7 things to do on the Eyre Peninsula in winter

Posted 8 July, 2024 Sasha Oelsner

While pristine beaches lure visitors during the warmer months, the Eyre Peninsula is the place to be when the temperature drops.

In June, I visited the upper Eyre Peninsula and was delighted to discover days and nights that were noticeably warmer than Adelaide. This was excellent news, as I was about to spend the next two days snorkelling in the winter waters off Stoney Point and, frankly, I was questioning my sanity.

I discovered a region that inspires you to pull on a warm jacket, sip a steaming hot coffee and jump right in. Here are seven ways to embrace winter in the Eyre Peninsula.

1. See giant Australian cuttlefish

Like the cuttlefish, I too was drawn to Whyalla for a dip in the frigid, shallow water. From May to August every year, thousands of giant Australian cuttlefish descend upon Point Lowly to breed. With my hired wetsuit bracing me from the cold and snorkel firmly on my face, I edged into the ocean. Beneath the surface the sight was unbelievable; a kaleidoscopic wave of colours as cuttlefish gathered and stirred along the rocky sea floor.

Brave souls willing to get their feet wet can swim, snorkel and scuba among the unbothered cuttlefish. Use your own equipment or hire from a local dive shop who’ll set you up with wetsuits so thick you will barely feel the cold. Once you hit the water, splash about on your own or join a guided tour. If want to stay dry, marvel at the mesmerising colours from the comfort of a glass-bottomed boat while being entertained by knowledgeable expert guides.

2. Camp among the koalas at Mikkira Station

The Mikkira Station Koala Sanctuary is open to the public during winter so now is the chance to see the only wild koala colony in the area, nestled among the manna gum trees.

Get a permit to camp and bring your own fire pit, wood and of course, marshmallows, for a toasty, off-grid evening around the fire. Not into camping? You can still visit for the day. Wander past giant yakkas, bird watch and keep an eye out for the tiny native orchards which bloom during winter. Mikkira Station is considered one of the best places to see wild koalas in South Australia and, while no sighting of wild animals is ever guaranteed, you’ve got a great chance here.

3. Cosy up with a book

Duck into a bookshop and escape the winter weather. The volunteer-run Eyre Peninsula Book Bazaar is a large and beautifully arranged second-hand bookshop in Port Lincoln. You’ll find large print novels, children’s books and vintage classics, as well as maps, DVDs CDs and more.

The bookshop also stocks new books from local authors, which is a wonderful way to support the community and region.

4. Shop for art

Escape the winter weather and head indoors to peruse the incredible artwork on display and for sale at Arts Ceduna in the Ceduna Aboriginal Culture Centre. With works from more than 130 Indigenous artists available, the gallery and shop also help supply high quality materials, training and safe working places for the artists.

Strongly influenced by nature and the environment, you’ll find beautiful paintings, wood sculptures, woven goods and more. If you see something that takes your fancy, know that the money from your purchase is going back to the artists and into the local community.

5. Indulge in top-notch seafood

Nicknamed the seafood frontier, the Eyre Peninsula is perfect for aquaculture with its pristine water and sheltered bays. Did you know the best seafood is caught and harvested during winter? Mussels, abalone, oysters, snapper and King George whiting, to name a few, are best caught and consumed during the cooler months.

Join a Coffin Bay oyster tour to try the winter molluscs fresh from the source, or let someone else do the hard work for you. You’ll find unbeatable oysters at restaurants all along coast, from Coffin Bay’s world-famous 1802 Oyster Bar to Ceduna’s Oyster Barn. Share a signature seafood platter complete with the region’s famous King George whiting in cosy comfort at the Port Lincoln Hotel, or sip wine over fried local king prawns in squid ink at Peter Teakle’s Line and Label. You can’t go past a basket of comforting fish and chips with a view at the Arno Bay Jetty Café.

6. Swim with sharks

This one is not for the faint-hearted! If getting up close and personal with magnificent great white sharks is on your bucket list, the chilly months maximise your chances. Imagine being lowered into the water in a very strong, secure cage.  The silence is deafening beneath the water, but you witness the grace and magnitude of these apex predators in their natural environment.

Those who have scuba qualifications can be lowered beneath the surface to experience the sharks overhead and all around. If you prefer to keep your feet dry, watch all the action from the boat. With a couple of tour companies operating out of Port Lincoln, choose from tours that range from day trips to four or even 10 nights. These longer trips give you maximum opportunity to see these giant fish, as well as sea lions, leafy sea dragons and more.

7. While away time in a museum

The Eyre Peninsula is dotted with museums detailing the region’s past. There are museums dedicated to blacksmithing, maritime, jade and more. You’ll be inside (most of the time) learning about everything from the local Indigenous history to ship building.

Try the Streaky Bay National Trust Museum, where you’ll see the original Straight 8 Nash car owned by Mrs Sylvia Birdseye. Sylvia was the first SA woman to hold a commercial bus driving licence in the early 1920s and pioneered the first passenger service between Adelaide and the Eyre Peninsula. Rev heads will get a kick out of the Powerhouse Museum, also in Streaky Bay, which houses more than 400 restored and working engines from the past 100 years. Inland you’ll find the Koppio Smithy Museum, which shows a snapshot of the region from the turn of the century.