Lake Newland Conservation Park: Ron does a bit of sand hill surfing on the Eyre Peninsula in the West Coat region of South Australia

The Wild West Coast of Eyre Peninsula is full of wonderful surprises and hidden gems - but sometimes you need the help of a local to find them. Thirty five years ago the remoteness of this coastline where the waves hammer into the shoreline day after day - drew surfer Mark Archer to the ghost town of Colton, midway up the Lincoln Highway.

Now part of his day is spent in a bakery he built, next to the abandoned ruin he renovated and made home for his wife and kids. Once the roadside stall is full of oven-baked bread and sticky buns - Mark Archer's job is done.

Here on the road between Elliston and Streaky Bay, this surfer-cum-baker places his faith in the good faith of others - confident that tourists and locals will do the right thing and leave their money in the honesty box.

It's an arrangement that allows Mark to hit the waves or explore the mysteries of his own backyard in the great expanse of Lake Newland Conservation Park. The park was named after a friend of the great explorer Edward John Eyre who came through this region and discovered the amazing wetland back 1839.

Birds from all of Australia and the globe discovered this Coorong-like paradise years long before Eyre. And each year they come to a unique system of wetlands boarded on one side by kilometre upon kilometre of dunes and on the other by the rolling farm country of Eyre Peninsula.

The reed beds scattered along the banks of Lake Newland are pointers to the hidden springs that feed it.

After climbing the sand dunes it's time to try our hand at sand surfing. With the help of our sandboard polished with a good dose of Mr Sheen we're soon all in on the act creating highspeed havoc in a dune system that extends for twenty-five kilometres or more.

It's a unique sand dune and wetland system - that more than likely you'll have all to yourself. Lake Newland Conservation Park is just off the Lincoln Highway between Elliston and Streaky Bay. Head about four kilometres north of Colton and you'll come to the turn-off. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Lake Newland Conservation Park
Off the Lincoln Highway
Between Elliston and Streaky Bay
Eyre Peninsula

Published 22nd March 2009