Whyalla is located on one of Australia’s most picturesque stretches of coastline, where the rich red colours of the outback meet the turquoise sea of the Spencer Gulf.
The town of Whyalla is known for its long history as a steelmaking area. In fact, you can tour the first ship built in the Whyalla Shipyards in 1941, a WWII vessel that thousands of visitors climb aboard with a tour guide each year.
While the town remains an important industrial hub, it’s the region’s natural wonders that constantly draw new visitors. From underwater adventures to historic hikes, there are so many ways to immerse yourself in nature when visiting Whyalla.
Choose your own adventure with endless coastal walks
Whyalla’s coastal location makes it the perfect place for long walks with ocean views. In fact, there are plenty of self-guided hiking trails that take you to nearby vantage points overlooking the sea. We recommend going at dusk, when you can watch the sun set over the horizon.
In 2001, to celebrate 100 years since Whyalla’s establishment, the city developed three heritage walking trails, each with their own unique offerings.
The self-guided 1.9-kilometre City Walk, which starts at the north-eastern end of the city, encompasses many of the city’s historical sites. The trail follows the OneSteel fence to the top of Hummock Hill, where you’ll discover panoramic views of the city, before descending into the CBD. Keep an eye out for interpretive signs along the trail, which explain the fascinating history of the city, including its industrial origins and maritime heritage.
If you love the look of the Whyalla foreshore, Discover Holiday Parks offers accommodation with direct beach access. Each cabin is fully air-conditioned, with a variety of options to suit any budget. Don’t forget to make use of the laundry facilities, undercover barbecue area and children’s playground too.
For the more serious hikers, the Freycinet Trail hugs the Spencer Gulf coastline from Fitzgerald Bay to Point Lowly. The trail is 12 kilometres one-way and is divided into two sections: the 4-kilometre Fitzgerald Bay Hiking Trail and the 8-kilometre Fitzgerald Bay-Point Lowly hiking, cycling and driving trail.
The first section takes you through dunes, pebble beaches and bushland before joining up with the joint-use trail, which follows the coastal emergency track, providing spectacular views of the Gulf and the distant Southern Flinders Ranges. Interpretive signs along the way explain the Aboriginal history, early European exploration, flora and fauna, and marine life. You’ll also come across the pebble dunes, which are naturally occurring shingle beach ridges formed over 7000 years ago. They are the only ones in South Australia, so make sure to snap a photo.
Discover a world beneath the water
In the winter months, scuba divers and underwater photographers come to Whyalla in droves to witness Australian Giant Cuttlefish aggregate in huge numbers not seen anywhere else in the world.
Giant cuttlefish come to mate in Spencer Bay in the hundreds of thousands, an incredible spectacle to watch when scuba diving or snorkelling in the shallows, with much of the action taking place between three to seven metres depth.
There are so many ways to witness this magnificent spectacle. Join a glass-bottom boat expedition with Cuttys Tours to view the cuttlefish breeding grounds while staying dry and warm. Or, take an intimate diving tour with Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries to swim alongside these world-famous creatures with an accredited snorkel guide and marine biologist – the choice is yours!
For those travelling with the family, swimming on the shallow foreshore at Whyalla Beach offers a safe yet exciting experience. Or, contact Spencer Gulf Adventures and hire a glass-bottom kayak. Steer your vessel along the coast at Point Lowly for the chance to meet the friendly pod of resident dolphins, or even a colony of seals near the Santos jetty.
Visiting families should check out Whyalla Playford Apartments for comfortable family rooms featuring air conditioning, private bathrooms and modern amenities. The apartments also offer a garden and outdoor seating area, and rooms are pet-friendly so no family member needs to be left behind! Just a 14-minute walk from the Whyalla Marina, it’s the perfect home away from home close to all the action.
Explore Whyalla’s wonderful surroundings
Twenty kilometres from Whyalla, there’s a patch of coastline in Fitzgerald Bay with striking red shingle beach ridges. It’s one of only three places on the planet with similar shingle ridges, the other two being in Scotland and Egypt.
A geological phenomenon, these stranded shingle beach deposits cover a distance of some 50 kilometres from the head of Spencer Gulf to Stony Point. This formation of ancient red quartzite pebbles is believed to date back to the Pleistocene period, which ended 11,700 years ago.
To stay near Fitzgerald Bay, check out Mariners Retreat. This holiday home features family rooms, on-site parking, an outdoor dining area, and a full kitchen. You’ll also enjoy beachfront access and a lush garden perfect for evening drinks. It’s the perfect launch point for exploring the historic shingle ridges.
Two minutes’ drive inland from the city foreshore, Whyalla Wetlands is another popular spot for nature lovers. The wetlands area, created in the city’s old aerodrome, covers an area of 24 hectares, with almost seven hectares of artificial lakes which attract more than 80 species of birds. You can even bring a homemade lunch to make use of the picnic area and barbecues, and watch the kids run around in the nature playground.
Just a 20-minute drive from Whyalla, Point Lowly beach is known for the dolphins and birds that can often be spotted in the water. The area is popular for fishing, sightseeing and relaxing on the foreshore, with playground and toilet facilities nearby. While here, you can also visit Point Lowly Lighthouse and two lighthouse keepers’ cottages, the oldest buildings in the Whyalla area. Built in 1883, the lighthouse is a 23 metre tall structure perfect for snapping a photo.
To stay walking distance from the lighthouse, check out Point Lowly Cottages. Each homely cottage features a private bathroom, a fully-equipped kitchen, and an outdoor dining area with a barbecue. It’s the ideal place to relax away from the crowds, while also staying close enough to Whyalla to access all its incredible offerings. Take in a sunset over the sea, unwind with a drink on the patio, and enjoy serene walks on the beach.
To discover our favourite outdoor activities on the Fleurieu Peninsula, click here.
