Innes National Park

At the toe of the Yorke peninsula is a spectacular National Park named after a miner ... saved for the sake of a rare bird and easily seen from your car. Starting at Stenhouse bay, there's a five dollar fee for vehicles - from there there are hours of seascapes. This is called Chinaman's Hat Island part of the Althorpe Islands group - a conservation park in itself. The ferocious winds and sea have taken their toll and at a stop called "The Gap" the limestone has eroded revealing sedimentary layers bedded down over the ages. Far more recent history is on show at Inneston. Now a ghost town is all that's left of one of South Australia's former mining centres. Mining ceased in 1932 and in 1970 Innes National Park was declared in part to save the rare Great Western Whipbird.

From Inneston it's only a short drive to Ethel beach - one of the Peninsular's many ocean graveyards. The skeletal remains of the Ethel lie on the beach. In 1904 the 700 ton iron sailing ship had lost a battle with a force seven gale - one life was lost. Now boogey boaders try their luck in calmer waters. The next bay up is famous around the country with surfers - Pondalowie Bay. Innes National Park is perfect for fishing, surfing, bird watching, swimming or camping. There are campgrounds but you need a permit ... and the park offers heritage accomodation in a number of lodges and huts that were built prior to the national park being established. Or you can just drive through for the day ... for information contact the Yorke District Office at Stenhouse Bay on (08) 8854 4040 or email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Join Keith when he explored the The Spectacular Toe at Innes National Park on The Yorke Peninsula.