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Eyre Peninsula SA 2026
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Eyre Peninsula SA 2026

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    🇦🇺 The District Council of Lower Eyre Pe…
    McDermotts Travel OzEyre Peninsula SA 2026Traveler

    Port Lincoln SA

    Yesterday in Australia ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    We were in no hurry to leave Elliston this morning, so enjoyed a lazy start. Dan and Helen, on the other hand, departed early to get their dodgy tyre checked out and replaced in Port Lincoln.

    As we rolled into Port Lincoln around lunchtime, it was once again (as last year) cold, windy and cloudy. Clearly we’re developing a reputation with the weather gods, but we’re channeling positive vibes for brighter skies over the next few days.

    After setting up at the Port Lincoln Tourist Park, we headed into town to check things out and stock up on groceries, before finishing the afternoon with a tasting at Boston Bay Wines. We came away with a bottle of ‘Great White’ sauvignon blanc - hopefully a good omen for Monday’s cage dive, or a very deliberate marketing ploy. Either way, we’ll take it.

    Dan and Anthony made a final stop at the Port Lincoln Brewing Co. before we all headed to dinner at the Boston Hotel. A fitting end to a relaxed first day in town.

    P.S. The cat was still stubbornly stuck in the tree as we pulled away. Hopefully it sorts itself out sooner rather than later, it’s coming on a week now!    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEyre Peninsula SA 2026Traveler

    Eyre Peninsula SA

    January 9 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    We spent the morning exploring the rugged highlights of the western side of the Eyre Peninsula, starting at the Talia Caves, including the Woolshed and The Tub. We timed our visit to coincide with low tide so we could scramble down into them for a closer look. The drive out there (and back) was an adventure in itself with relentless corrugations - a tighten the bra straps kind of ride 😝

    Next stop was the small township of Venus Bay, which was picturesque and quietly charming. Unfortunately, our timing coincided with a generator failure at the only shop, meaning no cold drinks and no snacks.

    So we continued on to Port Kenny, where we learned that just because a place has a sign pointing to it does not mean you should go there. It smelled terrible and gave strong “past its prime” energy. Definitely on the list of places we never need to return to.

    Somewhere we would return to however, was Walkers Rock just north of Elliston, a stunning sweep of beach reminiscent of Lucky Bay in WA, if not for its reputation as the site of a fatal shark attack.

    Back in Elliston, we again enjoyed a delightful afternoon at the beach, followed by a scenic coastal drive around the Anxious Bay loop road (sans kids), admiring the randomly placed sculptures dotted along the headland. A lovely way to finish our time on the west coast of Eyre.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEyre Peninsula SA 2026Traveler

    Elliston SA

    January 8 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    Happily, after a shuttle mission and fortunate encounter with an agreeable mechanic who repaired the punctured tyre in Wudinna, we’ve all made it safely to beautiful Elliston and are enjoying a very civilised 27-degree afternoon. It’s a great pleasure to be back on the coast and out of yesterday’s complexities at Minnipa.

    That said, full credit to our hosts at the Minnipa Hotel, who could not have been kinder or more accommodating while everything else did its best to be memorable for the wrong reasons.

    Upon arrival at the Waterloo Caravan Park Elliston we were delayed getting onto our site because the owner’s cat is stuck in a tree. In a move inspired by Dumb and Dumber, he tried coaxing it down with the fire hose. Of course ‘little Pussy’ (that’s actually her name) responded by relocating to the absolute top of the tree and refusing to move. Apparently she’s been there for four days already. We’re now awaiting the inevitable meeeooowww, followed by thud, around midnight.

    This afternoon we embraced the true spirit of summer holidays with a lazy beach session in Waterloo Bay just across from the caravan park. A few classic catches, some jumping off the pontoon and a lot of relaxing. Minimal effort, maximum satisfaction.

    We’re now enjoying happy hour at the vans, followed by a casual stroll to the headland before dinner.

    This is living. We’re back in our happy place 🥰    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEyre Peninsula SA 2026Traveler

    Minnipa SA

    January 7 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 43 °C

    In years to come, today will be a story we retell with humour. But for now.. not so much.

    It was already 43 degrees at 10am as we departed our beautiful waterfront site in Whyalla to voluntarily drive straight into an inland heatwave. We’re clearly insane!

    Our intended itinerary was to spend an off-grid night at Pildappa Rock, but given the conditions we pivoted and pulled up at the nearby Minnnipa Hotel where electricity, air conditioning and a cool-ish pub exist, all luxuries we suddenly feel deeply entitled to.

    On route we stopped at Kimba marking halfway across Australia. We all posed for the obligatory photo before taking refuge from the heat in the roadhouse, where we enjoyed a lunch break that was longer than necessary but entirely justified.

    Back on the highway, the car informed us it was now 47 degrees outside, information no one needed but everyone believed 🥵

    After arriving in Minnipa (apparently famous for its ‘concrete crappa’) and setting up behind the pub we took a short drive out to Tharkulda Rock (pronounced ‘charcoal dah’), as recommended by a local who, in hindsight, was disproportionately proud of it. We were politely underwhelmed.

    Hence we promptly returned to the pub where, upon discovering it receives only two TV channels, neither of which featured the cricket, even I conceded the best available option was listening to the cricket on the radio, in the air-conditioned car, parked under a big shady tree 🤦🏽‍♀️

    This afternoon we braved the heat to check out the region’s premier attraction and the reason we’re in this place at all, Pildappa Rock - think a mini Uluru meets Wave Rock, but with fewer people and more flies. Some people claim it’s better than the big ones - they’re delusional. It was somewhat interesting… right up until trouble struck. Dan and Helen got a flat tyre, which wouldn’t be so bad except that the spare is only half size and entirely unsuitable for towing 😳

    With tyre preservation the clear priority, we limped back to the Minnipa Hotel where we’re now stuck formulating a plan involving repairs, replacements and getting the hell out of here! We’re crossing our fingers the mechanic at Wudinna is on duty tomorrow and able to assist🤞🏼

    But every cloud has a silver lining — Josh won $500 on the pokies while waiting for dinner 😂 Dinner’s on luck tonight! 🍀    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEyre Peninsula SA 2026Traveler

    Whyalla SA

    January 6 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Only a short travel day today, cruising through Port Augusta (or “Augutta” if you want to sound local) and on to Whyalla.

    After checking in at the Foreshore Caravan Park on a spectalur waterfront site we headed back into town to check out the Whyalla Maritime Museum featuring the HMAS Whyalla, the first modern warship built in 1941 in South Australia. We were lucky to be able to explore throughout the ship despite today’s 37 degree heat, as we were told tomorrow it would be deathly hot and tours wouldn’t run.

    We spent a lazy afternoon in the cool waters of the Spencer Gulf watching the locals backflip off the jetty, until a cheeky crab decided my foot looked delicious and went in for a nibble. I now have the scar (and the story) to prove it 🦀

    Dinner was a winner at the Eyre Hotel, where Josh and Ryan effortlessly devoured the Tuesday special - 3kgs of chicken wings!

    Tonight we’re enjoying sitting outside our vans, soaking up a beautiful sunset. In fact so perfect that even my sparkling rosé is colour-coordinated. Honestly, if this isn’t living, I don’t know what is. Cheers 🥂    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEyre Peninsula SA 2026Traveler

    Ikara Wilpena Pound SA

    January 5 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Today we headed out early to explore Wilpena Pound, making the most of the (slightly) cooler part of the day.

    The Pound, also known as Ikara (meaning meeting place), is a massive natural amphitheatre — a bit like a giant crater — roughly 8km by 17km in size, formed by enormous geological pressures hundreds of millions of years ago. In the 1800s, European settlers used the Pound as a giant natural sheep yard. Sheep were guided through a narrow gap and neatly contained by the surrounding hills, proving the landscape to be both beautiful and practical.

    Frustratingly, the shuttle bus to the start of the Wangarra Lookout walk wasn’t running today (despite the website advertising daily services), which gave us the unexpected ‘bonus’ of a 2.5km warm-up walk. We strolled out past the Hills Homestead before climbing up to the lookout, where we were rewarded with a sensational panoramic vista across the Pound - the kind of view that makes you forget your legs for a few minutes.

    On the walk back, we stopped to watch an emu cooling off in a large puddle, living his best life until we arrived to ruin the mood 😆. For a split second, we thought Ryan was about to be disciplined for disturbing the peace and we all prepared for an emu-shaped sprint, but thankfully no chase eventuated, no dignity was lost, and Old Man Emu returned to his soak, clearly deciding we were not worth the effort.

    After our 9km Wilpena hike we were all very happy to return to the vans for a relaxing afternoon in the pool, followed by happy hour and eventually dinner watching the cricket in the relative cool of the camp kitchen.

    Tonight for something different we’ve headed into Quorn for their Silo Light Show celebrating the history and culture of the Flinders Ranges, projected onto the side of two giant grain silos. It was fabulous, far exceeded my expectations. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone passing through.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEyre Peninsula SA 2026Traveler

    Flinders Ranges SA

    January 4 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    A slower start with a cooked breakfast to celebrate our newest 15 year old - Happy birthday Lachlan! 🥳

    Lachie is loving that his birthday coincides with the first day of the the Sydney Ashes Test Match and a day of driving, affording plenty of time to listen to the action on ABC radio 🤦🏽‍♀️

    Today we explored the Flinders Ranges, following the Bunyeroo/Brachina Gorge Scenic Drive to Razorback Lookout and onwards to Blinman. A bit of excitement along the way with a water crossing requiring 4WD (or the might of the Kia Carnival, in Dan and Helen’s case 😆). Thanks to Ryan for being our sacrificial depth tester!

    Razorback Lookout was spectacular. You could literally see and discern each layer of earth and how the Range has been pushed up by geological forces over time. The Gorge by contrast was an oasis offering a change of scenery and vegetation hosting some cute local wildlife.

    Back on the highway we made a quick detour to the Wall of China before rolling into the North Blinman Hotel (SA’s highest pub) just in time for lunch. The boys and I opted for their signature Big Pub Pie, while Anth went with the Himalayan Kangaroo Schnitzel, which the barman took great delight in translating as “him-a-laying”… on the side of the road 🤦🏽‍♀️ While it was delicious, some things you just can’t unhear or taste 😆 Additionally we all sampled a Quandong Pie for dessert - unexpectedly delicious 😋

    Unfortunately the historic Blinman Mine was closed due to staff shortages, which was disappointing having come this far.

    Back at the caravan we continued Lachie’s birthday celebration with cake and happy hour, before enjoying a lazy afternoon in the pool leading into dinner.

    An altogether fabulous day.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEyre Peninsula SA 2026Traveler
    111

    Hawker SA

    January 3 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    My all salad dinner last night was universally unpopular as we prepared for this morning’s early border crossing into SA. That said we did cruise through with only a lemon to surrender.

    Happily, it seems the road has been repaved since we last travelled this route. I remember the stretch from Broken Hill to the border as some of the worst in the state, but this time it was, dare I say, almost acceptable.

    We stopped to replenish fresh supplies in Peterbourough and had hoped to find a bakery or pie shop or anything for lunch. Nothing! All closed, except Foodland. DIY Sandwiches in the park it is.

    After a spot of sunny rain and a few outback dust devils, we rolls into Hawker Caravan Park around 3 pm. This will be our home for the next few nights while we explore this part of the Flinders Ranges.

    Tonight we treated ourselves to dinner at the Woolshed Restaurant at Rawnsley Park Station. While the exterior reflects its pastoral history, the menu showcased high-quality South Australian produce to rival any hatted restaurant. Anth and I shared a delicious lamb tasting plate, while the boys devoured slow-cooked shanks and an Angus sirloin, all topped off with an early birthday celebration for Lachie 😋    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEyre Peninsula SA 2026Traveler

    Silverton NSW

    January 2 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Today we ventured out to the near-ghost town of Silverton, exploring the iconic Mad Max Museum, wandering through local artists’ studios and galleries, and enjoying lunch at the legendary Silverton Hotel.

    We then made our way to the Mundi Mundi Lookout, taking in sweeping views across the seemingly endless Mundi Mundi Plains, an expanse so vast you can almost see the curvature of the earth.

    At the boys’ request, we snuck in a cheeky afternoon milkshake at Bell’s Milk Bar — reportedly Australia’s longest-running diner and a favourite from our last visit in 2023.

    And finally, parents’ choice: happy hour at The Palace Hotel, with its eclectic history of hosting presidents, international royalty and legendary entertainers - plus of course the setting for the iconic Aussie movie Priscilla Queen of the Desert, with scenes filmed within its distinctive, mural-covered interiors. Some of us fit right in LOL 😜    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEyre Peninsula SA 2026Traveler
    #lostThe cute nd quirky things you find in the middle of nowhere

    Kinchega NP NSW

    January 1 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Given everything was shut for New Year’s Day we headed out to Menindee to explore the outback oasis that is Kinchega National Park.

    First stop: the quirky settlement of Sunset Strip on the northern edge of Lake Menindee. Established in the 1960s as a holiday escape for Broken Hill locals with boats and fishing rods, it’s now home to a grand total of 42 people - and their pub! Clearly neither building inspectors nor the BCA have a role to play in ‘the Strip’ but the locals appear fiercely proud of their ramshackle abodes all the same.

    Next stop: Menindee, known as the first town on the Darling River and famous for its significant Menindee Lakes system, rich Indigenous and explorer history, including as the last European outpost for the ill-fated Burke & Wills expedition.

    Inside the National Park we explored the ruins of the Old Kinchega Homestead, once the headquarters of one of Australia’s largest sheep stations, before finishing at the mighty Kinchega Woolshed, which in its heyday saw up to 80,000 sheep shorn in a single season, with bales floated down the Darling River from the port of Menindee to markets in Adelaide.

    Leaving the NP we took the ‘scenic’ route back to Broken Hill via the Cawndilla Channel (approx 53km in the wrong direction) but pretty all the same 🤦🏽‍♀️ Who knew pelicans were so prevalent in the outback!

    We finished an epic day with sunset at the Living Desert Sculpture Park with its sweeping views back over Broken Hill 🌅    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEyre Peninsula SA 2026Traveler
    Roadside lunch stop, west of WilcanniaRubber Ducky overtaking

    Broken Hill NSW

    December 31, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 26 °C

    After a short stop at Cobar’s finest coffee shop (you know it’s the place to be when the local law enforcement were all out for their morning brew too) we hit the road heading west: destination Broken Hill.

    The drive offered few highlights, unless you count goats. Plenty of goats. Also the occasional emu, and kangaroos, the latter mostly in the form of road-kill. Goats, by contrast, appear to possess a basic sense of self-preservation, sensibly vacating the roadway at the sound of an approaching vehicle. No pre-tenderised goat meat 😝

    Kangaroos evidently tend to do the opposite, hopping directly into danger. If only they could move backwards instead of having to go around 🤦🏽‍♀️

    The impact of the feral goats is unmistakable with the so-called ‘umbrella’ trees stripped bare at goat height, with only a forlorn upper canopy surviving beyond their reach.

    After a quick set up at Broken Hill Tourist Park we made tracks for Pro Hart’s gallery, before returning for a refreshing swim and relaxing happy hour 🍻🥂

    And of course in the countdown to midnight we headed into town for the local NYE party hosted by Broken Hill City Council in Sturt Park. It’s time like these you realise you’re ‘city’ entitled when the performer asks “who’s from a farm” and his first song is titled “No working during drinking hours” LOL 😂 #theytriedhard

    Happy New Year! 🥳    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEyre Peninsula SA 2026Traveler

    Cobar NSW

    December 30, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    An uneventful travel day (for us 😁) arriving in Cobar by early afternoon. The boys are already salivating tonight’s mining town pub meal at the Great Western Hotel.

    Our route here took us through Dubbo, Narromine (where we stopped for the obligatory photo with the Glen McGrath statue) and Nyngan, again stopping to pose for a pic with the Big Bogan. Turns out the ancillary bogans (aka the McDermott boys) have grown bigger since our last visit in 2021 😆

    Surprisingly the Cobar Caravan Park is as busy as we’ve ever seen it across our three previous visits. Who knew summer road-tripping in the outback was actually a thing? We’d assumed only mad men, McDermotts and Giffneys would be brave, or foolish, enough to attempt it.

    It’s a scorching 39 degrees, but thanks to Anth’s creative plumbing we’re siting cool enjoying happy hour under our outdoor aircon misting hose.

    A quick detour up Fort Bourke Hill lookout for some mine gazing before retreating to the pub for dinner. You know you’re not a local when you have to describe your request for a bottle of rosé as “the pink one”, and Josh’s ask for a midi of beer was automatically poured in a schooner, because “what’s that?” 🤣🤦🏽‍♀️    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEyre Peninsula SA 2026Traveler
    11

    Fossils & Cathedral

    December 29, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    This morning we toured the Wellington Caves site, starting with an educational fossil dig 🧐, followed by a tour of the resonant Cathedral Cave.

    The fossil discovery lab was an interesting experience as we indulged our inner palaeontologist while nodding thoughtfully at explanations we mostly translated as “this is very old and very important.” A bit like Indiana Jones, minus the boulders, snakes and personal heroics 😆

    The Cathedral Cave was a pleasantly cool respite, complete with some great acoustic properties. Josh stepped up to lead a gutsy rendition of Advance Australia Fair to demonstrate the finer resonance, before we literally ‘felt’ the sound as the tour group collectively beat their chests in the Thunder Cave.

    This afternoon, Anth and the boys played a round at the adjacent golf course. For $55 all up including green fees, club hire and a golf cart (between the four of them) they have declared Wellington Caves the best place ever - on this trip, so far. Or maybe it was because Ryan (almost) landed a hole in one!

    #disclaimer #easilypleased 😁    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEyre Peninsula SA 2026Traveler

    Wellington Caves NSW

    December 28, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    This time last year we headed off to Port Lincoln with the express goal of cage diving with Great White Sharks. While we didn’t see sharks that time, we did gain confidence — and the misplaced belief that this time would be different 😆

    So, against our better judgment and because we’re foolishly invested in the experience, we’re heading back for Jaws 2 (damn you, “see sharks” guarantee 🤦🏽‍♀️). Port Lincoln here we come, again…

    We made a slow start and an even slower run over the mountains, finally rolling into our first stop at Wellington Caves around 4 pm. I think we’ve scored one of the best sites in the park: spacious, shady, and with our own picnic table. Perfect for our first holiday happy hour 🍻🥂

    The kids enjoyed time in the games room, followed by a round of ‘Worst Case Scenario’, while Dan, Helen, Anth and I explored the Japanese Garden and celebrated a belated Happy Christmas! 🎄

    P.S. Thank the lord for a two day test match 😉 No listening to mundane radio commentary for 400 km!    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEyre Peninsula SA 2026Traveler

    Ready to Roll

    December 28, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    We’re ready to roll on our Jaws2 road trip! Port Lincoln here we come, again…

    A little bit groundhog day, familiar territory with a few new twists. Same drive to South Australia but with different routes to discover something new along the way.Read more

    Trip start
    December 28, 2025
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