Coffin Bay National Park

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.

Listen to the local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety. 

• CFS website
• CFS Hotline: 1300 362 361

Natural Resource Centre - Port Lincoln

Phone: (+61 8) 8688 3111

or

Port Lincoln Visitor Information Centre

Phone: (+61 8) 8683 3544 or 1300 788 378

For online bookings enquiries please email:

DEWNREPOnlineBookings@sa.gov.au

Summer in Coffin Bay National Park is perfect, the weather is warm to hot and usually dry. It’s great for camping and ideal for beach lovers. If you visit during late winter and spring – the best time for walking – you're likely to see the park teeming with native flora and birdlife.

Coffin Bay National Park is located 50km west of Port Lincoln. Access from Flinders Highway is via Coffin Bay Road. The park is on the tip of the Eyre Peninsula and is an eight hour, 680km drive from Adelaide. The trip can be shortened by taking the ferry from Wallaroo to Cowell.

• Park maps

Dogs are not permitted in this park.

Discover which parks you can walk your dog in on our find a park tool or read 12 dog-friendly walks in Adelaide Parks by Good Living for inspiration.

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs are permitted in most public places and are therefore welcome in South Australia’s parks and reserves. Assistance dogs must be appropriately restrained and remain under your effective control at all times while in a park or reserve.

Before taking your assistance dog into a park or reserve, other than those listed above, it is highly recommended that you contact us so we can provide you with the latest information on any potential hazards within specific parks that may affect your dog. Please contact the park via the contact details provided under the contact tab or call the information line on (+61 8) 8204 1910.

Campground facilities

There are a variety of facilities available at the campgrounds within the park. Look at the facilities table below and pick the site which suits you best.

*Restrictions apply. See fire safety.

• Read about the 5 treasures of Coffin Bay National Park on the Good Living blog.  
• Read the Insider guide: Coffin Bay on the Good Living blog.  
• Many of the cliffs in this park are undercut and crumbling. Please take extreme care when walking, fishing or driving near any coastal area.

• Mobile phone coverage can be patchy and unreliable in this park, especially if you are in low-lying areas.

• Parks management plans
• Trails SA
• SA Marine Parks

• Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited.

Take a virtual tour of this park and see what Coffin Bay National Park has to offer, with huge white dunes, lookouts, native scrubland and more available to explore!

• Georama virtual tour

Visitors should be aware that introduced European honey bees may be present within this park. Take extra care in the warmer months, from spring through to autumn, when the bees swarm and are attracted to water sources.

You can help reduce the risk of bee stings by carefully managing attractants, such as food, drinking containers and other sources of moisture, such as dishwater and wet clothing.

Long clothing, enclosed foot wear and insect repellents can also help to protect from bee stings. If you have any allergies to bee stings, ensure you carry appropriate medication.

The Barngarla and Nauo people used the rich food resources of the lower Eyre Peninsula coast long before the arrival of Matthew Flinders. They made use of a wide variety of fish, inland mammals, reptiles and plants. The nondo bean which grows prolifically on the sand hills was a highly prized food. Fish traps made from stone arrangements, stone working sites and middens are still present in the park.

Aboriginal peoples have occupied, enjoyed and managed the lands and waters of this State for thousands of generations. For Aboriginal first nations, creation ancestors laid down the laws of the Country and bestowed a range of customary rights and obligations to the many Aboriginal Nations across our state. 

There are many places across the State that have great spiritual significance to Aboriginal first nations.  At some of these places Aboriginal cultural protocols, such as restricted access, are promoted and visitors are asked to respect the wishes of Traditional Owners.

In places where protocols are not promoted visitors are asked to show respect by not touching or removing anything, and make sure you take all your rubbish with you when you leave.

Aboriginal peoples continue to play an active role in caring for their Country, including in parks across South Australia. 

• DEWNR Park management
• DEWNR Aboriginal partnerships

Colonial history in the Port Lincoln area is first recorded in Matthew Flinders' voyage of discovery aboard the Investigator in 1802. He surveyed and mapped much of the coastline of lower Eyre Peninsula, naming many sites in and around the National Park, including Point Sir Isaac and Coffin Bay itself, named after Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, 1st Baronet, an officer of the British Royal Navy. 

Whaling and sealing took place in the area during the early 1800s, however the industry collapsed a few decades later due to depleted stocks. 

A pastoral industry developed on the Coffin Bay peninsula in the mid 1800s and continued for 140 years, with thousands of sheep being grazed at the western end of the peninsula. Horse and cattle grazing, and fodder cultivation also occurred but it soon became clear that the land could not sustain the industry. 

Coffin Bay National Park was established in December 1982. The national park is now developed for nature based tourism and conservation on approximately 31,000 hectares of the Coffin Bay peninsula.

We have picked the brains of our park rangers to find out what they would recommend you see and do whilst visiting this park.

• Enjoying the 360 degree view from Templetonia Lookout.
• Fishing on Gunya and Almonta Beach.
• Playing in the sand dunes.
• A 4WD adventure to Sensation Beach and Point Sir Isaac.
• Trying bush camping.
• Sightseeing at Golden Island.
• Kayaking and paddle-boarding on Yangi Bay.

Bushwalking is a fantastic way to connect with nature, keep fit and spend time with family and friends. 

South Australia's national parks feature a range of trails that let you experience a diversity of landscapes. Our trails cater for all levels of fitness and adventure and our classification system makes it easy to select an experience suitable for you.

• Walk, hike or trek - what's the difference?
• Bushwalking safety
• Bushwalking minimum impact code
• For park and trail maps please see the maps tab above

Easy walks

• Yangie Bay Hike (45 mins, 2km)

  Via Yangie Lookout. On this trail you’ll get fabulous ocean views of Thorny Passage Marine Park and walk through coastal mallee. The trail starts from the Yangie Bay camping area.

• Yangie Lookout Walk (20 mins, 1km)

  A short climb with great views overlooking Yangie Bay and Marble Range. The trail starts from the Yangie Bay camping area.

Moderate hikes

• Black Rocks Hike (4 hrs, 12km)

  See the rugged coastline of Avoid Bay with views overlooking Lake Damascus along the way. The trail starts from the Black Rocks car park.

• Black Springs Well Hike (40 mins, 2km)

  This trail follows the coast around the headland overlooking sheltered Port Douglas. The trail starts from the Black Springs camping area.

• Boarding House Bay Hike (8 hrs, 24km)

  This walk takes you through coastal heath, samphire flats and mallee woodlands. You’ll see cliffs, beaches and offshore reefs. The trail starts at the Whidbey Wilderness Area gate.

• Long Beach Hike (3 hr 30 mins one way, 10 km)

  Be prepared for this more demanding hike. Walk between vegetated sand dunes and wind your way onto the expansive Long Beach. The trail starts from the Yangie Bay camping area.

• Whidbey Hike (8 hrs, 24km)

  This hike follows the spectacular wilderness coastline toward Point Whidbey through coastal heath and low mallee. You’ll see sheltered coves and a large blowhole along the way. The trail branches off at the 7km mark on the Boarding House Bay Hike.

• Yangie Island Hike (1 hr 30 mins, 5km)

  Via Yangie Lookout. On this trail you’ll have a close-up view of Yangie Island from the adjoining beach. The trail starts from the Yangie Bay camping area.

• Yangie Bay to Long Beach Hike (7 hrs, 20km)

  This hike is not too challenging. It winds between vegetated dunes leading to Long Beach. The trail starts from the Yangie Bay camping area.

There are six designated campgrounds in the park, most can only be accessed by 4WD.

Camp fees apply in Coffin Bay National Park, permits must be purchased prior to arrival to the park.

• Book before you go

Campground facilities

There are a variety of facilities available at the campgrounds within the park. Look at the facilities table below and pick the site which suits you best.

*Restrictions apply. See fire safety.

Mountain biking is currently not permitted in this park. 

• Which parks can you ride in?

The flora of Coffin Bay National Park is especially diverse, comprising seven broad vegetation communities including samphire shrublands, mallee woodlands and tall cutting grasslands. 

The dominant vegetation communities are coastal shrubland and coastal heaths supporting plants such as coastal bearded-heath, cushion bush, salmon correa and the spectacular cocky tongue which produces a mass of large orange, red and yellow flowers during late winter and spring.

Another important plant community that represents a distinctive community in its own right, but which has been extensively modified by pastoral land uses, is the drooping sheoak woodlands. This community is comprised of a diverse variety of understorey shrubs and grasses. The sheoaks woodlands are the focus of habitat restoration activity by volunteers and Rangers on the western end of the peninsula near Point Sir Isaac.

• Coffin Bay National Park flora (alphabetical)
• Coffin Bay National Park flora (family)

You are likely to see emus, goannas and western grey kangaroos al year round. During the winter months, you may catch a glimpse of southern right whales from the Avoid Bay cliffs.

More than 120 bird species, many of conservation significance, find safe refuge and nesting sites within the park. The hooded plover, a threatened species in South Australia, nests on beaches throughout the park. Rare white-bellied sea eagles and osprey breed all along the coast, they are regularly spotted hunting in the park. When bird watching, carry binoculars and a field guide to help with bird identification. Wear clothes that blend in with the surrounds and be quiet, particularly if birds are nesting. Do not approach or interfere with nests – this can cause birds to abandon them.

Cast your eye downwards and look between the cracks and crevices to find the lesser seen skinks, geckos, snakes, bush rats, spiders and scorpions that live within the park. 

Oysters live on rocky limestone, cockle worms burry themselves in the sand and invertebrates such as crabs and shellfish live amongst samphire plants. 

The once rare Rosenberg's goanna population is recovering in Lincoln National Park thanks to the Rangers intensive fox baiting program. 

Have you seen a goanna on the Eyre Peninsula? 

Visitors can record their goanna sightings and photographs to help understand the recovery of goannas in this region. 

Have you seen a goanna?

Want to help?

To find out how you can help in this park or nearby, please visit Natural Resources Eyre Peninsula – Volunteering.

Want to join others and become a Park Friend?

To find out more about Friends of Parks groups please visit Friends of Parks South Australia.

You could join others to help look after a park. You can take part in working bees, training and other events.

Become a Campground Hosts

Combine your love of camping with doing a good deed by becoming a volunteer campground host in this park. A campground host is a volunteer who stays at the park either for a specific peak period, like the Easter break or a long weekend, or an extended period of time (up to a few months) to support park rangers. 

If you are passionate about the environment, a keen camper, like to meet people from all around the world, and are a happy to help, then hosting could be right up your alley. 

• SA Campground Host Program

Surfing is popular pastime at Coffin Bay, be aware that many of the beaches are suitable for experienced surfers only. Take the 4WD track out to Mullalong Beach, a great surfing spot with a white sandy beach and turquoise waves.

There are plenty of opportunities to explore Coffin Bay on foot or by vehicle. Experienced 4WD enthusiasts will enjoy a wide range of conditions from sand dunes to narrow winding tracks, and soft sandy beaches. Much of the park is only accessible by 4WD vehicles with high clearance and you will encounter a range of terrain such as beaches, dunes and narrow rocky passes. Driving in this park can’t be hurried and takes concentration, but there is always an interesting view. The tracks are narrow so be on the alert for oncoming traffic.

You can access Gunyah Beach and the Coffin Bay Peninsula beyond Yangie Bay with a 4WD vehicle. When travelling on the Gunyah Beach 4WD track, please follow the route markers. Do not tow vans along the Gunyah Beach track or beyond Yangie because of the difficult terrain. 

Note that on Gunyah Beach, you cannot drive further than 3km either side of where the track joins the beach. 

Beyond this are important seabird refuge and breeding areas. Watch out for seabirds when beach driving.

Where possible (and safe to do so) avoid driving above the high-water mark. Please keep vehicles to designated tracks and obey signs. Traffic over dunes destroys small plants and causes erosion. 

Reducing tyre pressure will assist with travel through soft sand.

Distances from park entrance

Go surf fishing on the high energy beaches for Australian salmon or gummy shark, or cast your fishing line in the calmer waters for whiting, mullet, Australian herring or garfish. The bays and coastline around Coffin Bay National Park form part of the Thorny Passage Marine Park.

You can fish in this marine park, except in the following sanctuary zones where fishing is not allowed.

1. Yangie Bay – shore-based recreational fishing is allowed directly opposite access points, but nowhere else.
2. Gunyah Beach – The Gunyah Beach Sanctuary Zone starts 3km south-east of the beach access (GPS point 135 25.532`E; 34 42.615`S). Fishing is not allowed beyond this point.
3. Eely Point – The Eely Point Sanctuary Zone lies between GPS points 135 21.197`E; 34 34.757`S and 135 21.069`E; 34 36.368`S. Fishing is not allowed in this area.

The international Trail Users Code of Conduct is to show respect and courtesy towards other trail users at all times.

Ensure that you:

• when hiking, wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen
• be aware of weather conditions and avoid walking during the hottest part of the day
• make sure you have appropriate weather proof clothing
• carry enough water to be self-sufficient
• please be respectful of other users at all times
• stay on the designated trails and connector tracks for your own safety, and prevent the spread of declared weeds to other areas in the park
• ensure someone knows your approximate location and expected time of return
• take appropriate maps.
• Walk, hike or trek - what's the difference?

When camping in a National Park, it's important to remember the following:

• Always let someone responsible know your travel plans, especially when travelling in remote areas. It's a good idea to let them know when you expect to return.
• Check the weather forecast before you leave, including overnight temperatures on the Bureau of Meteorology. Even during very mild weather, the nights can get very cold. 
• The quality and quantity of water cannot be guaranteed within parks. Please bring plenty of water and food to be self-sufficient.
• Always camp in designated sites (where applicable) - do not camp beneath trees with overhanging branches, as they can drop without warning. It's also a good idea to check that there no insect nests nearby.
• Check to make sure you're not camping in a natural waterway, flash floods can happen anytime.
• If camp fires are permitted, you must bring your own firewood, as the collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Extinguish your camp fire with water (not sand or dirt) until the hissing sound stops.
• Ensure that you are familiar with the fire restrictions for this park.

This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.

Listen to the local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety. 

• CFS website
• CFS Hotline: 1300 362 361

Fire restrictions

• Wood fires and solid fuel fires are prohibited between 1 November 2017 to 15 April 2018.
• Wood fires or solid fuel fires are permitted between high water mark and low water mark, other than on days of total fire ban except between Surfleet Point and Spalding Cove and the Surfleet Cove Campground where wood fires and solid fuel fires are prohibited throughout the year.
• You must bring your own firewood, as the collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited.
• Gas fires are permitted through the year, other than on days of total fire ban.
• Ensure you are familiar with the fire restrictions for this park.

Strong currents and rips can make swimming dangerous in this area.

Do not climb on, or fish from slippery rocks. 

When 4WDriving in the park and on the beach, it is important to be aware of the following:

• Standard road rules apply when driving anywhere in the park, including the laws for speed limits, drink driving, vehicle registration and seat belts.
• Take extreme care when driving in the park – be aware of blind corners, crests and narrow two-way tracks.
• Observe all track and safety signs, especially 'No public access' signs.
• Do not take your vehicle off the designated tracks. Wildlife can be threatened and precious habitat and indigenous sites can be damaged by off track driving.
• Check tide times before driving on beaches and avoid driving on beaches at high tide.
• Expect varying road conditions along beaches, with sandy, boggy and rocky patches.
• Getting bogged in sand is common. Make sure you know what to do in the event of getting bogged and always carry a shovel.
• When driving on sand, deflate your tyres as appropriate for your vehicle. Don’t forget to reinflate your tyres to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure before leaving the park. Take care when lowering tyre pressure as there is risk you could roll the tyre off its rim. Also, remember that lower tyre pressure can mean a change in how the vehicle handles.

• 4WDriving in parks

Every national park is different. Each has its own unique environment and it is important to understand how to stay safe, while enjoying all the park has to offer.

Please:

• do not feed birds or other animals, it promotes aggressive behaviour and an unbalanced ecology
• do not bring chainsaws or firearms into the park
• leave the park as you found it and place rubbish in the bins provided or take it with you
• abide by the road rules (maintain the speed limit)
• respect geological and heritage sites
• do not remove native plants
• be considerate of other park users
• camp only in designated campgrounds
• be aware, there are feral bees in the park that are attracted to water sources in summer
• many cliffs are undercut and crumbling, so please take extreme care when walking, fishing or driving near any coastal area
• Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited.

Fees apply to enter and camp in this park.

You must pay for your entry and camping permits before you arrive, as cash self-registration stations are no longer in use in this park. 

• Book before you go

• FAQs about booking online

Where can I book and pay in person?

If you are unable to book and pay online you can do so, in person, at these booking agents across the state.

For online bookings enquiries please email:

DEWNREPOnlineBookings@sa.gov.au

Fees apply to enter and camp in this park, you must pay for your entry and camping before arrival.

• Book before you go

• FAQs about booking online

Where can I book and pay in person?

If you are unable to book and pay online you can do so, in person, at these booking agents across the state.

For online bookings enquiries please email:

DEWNREPOnlineBookings@sa.gov.au

If you intend to visit often, you may like to purchase one of the below park passes.

Single Park Pass

Is this your favourite park? If you visit this park a lot, it's more economical to purchase a Single Park Pass giving you vehicle entry for this park for 12 months. 

There are 12 parks that are part of the Single Park Pass system.  

• Parks included in Single Park Passes
• Buy a Single Park Pass
• Buy in person at a Park Pass outlet

Holiday Park Pass and Multi Park Pass

Want to explore SA’s parks all year round? Purchase a Multi Park Pass (12 months), or a Holiday Park Pass (for 2 months) which entitles you to vehicle entry not just for this park, but up to an additional 10 parks as well!

• Park Pass information
• Buy a Park Pass
• Buy in person at a Park Pass outlet

Multi and Holiday Park Passes can also be purchased from the Port Lincoln Visitor Information Centre.

There are no other fees or permits associated with this park.