Coffin Bay

After attending to some last minute repairs, we packed up and left Port Lincoln on the Monday morning and travelled 47 klms across the Eyre Peninsula to beautiful Coffin Bay.  Immediately upon our arrival in Coffin Bay, it became obvious to all that if Port Lincoln is known as the commercial fishing capital of South Australia, then Coffin Bay has become the recreational fishing `mecca’ for this part of the world as well as being known as the Oyster capital.  The bay itself is sensational and everything that happens in Coffin Bay is linked to the fishing industry.  As soon as our vehicles crested the hill overlooking the bay one could be mistaken for thinking that both Mark and John were mentally oiling up their fishing reels and baiting their lines and eyeing off potential places to catch the elusive King George whiting that apparently reside in large numbers in this spectacular bayside location.

As soon as you enter this village the first sight you have is of the vast number of oyster leases that are dotted everywhere all around the bay.  I know they won’t mind me saying that ever since we started our S. A. Experience, John and Kathie have waited patiently to savour their first taste of Coffin Bay oysters.  After some careful checking around town as to where to buy locally, John and Kathie sat down to enjoy their spoils and tick this item off their ‘bucket list’.

View of Coffin Bay from Town

John & Kathie savouring oysters.

As the freestays were limited in this region, we chose to stay in the local caravan park, which is right in the middle of town.  Given that Coffin Bay has become a must see for all grey nomads the van park is huge and the facilities are excellent.

Once we booked in we set off to explore Coffin Bay National Park.  Our primary aim was to check out some of the freestays available in the National Park but these were rugged and lacked the appeal that we had found in other parts of South Australia.  During this exploratory visit we stopped at Almonta Beach.  On the white sands we noted a fisherman who was trudging up the beach carrying his spoils of battle.  Both Mark and John were quick to exit the vehicles and they set off to explore the moving black mass that was ebbing up and down the beach.  This black mass was a school of Australian Salmon “green backs” and soon Mark and John were having the time of their life.  Most of the fish were caught and released and the boys only kept one fish each, which meant that everyone had fresh fish to grace the dinner table that evening.  Both were pleased to have success at last, so Rob ..........  hold the care package for a few weeks or so.

A Salmon or a Horse?

Look Mum! Look what I caught!

The Intrepid Fishermen

  Our second day in Coffin Bay was a bit cloudier and cooler.  We spent most of the morning cycling along the esplanade and Mark & Donna also ventured up to the lookout.  Tomorrow we continue our journey up the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula, with more adventure ahead.