The Eyre Peninsula is considered one of Australia’s premier adventure destinations, and for good reason: it’s very big, very diverse and, in places, very wild!

1. Go Rock Hopping!

The hard granites of the region have weathered slowly over the millennia to form some extraordinary rock formations, chief among them Murphy’s Haystacks (a series of weird sculptural-like forms in a paddock), Pildappa (a huge wave-like formation) and Mount Wudinna (the second-largest granite monolith in the country).

2. Hear Tales of the Sea 

Port Lincoln is a fascinating town, reinvigorating its fortunes in the 1990s by ‘ranching’ bluefin tuna. Learn the whole story on Cap’n Fred’s Electric Boat Tour: the good cap’n will whirr you through the shadows of the huge Lincoln fishing fleet explaining how specialist boats bring in their valuable catches of prawns, tuna, pilchards, crays and more. Round the day off with a seafood feed at any of Lincoln’s fine restaurants, pubs and cafés.

3. Head for Coffin Bay

Three must-dos in this lovely little town: taste the famous oysters straight off the racks (local operators will have you wading or boating out to the racks); visit Coffin Bay National Park for sublime beaches and abundant wildlife; and experience the newly developed Yarnbala, which hosts ecotours combining local produce, bushtucker and live music in the wilderness.

4. Go To Australia’s Ground Zero

The history of nuclear testing at Maralinga is dark and dramatic. This vast part of north-western Eyre was declared off-limits from the 1950s to 1984 when it was returned to the traditional owners. Now Maralinga Tours – operated by the descendants of people who suffered sickness and dispossession so British atomic weapons could be tested – is sharing a glimpse into this extraordinary chapter in Australia’s history.

5. Do the Big Five! 

Dolphins and sea lions are ready to play with you at Baird Bay; sea lions also delight snorkellers off Port Lincoln. You’ll need to be in Whyalla between May and August for the cuttlefish; hire all the gear (including wetsuits) and head out into the shallows or stay warm and dry on a glass-bottomed boat tour. The whales are frolicking right along the west coast from June to September; join a cruise out of Fowlers Bay, drive to Head of Bight to watch from the Bunda Cliffs or do flightseeing out of Ceduna. And shark cage diving is out of Lincoln and offered by three operators.

Read dueSouth Magazine here.