Streaky Bay & Surrounds

You can hit the water with a surf or paddleboard lesson through Streaky Bay Surf School, or take one of the scenic coastal drives for big views and a chance to spot the real locals – sea lions lounging around Point Labatt. Fishing is a big deal here too, with plenty of spots to drop a line or launch the boat. And of course, there's Perlubie Beach – a favourite for beach camping and calm, shallow paddling. Numbers are limited to help protect this special spot, so it's best to book ahead, especially during busy periods. 

If you can't get on the sand, don't panic, Perlubie Park sits just behind the beach and offers a great alternative and space to move! If the coast turns it on (or even if it doesn't), there's plenty more to explore. The Yanerbie Sandhills are a must – soft white dunes rolling off into the distance – while Murphy's Haystacks are worth a stop for both the views and the name (and the honey you can purchase at the entrance). Despite what one early visitor thought, they're not haystacks but ancient granite formations, over 1.5 billion years old.

Back in town, you can dive into local history at the National Trust Museum or the Powerhouse Museum (just check opening times), or hire a bike – including e-bikes – from Ride West SA and cruise at your own pace. And don't miss the Great White Shark replica at the Shell Roadhouse, caught just offshore back in 1990… on a fishing line. A little further inland, the small farming towns of Poochera and Wirrulla offer their own quirky charm (check out Moorkitabie Farmstay The Stationmasters House). Poochera is known for the discovery of the rare "dinosaur ants", while Wirrulla is home to an inland jetty – yes, really. Both also serve as gateways to the Gawler Ranges National Park.

There are three driving loops around Streaky Bay which will take you to all the key spots – the Westall Way Loop, the Cape Bauer Loop, and the Point Labatt Sea Lion Loop. The Westall Way has some spectacular stops, including High Cliff, Granites, Smooth Pool and the Yanerbie Sandhills. The Granites is a particularly popular spot for its large lagoon like rockpool which is great for families, while surfers can catch a wave out the back. The Cape Bauer Loop will take you along the rugged coastline. Keep an ear out when you visit Whistling Rocks and Blowholes, which is accessible by a boardwalk – you’ll hear a whistling noise as air rushes through the rocks! And Point Labatt Sea Lion Loop will of course take you to Point Labatt, the only permanent colony of sea lions on the Australian mainland. You can see them lazing on the rocks from the viewing point above, before calling in at Murphy’s Haystacks.

You can experience one of the Eyre Peninsula's most unforgettable wildlife encounters with Baird Bay Experience, where you can swim with sea lions and dolphins in their natural environment between 1 October and 30 April. It's a truly special, small-group experience in crystal-clear waters. You can also stay where the sea lions are in the Seaside Villas. Spend your days casting a line from shore, launching the boat, exploring the region or simply unwinding on the deck as the wildlife drifts by. Available year-round, it's a place that shines in every season – and one you'll likely find yourself coming back to