Last year we visited Eyre Peninsula and stayed at a few terrific off grid campgrounds which were council managed. A couple of them we enjoyed so much that we decided to revisit during this trip and they haven’t disappointed, still remaining firm favourites.

When we last stayed at both of these grounds, you just rolled up, chose a site and paid via an honour box system, leaving money and details in an envelope. Today you can book a site and pay online via a booking system, meaning you don’t have to carry cash and can choose your preferred site before arrival.

Walkers Rock

This campground is a little over 12 kilometres north of Elliston, and sits between the beach and Lake Newland Conservation Park. It now has three named campground areas. They are Egret Nest, Osprey Nest and Hooded Plover Nest, all named after local bird species. All sites within these areas are unallocated, meaning you can park where you like, for the cost of $20 per night. When you go online to book (via the Eyre Peninsula website) you can see an aerial map of the campgrounds and the number of sites within each area.

Egret Nest is near the ablution building which has a flushing toilet, baby change table and outdoor cold shower. There is tree shade here and a walking track behind the campground which goes over the sand dunes to the beach, where you can catch salmon, go swimming and surf (if you’re game).

Hooded Plover nest is a more open camping space without trees and is less private with day visitors driving through and parking in this area too.

Osprey nest is further away from the ablutions, but has a defined track to walk to it from the campsite; it’s very private with easy beach access and kangaroos in the sand dunes.

The beaches at Walkers Rock are top fishing spots, and it’s only a three kilometre drive on a good dirt road from the main highway to get to the campgrounds.

Sheringa Beach

Sheringa Beach is around 48 kilometres south of Elliston, and campsites can also be booked and paid for online, using the same link as above.  The camping areas here are named Trevally Shoal and Tommy Ruff Shoal after local fish species. Tommy Ruff Shoal is the main campground with the ablution building and there are 10 numbered sites to choose from. It’s a sheltered area with well laid out campsites and easy walking and vehicle access to the beach. Trevally Shoal is a bit further along the road and more exposed to the weather, with unallocated sites.

The Sheringa Beach campground is around 7 kilometres from the main highway on a dirt road and after rain, there were quite a few big puddles on the road and around the campground to negotiate.

All of these campgrounds allow campfires at the right time of year and they are really clean and well maintained by the council.

Enjoy

Glenys