VISIT Yorke Peninsula

The Yorke Peninsula, known as Guuranda to the Narungga people, is a prominent boot-shaped landmass in South Australia, situated northwest and west of Adelaide. It is flanked by Spencer Gulf to the west and Gulf St Vincent to the east, with Investigator Strait separating its southern tip from Kangaroo Island. This region boasts a diverse landscape, from fertile agricultural plains, particularly renowned for barley cultivation, to rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, and dramatic cliffs.

The historical significance of the Yorke Peninsula is deeply rooted in its Aboriginal heritage, with the Narungga people having inhabited and cared for the land for tens of thousands of years. European discovery occurred in 1802 by Matthew Flinders, with pastoral settlement commencing in the 1840s, followed by a significant copper mining boom in the 1860s, particularly in the northern area now known as the Copper Coast.

Significant landmarks on the Yorke Peninsula reflect its rich natural and cultural history. Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, at the peninsula's southern extremity, is a major highlight, featuring spectacular coastal scenery, historic ruins including the Inneston gypsum mining town and the Ethel shipwreck, and abundant wildlife. The Copper Coast towns of Kadina, Moonta, and Wallaroo are living museums of the region's mining past, with numerous heritage sites, museums like the Moonta Mines Museum, and the iconic Wallaroo Jetty.

The biennial Kernewek Lowender festival in the Copper Coast towns celebrates the region's Cornish mining heritage and is the largest Cornish festival in the world. Other points of interest include the numerous jetties perfect for a leisurely stroll or casting a line, the Windara Reef near Ardrossan, and the charming coastal towns that dot the peninsula, each offering a unique seaside experience.