Touring Whalers Way in Lincoln National Park with Wilderness Wanders: Ron watches the whales on the Eyre Peninsula in the West Coast reion of South Australia

Between May and October, the Southern Right Whales shelter in the nooks and crannies at the tip of Eyre Peninsula. Why was it called the Southern Right Whale? Well, it was the right whale to catch - it would float when harpooned and it produced plenty of valuable oil.

Today it's sightseers who scan the Peninsula coastline but a little more than 170 years ago others made a living from a very bloody and violent trade at Fishery Bay.

Phil Porter from Wilderness Wanders knows this part of the South Australian coastline like the back of his hand having brought many tourists to a spot, where archaeologists uncovered tell tale signs of what was known as the Fishery Bay Whaling Station. The try pots were used to boil down the whale blubber. In peak season there would be several try pots arranged on what was called a try floor. The archaeologists' dig has brought this piece of South Australian history to the surface. Scattered about the place are kiln-fired bricks and down at the water's edge you can see where the whalers' work was done.

Phil Porter, Wilderness Wanders: "It's hard to imagine the whalers outs here in the 1880s. It would have been a tough life. They used the rock platforms to carve them up and boil them down."

But sealers had arrived here much earlier following news of Matthew Flinders' navigation of this coastline in 1802. In 1803, after details of Flinders' maps had become public, American sealers were at Fishery Bay and by 1837 they'd established a whaling settlement. It only lasted for about 4 years and perhaps that's due to the treacherous nature of the coastline.

We stop for lunch at Mikkira Station and dine on some Eyre Peninsula delights courtesy of local caterer, Lincoln Goodies. The lunch and the tent sites are all part of a special two-day walking option.

Phil Porter, Wilderness Wanders: "When we bring people on our 'Whalers Way Walk' we try to keep our walk to about 9 kilometres a day. It's a very easy distance and most people can cover that without any problem. We bring them here to camp for the night because it's such a beautiful sheltered peaceful spot."

From Fishery Bay to Cape Wiles and further on the walk is breathtaking. And on your wanders keep an eye out for the passing parade of flowering native flora. A pair of ospreys has gone to extraordinary lengths to find some privacy on this spectacular stretch of coastline. We saw a chick taking time out to enjoy the view while a one New Zealand Fur Seal was lazing in the sun.

At the end of the day we come across Theakstone's Crevasse, one of the many wonders of Whalers Way created by the relentless pounding of the ocean on an ancient fault line.

Whaler's Way is located at the tip of Eyre Peninsula. You'll need to purchase an entry pass at the start of the track about 30kms south of Port Lincoln. To really experience its wonders hop on board a four wheel drive trek with Wilderness Wanders or better still join one of their two day walks. For details contact 8684 5001. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Wilderness Wanders Tours to Lincoln National Park & Whalers Way
Ph 8684 5001

Published 1st August 2010