There’s a well known surf beach on the far west coast of South Australia and for surfers it doesn’t need to be named, it’s that synonymous with the best surf in SA. 

The reason I’m not naming it now is that we camped there recently and were absolutely amazed at how good it was compared to the last time we saw it. Admittedly that was about 35 years ago when it was more of a hippy, surfie’s hang out / camping area that even way back then was jealously guarded.

Today you can camp there for $15 per head, per night and for that you get a well laid out camping area, stone huts which contain flushing toilets, cold water showers and a basic shelter which houses a camp kitchen. Each campsite also has a drum for campfires and firewood is delivered daily to your site! Unbelievable.

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The camping area is on private property but those that know it’s there, can easily find the place. The campground managers request that people don’t over saturate social media with this spot though, as they don’t want to spoil its charm and change it too much. Quite understandable, but as I’ve said, it’s so well known in SA that I would be surprised if anyone hadn’t heard about this beach.

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So without giving away too much I can tell you about some places to visit nearby.  To get here you have to cross Lake MacDonnell on the way to Point Sinclair. What makes this lake so spectacular is that this salt lake is naturally, blue on one side of the road and bright pink on the other. Very pretty and all due to a salt loving algae and bacteria that turns the water bright pink.

When you get to Point Sinclair you’ll find a car park area and boardwalk which takes you over dunes and onto the beach of this national surfing reserve. In 2012 it was named a national surfing reserve to protect the fragile coastline and pristine surfing environment so that future generations may also benefit.

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The campground we stayed in was right next to this reserve spot and was easily accessible for caravans and even conventional cars. This area is so popular with surfers because there are three breaks with one part of the beach breaking left, another area breaks right and a third part of the beach breaks in both directions. And even for the non surfers, it just has a lovely relaxed vibe and spectacular sunsets from the seat in the dunes.

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A short drive past the camp area is Port Le Hunte and another wow view hits you as you drive down towards the jetty and car park below. The original jetty and Harbour Master’s residence were completed in 1911 and was named after the then Governor. It was used as a landing point for supplies and stock for the local pioneers. Today the refurbished jetty is used for fishing and recreation and has a sheltered building at the start of the jetty for groups to use for picnics and barbecues.

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The aquamarine colour of the water and it’s clarity is so beautiful and tempting to swim in, when the weather is warm no doubt and a netted swimming enclosure is off to one side of the jetty.  This came about as a result of a terrible tragedy that happened in 1975. A plaque and the story sits at the beginning of the jetty and explains the awful circumstances where an 11 year old boy, Wade Gray Shipard, was attacked and killed by a great white shark.  The attack happened as the boy was swimming out to an incoming crayfish trawler, to collect a fresh crayfish for his mother. Unfortunately he was attacked by a white pointer which fishermen on the trawler and bystanders on the beach witnessed.

Naturally the distress and shock this caused was immense and as a result the shark proof swimming enclosure was built and visitors and local town people can now enjoy safe swimming here during summer. The net is raised during winter to prolong its life and enable the sand flows to naturally occur.

This entire Point Sinclair peninsula is so picturesque and a definite place to stay a while and chill, when you visit Eyre Peninsula.

Happy Exploring

Glenys