Coffin Bay National Park: What are the best beaches & walks?

The Coffin Bay National Park’s top attractions include the Yangie Bay Hike, surfing at Mullalong Beach and fishing on Almonta Beach.

Coffin Bay at the bottom of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula is best known for its oyster farms. Coffin Bay oysters are rightly regarded as being amongst the best in Australia. But if oysters don’t do it for you, there’s plenty more to do in the Coffin Bay National Park.

The Coffin Bay National Park is 50km west of Port Lincoln, and is home to some of the finest coastal landscapes in Australia.

Port Lincoln experiences to book in advance

Coffin Bay day tour, with oyster tasting.
Eyre Peninsula scenery, food and wine-tasting trip.
Sunset sand dunes photography tour.
Electric mountain bike rental.
Wildlife-focused full day tour.

Yangie Bay walks in Coffin Bay National Park

The most accessible part of the Coffin Bay National Park is Yangie Bay, which can be reached in a conventional vehicle. You’ll need a 4WD to get to much of the rest of the park. Point Avoid and the Golden Island lookout can also be reached along a sealed road.

There are a couple of easy coastal walks from Yangie Bay. The Yangie Bay Hike starts at the Yangie Bay camping area, and offers great Southern Ocean views. It takes in the Thorny Passage Marine Park, plenty of coastal mallee and the Yangie Lookout. Budget 45 minutes to complete the trail.

If all you care about is the lookout, it’s a 1km return journey.

Longer walks in the Coffin Bay National Park include the 12km Black Rocks Hike from the Black Rocks car park. This skirts the dramatic coastline of Avoid Bay. There are also good views over Lake Damascus along the route.

Coffin Bay National Park beaches

The Coffin Bay National Park beaches are more of a lure than the walks, however. But many of the best – particularly in the north of the park – are only accessible with a 4WD vehicle. Those prepared to tackle the bumpy tracks are in for a treat, however.

Mullalong Beach is a haven for surfers. As with most surf beaches in the Coffin Bay National Park, Mullalong Beach is suitable for experienced surfers only.

This is prime fishing territory, too. Gummy shark, Australian salmon, Australian herring, garfish and whiting are commonly caught here. Gunya Beach and the stunning white sand Almonta Beach are massively popular with anglers.

A goose wandering along Almonta Beach in the Coffin Bay National Park. Photo by John White, courtesy of the South Australian Tourism Commission

If it’s wildlife you’re after, though, Coffin Bay National Park is one of the best places in Australia to see emus. The big birds maraud all over the place, and are commonly found walking along the beaches and sand dunes.

Camping in the Coffin Bay National Park is possible at six campgrounds. For more information, go to the National Parks and Wildlife Service of South Australia. Other attractions near Port Lincoln include Whalers Way.