Sitting on the largest natural harbour in Australia, Port Lincoln is an iconic coastal destination often referred to as the seafood capital of the country.
The city is the home of the Barngarla people, and is rich with Indigenous and maritime history. From delicious oyster experiences to animal encounters and coastal hikes, there are so many incredible things to see and do when visiting here.
Not sure where to start? Luckily, we’ve laid out some of the best activities that await in Port Lincoln and its surrounds.
Tuck into oyster experiences
A great way to learn more about the seafood industry is by joining a tour and getting out on the water. Coffin Bay Oyster Farm Tours takes guests into the heart of a commercial oyster farm in Coffin Bay. On tour, you’ll pull on
some waders and head out with an oyster farmer to learn more about this booming industry as you drink a cool glass of local wine. Then, get your hands dirty with a sucking lesson, before tasting the freshest oysters ever straight from the water.
Or, join Experience Coffin Bay on a Farm & Bay Tour. This three-hour experience involves cruising along crystal-clear waters past seal colonies and birdlife, all the way to a working oyster farm. Once you arrive, you’ll learn all about the oyster growing experience with plenty of time to discover the beauty of the farm at your own leisure. The tour also includes 1 dozen freshly shucked oysters to enjoy, direct from the source. It’s the ideal way to experience the beauty of Coffin Bay with its secluded islands and sandy beaches, while also tasting some of the best oysters in the world.
To stay near Coffin Bay, which is only a 30-minute drive from the heart of Port Lincoln, check out Discover Parks Coffin Bay. You can choose from several comfortable accommodation options, including glamping tents and cabins, with access to on-site facilities such as free wifi, air conditioning, and a beautiful garden terrace. It’s only a short walk from the beach, and a great launching point for these unmissable oyster experiences.
Amazing animal encounters
For those after an animal encounter that will send your heart racing, Calypso Star Charters offer shark cage diving just off the coast of Port Lincoln. The team here are permitted to use natural fish berley to attract the apex predator of the ocean: Great White Sharks. Protected by a cage, visitors can get up close to these magnificent animals, with fantastic opportunities for photos and memorable encounters. You’ll be supplied with wetsuits, boots, gloves and a mask, so all you need to do is show up and enjoy.
Most tours depart from the Port Lincoln Marina. To stay nearby, book a room at the Marina Hotel. This classy accommodation is right on the waterfront, and features a restaurant with water views. Each apartment includes air conditioning, a kitchenette, free wifi and parking. It’s the perfect blend of luxury and comfort, with space for the whole family.
If you want to get up close and personal with some adorable marine animals, join a half-day tour to swim with sea lions. Moving between four islands, guests will have the chance to splash around with the ‘puppies of the sea.’ Make sure to keep an eye out for the rare leafy seadragon, found only in the seagrass of Australia’s southern waters. Depending on your departure time, you’ll also enjoy a delicious breakfast or afternoon tea. Don’t worry, all swimming and snorkelling equipment will also be provided.
A city of splendour
Once you’ve had your fill of fun on the water, head back into town for historic attractions and delicious food.
No trip to Port Lincoln is complete without tucking into a delicious plate of fish and chips. The Fresh Fish Place is an award-winning fresh seafood marketplace selling the best morning catches. You can purchase fresh seafood from a variety of friendly vendors, or stop by the Seafood Eatery for mouth-watering dishes. Choose from fish and chips, gummy shark and chips, or a fish wrap, then take your spoils down to the Port Lincoln foreshore to look out over the water while you eat.
After your lunch, make sure to check out the Parnkalla Trail, which winds around the foreshore and coastline past Port Lincoln’s biggest attractions. On the walk, you will pass the Moreton Bay fig trees, first planted in the 1860s, and a great place to watch the sunrise over Boston Bay. Next, you’ll pass the Town Jetty, which was built in 1857 and is the oldest jetty on the Eyre Peninsula. The trail also takes you past the statue precinct, which showcases two amazing works from world-renowned artist Ken Martin. Finally, the gentle trail will take you to Billy Lights Point, an area busy with birdlife and known for its stunning lookout over the harbour.
Make sure to also stop in at the Axel Stenross Maritime Museum, where you can learn all about Port Lincoln’s maritime history. The museum is named after Axel Stenross, a Finnish ship carpenter who moved to Port Lincoln in 1927. Today, you can visit his original living quarters and workshops, see restored historic vessels, and chat with knowledgeable volunteers.
To stay in the city centre, check out the four-star Port Lincoln Hotel. This luxury hotel offers a restaurant, three bars, a fitness centre and a heated swimming pool. Whether you’re after views of the bay and a two-way fireplace at Sarin’s Bar, or light meals and sports action at Sharkys Bar, you’ll find it when staying here. The stylish rooms are fitted with a desk, minibar, ensuite bathroom, and large plasma flat-screen TV. You can even choose between rooms with ocean views, city views, and spa baths.
Natural wonders abound
Lincoln National Park is a 15 minute drive from Port Lincoln, and well worth the journey. It has some of the best sand dunes for 4WDers in the country. Check out the Sleaford-Wanna Track, where you can spend 3-4 hours driving over magnificent dunes. There are even designated sandboarding areas to try coasting down a hill.
While visiting Lincoln National Park, make sure to check out Memory Cove, a secluded bay boasting white sandy beaches and densely covered headlands. The cove is home to an exclusive camping area, which must be booked at the Port Lincoln Information Centre. There are several other designated campgrounds in the park, with activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, hiking and bird watching always on offer.
Love hearing about the seafood capital of the country? To read about the history of Port Lincoln, click here.
