Lincoln like a local
Thrilling spills down sandy dunes, waking up with specialty coffee and airy pastries, and of course, the freshest fish and chips you’ll find anywhere in Australia.
It’s the town that almost became SA’s capital. This is Port Lincoln, and it’s quite the catch.
Drive 1375km to Sydney’s famous waterfront or travel half that distance to explore Port Lincoln. In fact, the harbour at Boston Bay is more than three times greater by volume of water than Sydney’s harbour. It’s the perfect habitat for an abundance of extraordinary marine life and earns the town its title as the Seafood Capital of Australia’. Exquisitely fresh produce may reel you into Port Lincoln, but these 10 experiences will keep you hooked.
1. Swim with sea lions
Have you ever experienced the soul-searching gaze of a curious sea lion? Come face-to-face with these ‘puppies of the sea’ as they peer inquisitively into your snorkel mask before showing off their underwater gymnastics. Calypso Star Charters, perhaps best known for its shark encounters, operates snorkelling and swimming tours that minimise impact on sea-lion colonies. Tours run from late September until mid-June with GoPro cameras available to hire so you can capture every somersault. Following your dip, there’s a hot shower and morning tea waiting for you. Prefer to stay dry? Join the captain in the tender boat for a closer look.
2. Catch of the day
You’re spoiled for choice in the ‘Seafood Capital of Australia’, so start at The Fresh Fish Place to find the region’s best ocean-to-plate offerings. Take away or dine in on local favourites, including famed Coffin Bay oysters and classic fish and chips. Go behind-the-scenes on a guided factory tour and shop for the best catch to cook in your own kitchen. Also add the Port Lincoln Smokehouse and their small-batch hot and cold smoke bluefin tuna and yellowtail kingfish to your menu. You may have spotted their products in gourmet supermarkets, and this is where the magic happens.
3. An art to art
As you walk through the streets, don’t be alarmed if you spot a fish riding a bicycle or three-time Melbourne Cup winner, Makybe Diva. These are just some of the incredible artworks hiding in plain sight throughout the town. Collect a map from the visitor information centre and follow the Port Lincoln Art Trail, ticking off the 24 fabulous installations along the way.
4. Comb the beaches
From rugged, windswept cliffs to sheltered bays and secret coves, the 140km coastline of Lincoln National Park is ideal for a game of ‘I spy’. The Donington Beach loop, which takes in a lighthouse, historic cottage and magnificent bay views, is a good place to start. Among the treasure trove of wonderful flora and fauna washed up on
the shore, look out for corkscrew Port Jackson shark egg cases, sea glass polished smooth by the sand and waves, delicate shells and tightly woven seagrass fibre balls. Remember to look and photograph, but leave everything as you found it.
5. Go with the sand flow
You’d be forgiven for thinking you’re on an alien planet at the Sleaford-Wanna dune system in the Lincoln National Park. These massive, wind-sculpted sandy mountains are a playground for adrenaline seekers and experienced four-wheel-drivers. Air down the tyres of your high-clearance four-wheel drive before tackling the 14km of undulating sand and track. For an exhilarating closer look at the sand, hire a stand-up or sit-down sandboard from Xtreme Kites & Paddle and race down the dune-sides. Prefer something more sedate? Share the dunes with local kangaroos and emus on a Tour South sunset photography tour.
6. Museum musings
Step back in time and learn how a Finnish ship’s carpenter sailed into Port Lincoln in 1927 and helped shape the city’s seafood industry. Located on the waterfront, the Axel Stenross Maritime Museum is built around the carpenter’s original living quarters and wooden boat-building workshops, displaying restored historic vessels, marine artefacts and relics. Volunteers are also on hand to answer your questions. This is one of four sites on the Port Lincoln Museum Trail, along with the Mill Cottage Museum, RSL Museum and Railway Museum.
7. Wind down among the vines
You wouldn’t be in South Australia without a wine region nearby. Family-owned Gardner’s Vineyard, set in the undulating hills bordering Port Lincoln, pours award-winning small-batch wines against a backdrop of the Spencer Gulf’s sparkling waters. Work up an appetite playing a game of giant lawn chess, then tuck into your pre-packed picnic, fire up the vineyard’s barbie or nibble from a locally sourced grazing platter. For an all-in-one with a hole-in-one, spend the day at Glen-Forest Tourist Park and Vineyard. There are Segway tours, Lincoln Estate wine flights, an Australian wildlife park and minigolf to keep the whole family entertained. Beer lovers should head to Port Lincoln Brewing Co or Jump Ship Brewing, while those after something more spirited may find West Coast Distilling Co more to their taste.
8. Immerse yourself in Country
The traditional owners of the region, the Barngarla people, call Port Lincoln Galinyala, which translates to ‘place of sweet water’. Discover more about Galinyala on a tour led by proud Barngarla woman Emmalene Richards, through her business Maba Idi Cultural Tours in partnership with Untamed Escapes. Walk on Country, learning about traditional fishing techniques and cultural practices passed down through generations, and sit down to a bush-food lunch prepared by Emmalene and her family. It’s an intimate and moving way to see and better understand this remarkable place.
9. Sweet eats and caffeinated treats
You’ve always wanted to try South Australia’s best croissant, and you can do exactly that in Port Lincoln’s little touch of France. Drop anchor at L’Anse French Café, and watch the world go by with buttery, flaky goodness in one hand, and a specialty coffee in the other. For a laid-back lunch, try the retro Shaen Street Café, which includes outdoor seating, garden play spaces for the little ones and a heritage-listed cottage for cooler days. Pick a book from their charming community library, then settle in with a bush-flower tea or iced strawberry chai and gourmet sanga.
10. On your bike
If you’ve already ticked off swimming, hiking and dune-surfing, it’s time to let an e-mountain bike do (most of ) the work for you. With the fresh sea breeze cooling your cheeks, cruise through town at your own pace or take your two wheels off-road. Hire from Australian Coastal Safaris, and pedal your own path or join one of their guided e-mountain bike adventures and discover some local hidden gems.
Thinkin’ Lincoln?
Visit the website or call 8202 4589 to learn more from an RAA travel expert.