Day 45: Wed 29 Mar 23 - Port Lincoln

Wed 29 Mar 23 - Port Lincoln

15 Deg overnight with a very moderate 21 Deg and steady southerly winds blowing throughout the day. It  rained most of the morning clearing around midday. We set off for the 50km drive to Coffin Bay at 0915, arriving just as the rain started to settle. It wasn't the best weather for seeing Coffin Bay, but it was still very pretty. We drove around the esplanade stopping several times at different vantage points, before returning to a cafe in town (the only one I think) for a take away coffee which we had in the park opposite the lobster boat wharf. Having paid our entrance fee while in Port Lincoln yesterday ($10), we then drove out to the Coffin Bay National Park to various lookouts, beaches and bays. At the first stop, we bumped into our caravan park neighbours (Darryl & Debbie and Dale & Caroline from Maitland) and continued the drive around the park with them.  The road to all the sites that we visited today followed  sealed roads,  except for the side road that we took to Almonta Beach which was rough and rocky. The drive from Coffin Bay through the National Park and back to Coffin Bay covered about 55km in total. We didn't venture past the Yangie Bay Campground into the upper part of the National Park which is 4WD only, and time didn't permit for us to venture any further anyway. Words cannot describe how beautiful the landscape is here and the photos just don't do it justice. The scenery was spectacular, but we also saw plenty of wildlife including emus casually roaming the main street in Coffin Bay and along the roads in the National Park. Another very special sighting was a seal chasing fish in shallow water which we watched from above at the Point Avoid lookout. The weather today was not kind to us while at Coffin Bay, but it cleared enough for us to enjoy the magnificent scenery in the National Park. We have already spoken about returning sometime and staying at the campground at Yangie Bay, followed by a few days at Coffin Bay. After leaving the National Park, we had planned to stop in Coffin Bay for another quick look around, but while I was walking to a lookout at the Yangie Bay Campground, Noeleene received a call from the caravan park to say that a fire alarm had activated in our caravan. They checked the van (from the outside) and couldn't see any smoke, and they kindly monitored the van until we returned.  By the time we got back to the van at 1500, the alarm had stopped. I tested the battery and it was still good, and I couldn't find any reason for the alarm to activate. Thankfully it happened toward the end of our day away and not at the start.  Nonetheless, we both enjoyed the day very much. Tomorrow, we have planned another drive, this time along the Whalers Way which is on privately owned land approximately 32km from Port Lincoln (43km from the caravan park). Apparently, we are in for more spectacular coastal views. Hoping the weather will be kinder than today. 


Coffin Bay Lookout on a rainy day

Coffin Bay - Not the best weather for bringing out the beautiful blue colours in the water

Coffin Bay - Cloudy and low tide

Coffin Bay - Inlet


Coffin Bay - Rain clearing and blue sky appearing

Coffin Bay - A lot of fish were being caught

Coffin Bay - Lobster Boats

Coffin Bay

Coffin Bay - A family of emus roaming through the streets

Coffin Bay - A family of emus roaming through the streets

Coffin Bay - The harbour looking more picturesque as the rain clears

Emus on the road in the Coffin Bay National Park 

Coffin Bay National Park - View from the road in

Coffin Bay National Park - Claytons Lookout over Avoid Bay

Coffin Bay National Park - Claytons Lookout over Avoid Bay


Coffin Bay National Park - Claytons Lookout over Avoid Bay



Coffin Bay National Park - Avoid Bay


Coffin Bay National Park - Sandhills


Coffin Bay National Park - Almonta Beach



Coffin Bay National Park - Almonta Beach

Coffin Bay National Park - Almonta Beach towards Golden Island

Coffin Bay National Park - Almonta Beach

Coffin Bay National Park - Emus owning the road on the way out from Almonta Beach

Coffin Bay National Park - Emus on the way out from Almonta Beach

Coffin Bay National Park - Point Avoid Road to Golden Island Lookout

Coffin Bay National Park - Point Avoid Lookout over Golden Island

Coffin Bay National Park - Point Avoid lookout watching a seal chasing fish below


Coffin Bay National Park - Point Avoid lookout watching a seal chasing fish below


Coffin Bay National Park - Point Avoid lookout watching a seal chasing fish below


Coffin Bay National Park - Point Avoid lookout watching a seal chasing fish below
 (and posing)

Coffin Bay National Park - Point Avoid lookout over Almonta Beach

Coffin Bay National Park - Point Avoid lookout overlooking Golden Island


Coffin Bay National Park - Point Avoid lookout overlooking Golden Island

Coffin Bay National Park - Point Avoid lookout 


Coffin Bay National Park - Point Avoid lookout

Coffin Bay National Park - Point Avoid lookout

Coffin Bay National Park - View towards Yangie Bay Campground

Coffin Bay National Park - Overlooking Yangie Bay Campground
We are already talking about coming back and staying here for a few days before staying 3-4 more days at Coffin Bay (On our next trip to SA). 


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