On the next leg of our Yorke Peninsula journey, we farewell Moonta and return to what we love most—coastal camping—with Daly Head as our first stop.
Perched on the north-west coast, Daly Head is a premier destination for surfing, fishing, and camping. Renowned for its dramatic limestone cliffs, pristine white sand beaches, and quality surf breaks, it proudly forms part of a National Surfing Reserve. The campground itself offers around 50 bookable sites, all sitting high atop the cliffs overlooking the stunning Blue Bay Cove.
We secured a spacious site at the northern end of the campground, conveniently close to the stairs leading down to the beach. Much like the rest of our Yorke travels, the current economic climate seems to be keeping people away. During our stay, only two other campers joined us—leaving us with the rare and special feeling of having this incredible place almost entirely to ourselves.
Our days were spent exploring the beach and rocky outcrops, often accompanied by pods of dolphins cruising past. At night, the rhythmic crash of waves against the rugged coastline became the perfect soundtrack to drift off to sleep.
When the weather turned, we took the opportunity to explore further afield. Just a few kilometres north lies Greenly Beach, another bookable bush camping area. Scattered among the dunes are private, shanty-style shacks, with narrow tracks weaving their way to hidden beach access points and scenic lookouts.
We also made our way to the nearby point at Daly Head itself—a well-known surf break. It officially became South Australia’s first National Surfing Reserve on January 12, 2013. From our vantage point above the rocky outcrop, we watched a handful of surfers take on the swell, only to be joined by a playful pod of dolphins riding the same waves—an unforgettable sight.
Our final night at Daly Head reminded us that cliff-top camping has its trade-offs. The wind picked up… and then some. The van rocked and rolled through the night, with a few particularly strong gusts providing some nervous moments and a broken sleep.
From Daly Head, we made our way to our next booking at Wauraltee Beach. Once known for beachfront camping, caravan access to the sand has now been closed for environmental reasons. On arrival, we found the remaining sites near the beach too small for our setup, leaving only two larger options set well back from the coast. After weighing up the conditions—and with the weather still less than ideal—we decided to forfeit the booking and push on to the nearby town of Port Victoria.
And what a hidden gem that turned out to be.
The RV park, located at the local sports oval, offered simple bush-style camping for just $10 a night, complete with bins, a dump point, and toilet facilities. The town itself is small and delightfully unpretentious—a pub, a kiosk, and a service station that, we’re told, opens more on mood than schedule (and certainly not during busy periods). The general store is currently closed for renovations, adding to the town’s laid-back charm.
Port Victoria is steeped in maritime history, which made exploring it all the more fascinating. Established in 1839, it earned the title of “the last of the windjammer ports.” Windjammers—large iron or steel sailing ships from the late 19th and early 20th centuries—once carried grain from here to Europe via Cape Horn, with the trade continuing until 1949.
Just offshore lies Wardang Island, which acts as a natural breakwater against the prevailing south-westerlies. While it provided safe anchorage for ships, the surrounding reefs have also claimed many vessels. At least thirteen shipwrecks are known in the area, with eight forming part of the Wardang Island Maritime Heritage Trail.
After riding out the worst of the weather, we returned to the coast and discovered a campground that truly stole our hearts—Tiparra Rocks.
Located just 6 km north of the small seaside town of Balgowan, Tiparra Rocks is an intimate camping experience, offering only three fully self-contained sites. Despite being fully booked during our stay, the clever spacing ensured a peaceful and private atmosphere.
Set atop stunning sandstone cliffs, the campground overlooks brilliant white sandy beaches and endless ocean views. Our time here was nothing short of magical. We wandered along beaches and cliff-top tracks, tried our luck salmon fishing, and were treated to the most breathtaking sunsets of our journey so far.
Leaving was not easy—but fortunately, we were able to transfer our unused Wauraltee Beach booking to The Gap Bush Campground, just a few kilometres away.
The Gap proved to be a little busier, particularly with beach four-wheel drivers using it as a weekend stopover. We arrived on a Saturday, but by Sunday evening, the crowds had cleared, leaving us once again to enjoy complete serenity.
While the campground itself is tucked behind the dunes and not as visually striking, the surrounding environment more than made up for it. At low tide, we explored expansive rocky reefs teeming with marine life—spotting stingrays and even enjoying a close encounter with a curious banjo shark gliding through the shallows.
Sunsets here continued to impress, but it was the sunrises that truly stood out. With our camp backing onto open grain fields, the early morning light painted the landscape in a completely different—and equally stunning—way.
And just like that, our time on the Yorke Peninsula came to an end.
We returned to Moonta Bay for a few nights to reset—cleaning off three weeks’ worth of salt and sand, restocking supplies, and preparing for the next leg of our journey. But, as seems to be the theme of our travels, plans are made to be changed. An unexpected caravan suspension recall forced us to pivot once again.
At this point, we’re starting to think that rolling with the unexpected isn’t just part of the journey—it ’is’ the journey for Unshackled Adventures.
** Tip: For the best viewing experience, click the YouTube link in the bottom left corner of the video to watch in higher clarity.
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