The Eyre Peninsula is a breathtaking 1000km stretch from Whyalla to the Western Australian border. It is sprinkled with pretty bays and beaches and is very popular with anglers.
The delightful seaside town of Elliston is 169km northwest of Port Lincoln. Set in rolling wheat and sheep country, it is good for fishing, swimming and surfing and has rugged sandstone cliffs.
Privately owned Flinders Island is a tiny speck 35km off the mainland. Shelley and Alan Burge are the only permanent residents. They take care of 4000 sheep. Some think the island was part of southern Africa many thousands of years ago, due to its similar soil and diamonds.
Visitors have the island all to themselves. You need to take everything with you as there are no shops, but supplies can be ordered and delivered.
Gem Beach is a good spot for catching snapper, whiting, tuna and flathead, as well as snorkelling, diving and bushwalking. There are shipwrecks and guano caves to explore.
A great way to get to Flinders is with Chinta Tours, which runs charter flights in conjunction with Regional Express and Amity Aviation. They also offer spectacular outback tours and whale watching in the Great Australian Bight.
Location
South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.
Cost
Flinders Island stays start at $240 a couple per night. Group prices start at $80, depending on the size of the party.
Chinta Tours has three-night packages to Flinders Island from Adelaide with Regional Express and Amity Aviation, from $1312 per person. Provisions can be provided at an extra cost.
More information
Chinta Tours
PO Box 11, Ceduna 5690
Ph/Fax: (08) 8625 9053; Mob: 0428 244 682
chinta@tpg.com.auFlinders Island Getaway
PO Box 73
Streaky Bay 5680
Ph: (08) 8687 9343; Mob: 0427 170 382
flinders.getaway@bigpond.com
