Date: 5th March 2023
Travelled: 280 kms from Whyalla to Port Lincoln in South Australia
Visited: Cowell and Port Lincoln
Stayed: Port Lincoln CP, $45, S34.72762, E135.88318
Budget: days @ $ per day
If it wasnโt for the unusual smells emanating from the steel works and the low background noise in the early hours of the morning from the port loader up the road, Whyalla would be a tourist hotspot. Iโm being a bit harsh, Whyalla is an industrial city employing thousands of people and we are just some nomads passing through.
We do a quick Google for a supermarket on our way when we discover why the main street of Whyalla is so desolate. 10 minutes west of the old shopping strip there are a huge set of supermarkets and shopping depots. The carparks are full so everyone seems to be shopping there which explains the death of the old shopping strip.
With the cupboards loaded and the Jayco full of diesel we continue south on the Lincoln Hwyโฆ
The first 70-80 kms is dry scrubby country, but then suddenly farms appear and we can see the land has been improved. Mostly itโs the stubble remains from harvested grain crops that extend as far as the eye can see, this continues for another 200 kms.
I suppose this explains the towering silos we pass several times on our way to Port Lincoln.
We turn off into Cowell for a coffee and a leg stretch finding this magnificent set of silos.
We park at the marina at the end of the main street. Chatting with a local he tells us thereโve been working on redeveloping the waterfront for nearly two years and itโs the official opening next weekend (a long weekend in SA).
Post coffee we go for a walk around town which has some lovely old buildings and the odd quirky sight.
Back on the road the silos and stubble continue to Port Lincoln.
Port Lincoln, City of Port Lincoln, South Australia, 5606, Australia
Arriving in Port Lincoln we drive straight through to the CP. Itโs another sprawling campsite, but it has a lovely view across the bay. Itโs been a long day and other than a wander about the campsite we decide to do some more exploring in the morning.
Itโs an easy Indian takeaway for dinner tonight (thanks to the Indian pop-up in Cowell).
Despite a couple of showers around 5 or 6 am it was a quiet night. After coffee we head off to do 6 kms or so of the Parnkalla Trail. We pick up the trail on the waterfront below the campsite and walk the small bays and marina along the shoreline. I would add there are some fabulous homes reflecting Port Lincolnโs wealth.
Following breakfast we drive down into the town centre for a wander and a quick shop. Whilst everything is neat and tidy, itโs all relatively ordinary and hardly worth a photo. As Port Lincoln is considered Australiaโs seafood capital, supposedly producing the world best tuna and a variety of other seafoods we head of in search of a fish monger.
Should have Googled it I suppose but despite walking the main shopping strip and the waterfront we couldnโt find a fish shop ?
We did manage to find a life size bronze of Makybe Diva and a picture of the biggest set of silos (with no artwork) weโve ever seen.
So thatโs it, Port Lincoln done. We set the GPS for Coffin Bay with hope of finding some delicacies there.
Michael + Pam
