The Best Camping Spots on Yorke Peninsula
The Yorke Peninsula is one of the best camping destinations in South Australia, with a number of off grid options to choose from. Here are, in my opinion, the best camping spots on Yorke Peninsula!
1. Gleeson’s Landing
On the western side of the foot is a great council run camping ground at Gleeson’s Landing. It is expansive with plenty of sites along the coast. Long weekends aside, you’ve got a pretty good shot at setting up in privacy here.
There is a huge reef directly in front of most campsites which make a great place for the kids to explore when the tide runs out, but no so great for fishing (when we visited for the first time, we got excited by the water lapping up to the dunes right in front of camp – only to snap about 5 rigs off before the tide went out revealing all the reef!)
Fishing at Gleesons Landing, off the rocks to the south can provide a chance of some squid. The beach to the north is good for both a swim and fishing. It can produce mullet through the autumn months and also some big predatory fish at any time!
You’ll need to be self sufficient here. Toilets are provided near the entrance, but there’s a good chance you won’t be camped near by.
Get your camping permit from Yorke Peninsula Council
2. Wauraltee Beach
The hottest spot on Yorke Peninsula – Wauraltee Beach has exploded in popularity in recent years thanks to social media, and with good reason.
This usually (all beaches blow in sea weed now and then don’t they?) pristine looking beach on the western side of Yorkes, only 2.5 hours drive from Adelaide. When the weather is fine, there’s no more picturesque place to set up camp on the Yorke Peninsula. Think calm waters, and amazing sunsets. You’ll be able to set up camp right on the beach, and it’s totally free. There is also a council campground just before the beach entrance which can be camped at for a fee. Be warned, when the wind is blows from the west, you may want to seek shelter off the beach.
Whilst the beach is fairly easy driving, a 4wd would be needed to navigate some soft sections (particularly when setting up camp above the high tide mark). The further you travel north up the beach the more likely it is you’ll run into softer areas. The picture above gives an idea of this.
Wauraltee isn’t particularly known for it’s fishing. I attempted some kayaking around the weed line for squid without success, but I’ve heard of others who have. This place is more about the serenity than catching a big one!
If planning to camp in the council area, be sure to get your camping permit from Yorke Peninsula Council beforehand.
3. Hillocks Drive
Whilst it can be a bit on the expensive side these days, Hillocks Drive has been a staple of camping on lower Yorke Peninsula for many years. We’ve spent countless nights camping here and days exploring the coast. It’s a huge property, set out along approximately 6km of coastline, with campsites scattered throughout. The best sites are the ones sheltered behind trees, or the big dunes at the back of Butler’s Beach. Hillocks Drive can accommodate larger groups in some of the bigger areas set aside for camping too. Clean long drop toilets are scattered throughout the property, but if non-self contained, consider how far you may need to walk from your campsite when booking a site!
Fishing is good off Salmon Beach on the Western End of the property. Unfortunately this area was fenced of the cars a number of years ago – so you now need to park at the fence and walk for about 500 metres before taking the climb down the cliff (relatively easy if you’re moderately fit). Butlers Beach itself can be pretty good fishing in the right conditions. Always worth chucking a line in! Hillocks Drive is abundant with rock ledges to throw a line in too, and all sorts of species can be landed – Salmon, Tommy Ruffs, Flat Head, Squid, Mullet and even a Snapper have all been landed.
Aside from Butler’s Beach, there are a number of rock pools along the coast that make for some great swimming and photo opportunities.
With showers and plumbed toilets back at the homestead (a short drive from the coast) Hillocks Drive is an ideal family camping location. We’ve spent a number of Christmas breaks here!
4. Balgowan Area
North of Wauraltee, but south of Port Hughes is Balgowan. There a few council run camping area’s to the north of Balgowan: Tiparra Rocks, The Gap, and Bamboos. All are on a similar stretch of coastline with calm beaches and rocky outcrops.
Bamboos is a small clearing behind the dunes, so well protected from the wind (but not so much the flies). It’s a short walk to a calm beach.
The Gap has a large camping area behind the dunes, and easily accessible for those with caravans. A short stroll to the beach behind the dunes, or you can also drive up the beach to the north which stretches for a few kilometres.
Tiparra Rocks is a nice little site, that has three distinct camping areas. All are spacious and could fit a few cars/tents, but you wouldn’t want to squeeze in next to someone you didn’t know. I think you’d get a some crooked looks! So really, its good for 3 separate camps/groups. The beach nearby is like the beach up and down this coast, usually calm and good for swimming. Fishing isn’t amazing but throw a bait in and you never know!
Get your camping permit from Yorke Peninsula Council.
5. Burners Beach
Just around the corner from the great little township of Point Turton (and this means – easy for a quick trip to the pub for a drink or meal!) is the campground of Burner’s Beach.
With two toilets, and a nice grassy area nearby a protected beach, this makes an ideal family camping destination.
The rocky outcrop provides some fishing interest, and its a short drive to other fishing beaches such as Berry Bay. Check out the link for more information on our visit to Burner’s Beach!
Get your camping permit from Yorke Peninsula Council.
6. Innes National Park
Last on my list, since dogs are not allowed, but included none the less as its worth a visit for those not taking the furry friends along. There is some truly spectacular coastline to be found in Innes.
There are camp grounds at Stenhouse Bay, Pondalowie and Brown’s Beach, but all real ‘camp ground’ type affairs where you can’t really escape away from others (as I prefer). Pondalowie is an awesome cove to stop in at for a lunch and a swim.
Brown’s Beach is worth a stop at for some surf fishing for Australian Salmon, though the walk through soft sand is tough going! If a school of salmon get themselves caught in the lagoon, it is like shooting fishin in a barrel.
Permits are required for entry and camping in the national park, and must be purchased online at Parks SA
Conclusion
One final thought, and one of the great things about Yorkes: If the wind is blowing on one side of the peninsula, you can always day trip out to the other side and hopefully avoid the worst of it.
I hope this list of the Best Camping Spots on Yorke Peninsula helps you discover some gems. Let me know in the comments if I’ve missed any favourites!
I’m editing to throw in an honourable mention to a recent campsite I checked out: Gravel Bay Check out my post on that one for thoughts and photos.
And if you’re next heading north after your Yorke’s visit – check out our trip up the middle to Darwin for a bunch of good camping spots along the way!
Heading East? Checking Coorong Beach Camping (maybe not if you’re towing)
West? Sheringa is definitely worth a stop over on the west coast!
