Hwy, 1km north of town. Phone 08 8629 2002. 21 units. Single $50, double $55, triple $60, extra child $5. Pool, laundry, barbeque.

Franklin Harbour Hotel 1 Main St. Phone 08 8629 2015. 17 rooms. Single $15, double $25, extra child $10.

Between Cowell and Port Lincoln are a number of sleepy fishing villages.

Port Lincoln (population 12 000)

Port lincoln at the tip of the Peninsula is a pleasant beachside holiday town. There are plenty of restaurants and accomodation options in town. Port Lincoln has a large tuna fishing and aquaculture industry.

Port Lincoln Visitor Information Centre 66 Tasman Tce. Phone 1800 629911. Open daily 9am to 5.30pm.

National Parks and Wildlife Service Office. 75 Liverpool St. Phone 08 8688 3177.

Dangerous Reef, 31km offshore, is a big white pointer shark breeding area. Cruises usually only see sea lions there.

Lincoln National Park, south of town has rugged coastlines and rough surf beaches.

Aswell as the accomodation options listed below there are several 3-star motels in town.

u u Boston House Motel Lincoln Hwy, 4.5 km north of town. Phone 08 8682 1872. 4 units. Single $28, double $35.

u ² Great Northern Hotel Cnr New West Rd and Lewis St. Phone 08 86823350. 5 rooms. Single $20, double $40, triple $56.

u ² Pier Hotel Tasman Tce. Phone 08 86821322. 9 rooms. Single $30, double $40.

u Port Lincoln Hotel 16 Tasman Tce. Phone 08 8682 1277. 10 rooms. Single $18-$24, double $30-$40.

Hotel Boston 19 King St. Phone 08 8682 1311. 27 zero-star rooms. Single $22-$32, double $42-$48. There are also 11 two-star rooms for more.

Coffin Bay (population 343)

Coffin bay has sheltered sandy beaches. Much of the rest of the west coast of the peninsula is rugged. There is accomodation in town.

Streaky Bay (population 957)

Attractive little seaside town.

u u u Streaky Bay Community Hotel Motel 35 Alfred Tce on the beachfront has 23 motel units and 13 hotel rooms . Phone 08 8626 1008. Single $25-$48, double $30-$57, triple $39-$73.

u u u Streaky Bay Motel 7 Alfred St. Phone 08 8626 1126. 10 units. Single $44, double $52, extra child $8. Laundry, barbeque.

Ceduna (population 2753) (792km northwest of Adelaide)

On the coast, Ceduna is a pleasant fishing town. It is the last town before the vast Nullabor Plain to the west.

The tourist office is Ceduna Travel Centre at 58 Poynton St. Phone 08 8625 2780. Open 9am to 5pm weekdays. 9am to 11.30am Saturday.

Cactus Beach is a famous surfers beach. Turn off the Eyre Hwy at penong 75km west of ceduna, then follow the dirt track 20km to point Sinclair. Cactus Beach is there.

Accomodation options in Ceduna are:

u u u East West Motel 66 McKenzie St, 700m east of town. Phone 08 8625 2101. 48 units. Single $58-$68, double $63-$73. Pool, laundry, rec room, bbq. Flag Inn chain.

u u u Highway One Motel Eyre Hwy, 2km northwest of town. Phone 08 8625 2208. 24 units. Single $46-$62, double $51-$67. Budget Motel chain.

u u ² Ceduna Foreshore Community Hotel Motel Cnr O’Loughlin Tce and South Tce. Phone 08 8625 2008. 42 motel units and 9 cheaper 1.5 star hotel rooms. Single $25-$65, double $30-$70.

u u Pine Grove Motel 49 McKenzie St, 500m east of town. Phone 08 8625 2201. 25 units. Single $49 ,double $54. Pool, Barbeque.

Where To Go Next

From Ceduna travel west to Western Australia across the Nullabour Plain.

From Whyalla travel north 76km to Port Augusta, the cross-roads of Australia, with road and rail tranport in every direction. Adelaide to 320km from there.