Innes NP

While staying in our caravan at Point Turton in South Australia we decided to spend a day on the other side of the Yorke Peninsula exploring Innes National Park. This national park has some great vantage points for view across the Spencer Gulf and Investigator Strait, looking towards Kangaroo Island. The fee for entry into Innes National Park can be paid online at parks.sa.gov.au or purchased at various towns on the peninsula. 

A map of the park is very useful to make sure you call in to see the major points of interest.  Our day included the following:

• Stenhouse Bay – jetty where Gypsum was loaded onto ships when mining took place in the area - a great spot for fishing.  A ‘V’ shape was cut into the side of the hill to stockpile more gypsum - this can be seen from the jetty. The lookout at Stenhouse Bay is a two kilometre return walk from the car park.  
• Little Emu Beach.  A small beach northeast of Stenhouse Bay near the campground has crystal clear water.
• Chinaman Hat Island.  A rocky outcrop off the beach that looks like a head with hat  
• Cable Bay Camping Area. Just below Cape Spencer Lighthouse. Large bush sites which are protected from the southerly winds by the Cape.
• Cape Spencer Lighthouse.  Along a dirt road for about 2 kilometres.  Great views of stunning cliffs on one side and beach on the other.  
• Inneston Historic Township (and historic walk) - a small township developed during the mining of gypsum. Some of the old cottages and Managers residences have been renovated and will sleep up to 10 people.  
• Ethel Wreck – Ethel Beach.  A very good platform looks down over the beach and onto the remains of a ship call Ethel that was washed ashore.  
• West Cape Day Visitor area.  There are eco toilets which are clean and a water tank has been provided for washing hands. A covered picnic table is located about 50 metres from the car parking area which looks out over the ocean and beach. A walking track from the carpark leads up to a viewing platform with a 360 degree view.  A track heads off from the viewing platform and takes you around West Cape Lighthouse - made of Stainless Steel and reported to be the highest lighthouse in Australia.
• Pondalowie Bay. There are fishing huts in the sand dunes near Pondalowie Bay and fishing boats operate from the bay - travelling as far as Kangaroo Island in search of lobsters. There are two camping areas – Pondalowie Bay Camping area and Casuarina Campground (barbeques and toilets are provided for visitors).  
• Pondalowie surf break has a very large car parking area. There is a great boardwalk over the sand dunes to the water (quite a walk but easy) and the beach is accessed from a long viewing platform. The Yorke Surfing Classic is held in Innes National Park each October Long Weekend. 

There are several camping areas within the park providing unpowered bush sites for caravans, campers and tents - fees are payable online and there is a computer at the main entrance. Toilets are provided at most campgrounds and the larger areas have barbeque facilities.

Marion Bay is a small town on the edge of the National Park. Apparently this is a very popular spot for fishing and accommodation includes a caravan park, motel and beach houses for holiday rental. The Marion Bay Tavern is highly recommended for great food - especially pizza.