Australia's Best Kept Secret: The Eyre Peninsula

The Eyre Peninsula sits in South Australia, just a short 45-minute flight from Adelaide. You could easily describe it as one of Australia’s last great wildernesses and it’s best kept secret. The coastline is wild, the scenery rugged …

The best bit? There’s hardly anyone there. 

Visiting the Eyre Peninsula feels like nowhere else in the world. Think endless sand dunes rolling into a dramatic coastline that stretches as far as the eye can see. Beyond the horizon, the next stop is Antarctica. It’s raw, remote and incredibly beautiful. 

Don’t rush your time here. There’s so much to see and experience, and it’s best done with a local, someone who knows the region inside out and who seems to know absolutely everyone there. Port Lincoln is much more than just a coastal town; it’s a close-knit community that works together to showcase the very best of the region. 

Spend a few days with local guide “Lunch” (yes, everyone in Port Lincoln seems to have a nickname). With Lunch, you’ll quickly understand what makes this place so special. His experiences are unlike anything else and give you a real taste of life on the Peninsula. Jump into his 4×4 and head out across the dunes to the place where land meets sea. As you drive over the sand tracks, Lunch will share stories of the region and stop at hidden spots along the coastline that you’d never find without having grown up there. 

Further down the coast, you’ll pull up at a secret location for lunch (quite literally with Lunch!). Picnic setups appear as if by magic, all freshly prepared earlier that morning. Home-cooked dishes are served overlooking miles of untouched coastline, with no one else around for as far as the eye can see. Everything you could ever imagine emerges from the back of Lunch’s 4×4: local produce, fresh seafood, wine, beer, and more! 

Next, head to Mikkira Station, a sanctuary for wild koalas, passing hundreds of kangaroos on your arrival. The trees here are shorter due to the limestone ground beneath them, which means the koalas sit almost at eye level and there are a lot of them. Lunch says he typically spots between 40 and 60 koalas each visit, so if seeing wild koalas is on your Australia wish list, you definitely won’t be disappointed. 

The best part is how untouched it all feels. You’ll likely have the place entirely to yourself. Finish the day with a cheese platter and a glass of wine as the sun sets through the trees and the koalas slowly settle in for the evening. 

Seafood is a huge part of life on the Eyre Peninsula and it’s home to world-famous Coffin Bay. On a new day, Lunch will take you straight to the source, where you’ll learn more about the oyster farms and the people behind them. It seems that everyone knows Lunch, so chances are you’ll stop to chat with the oyster farmers while they work. This is the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at daily life on the bay. 

Then it’s onto an oyster and gin pairing experience. Fresh oysters are prepared in front of you as Lunch teaches you how to shuck them properly, with different dressings and pairings to try throughout. All of this is enjoyed with locally made Coffin Bay Gin and views across the bay. 

At some point, the BBQ attached to the 4×4 magically appears again and Lunch cooks up a fresh seafood lunch right there on the spot. Afterwards, take a walk along the beach. In summer, you’ll find crystal-clear water and gentle waves, while the Australian winter months bring moodier skies and Australia’s wilder side. Either way, you won’t be sharing the beach with many people. 

A stay on the Eyre Peninsula wouldn’t be complete without an evening with Chef Chris, and his wife Brenda, too. Chef Chris owns a local restaurant in Port Lincoln and occasionally invites a handful of guests into his home for a private seafood masterclass experience. 

Learn how Chris cooks up incredible regional dishes, from king prawns, and King George whiting, to fresh tuna. Through the evening, Chris casually takes you through the cooking process and shares stories from his life in Port Lincoln. It feels less like a cooking class and more like being invited round to a local’s home for dinner. Brenda joins in throughout the evening, making everyone feel instantly welcome and adding to the laid-back Aussie hospitality. Dinner is served around their dining table with plenty of food, wine and conversation. You will return to your hotel with a belly full of food after an evening of connection and laughter with such a lovely family. 

The Eyre Peninsula is unlike anywhere else in Australia. The coastline is wild, the seafood is world-class and the whole region feels beautifully untouched. For anyone wanting to experience Australia at its most raw, remote and authentic, this is my favourite place to do it. You’ll leave feeling like you’ve discovered a part of the country that still belongs to the locals, shaped by friendly faces, incredible food and genuine Aussie hospitality.