Innes National Park 9,415 ha

Innes National Park is famous for its spectacular coastal landscapes, rugged cliffs and sandy beaches. There are shipwrecks, lighthouses and ruins to discover, and beaches and wildlife to enjoy.

Innes National Park is a favourite for camping, fishing and surfing. Bushwalking is a great way to discover the park, with trails ranging from 30-minute strolls to four-hour treks. You’ll spot an abundance of birds and animals while you catch some of the best coastal views in . Most of the park is accessible by 2WD, so it’s perfect for day visits and a paradise for beach lovers.

There is something for everyone in Innes. Visit one of the lighthouses and the shipwreck of the Ethel to learn about the tumultuous maritime history of South Australia. Explore the historic Inneston, an abandoned township surrounded by bushland. Take a stroll from your campsite down to the beach for a spot of fishing, or base yourself in one of the restored heritage cottages dotted throughout historic Inneston.

Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park borders Innes National Park. Find out more at marineparks.sa.gov.au. When to visit Summer is warm and dry, great for camping and perfect for the beach. Autumn is cooler and best suited to bushwalking and sightseeing. In spring you’ll be rewarded with a park in magnificent colour as the wildflowers bloom. Winter transforms the park into a fresh green landscape, with wild seas and large surf. Opening hours Innes National Park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The park may be closed on days of extreme fire danger. Getting there Innes National Park is located on the south-western tip of the , approximately 300km by road from Adelaide via Port Wakefield, Ardrossan, Minlaton and Warooka. Fees Fees apply to enter and camp in Innes National Park. Please note that payments and bookings can only be made online – cash payments are no longer accepted.

 Buy your entry pass, and annual or holiday passes: parks.sa.gov.au.  Book and pay for camping and accommodation: parks.sa.gov.au/innes. Traditional owners The people have lived on Yorke Peninsula for many thousands of years and they know the land intimately – its physical features, animal and plant life and water resources. The Narungga nation was made up of four clans: the Kurnara in the north of the peninsula; Windera in the east; Wari in the west; and Dilpa in the south. Today, the Narungga people continue to maintain strong cultural links to the region.

Natural Resources Centre Clare T: 08 8841 3400 www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/northernandyorke Innes National Park 9,415 ha

Things to see and do Innes National Park preserves part of the largest portion of remnant natural vegetation on the Yorke Peninsula. Enjoy the pristine coastal environment and the landscape of weathered cliffs, offshore islands and sandy beaches. Explore historic shipwrecks, functioning lighthouses and heritage buildings. Try your hand at beach fishing for Australian Salmon or take a walk through rugged bushland. Rangers recommend:  Quietly looking for rare Tammar wallabies; re-introduced to the park after becoming extinct in South Australia.  Exploring the ruins of the once-thriving mining township of Inneston (try to find the old bakery).  Watching ospreys diving into the surf as they hunt for their dinner.  Taking a picnic to the West Cape picnic area, where the spectacular coastline will take your breath away. Fishing Go surf fishing on the beach or cast your line from the Stenhouse Bay Jetty. Browns Beach is one of South Australia's best salmon fishing areas, while elsewhere in the park you may catch squid, mullet, tommy ruffs, garfish, sweep, mulloway and whiting.

The bays and coastline around Innes National Park form part of the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park. The Chinaman’s Hat Sanctuary Zone protects a section of spectacular coastline and rich marine habitat between Stenhouse Bay and Cable Bay. Fishing is not allowed in the sanctuary zone, with the exception of a shore based recreational line fishing exemption on Chinaman’s beach (136° 54.918' E to 136° 55.289' E).

Visit the marine parks website to find out more about local marine parks including where fishing is allowed at marineparks.sa.gov.au. Surfing Surfing is a popular activity at Innes National Park. The Yorkes Classic, one of South Australia's most prestigious surfing events, is held in the park every October long weekend. offers long and consistent waves, while Chinaman’s Beach has a powerful left hand break with a larger swell suited to experienced surfers only. Scuba diving Twenty two ships have been wrecked along the coast between and Innes National Park, with six ships meeting their fate near Althorpe Island. Today, you can scuba dive to explore the remnants of some of these underwater time capsules in the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park. Wildlife Innes National Park is a haven for birdlife. The hooded plover, a threatened species in South Australia, nests on beaches across the park and the population of Malleefowl, another endangered species, is on the rise. Ospreys breed on the cliffs and can be seen along the whole of the coast as they hunt.

Once widespread across the Yorke Peninsula, the Tammar Wallaby became extinct on the Australian mainland by the 1920s. They were reintroduced to Australia, and to Innes National Park, in 2004. The park now boasts a growing population of healthy Tammar Wallabies. In winter months, you might catch a glimpse of southern right whales from the cliff tops at Stenhouse Bay or Cape Spencer. Dolphins frequent the coastal waters and seals and sea-lions occasionally haul up on the beaches.

Natural Resources Centre Clare T: 08 8841 3400 www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/northernandyorke Innes National Park 9,415 ha

Walking Walk (easy) Inneston Historic Walk 1 hour 2km loop

A walk is accessible to This popular trail takes you back to the early 1900s and the people of all ages and gypsum-mining era. Interpretive signs tell the story of the close-knit fitness levels. These community of Inneston. Beware of unstable ruins. Access: just are well-defined trails, generally less than inside the gate at the Inneston car park. 3km in length, with even surfaces. Stenhouse Bay Lookout Walk 1 hour 2km loop Follow the cliff tops through low, closed coastal heath. The spectacular views over Investigator Strait and the offshore islands are among the best in the park. Access: Stenhouse Jetty car park.

Hike (moderate) West Cape Headland Hike 30 minutes 1km loop

A moderate hike is A short hike taking in spectacular coastal views across the Southern suitable for bushwalkers Spencer Gulf Marine Park and off-shore islands. The loop trail helps with an average level of you navigate through fragile coastal vegetation to the lighthouse at fitness. These trails can be any length and may the head of the cape where you’ll have exhilarating views of the include moderate high-energy coastline. Access: West Cape car park. inclines and irregular surfaces. Thomson-Pfitzner Plaster Trail Hike 3 hours 7.6km return This hike follows the old wooden railway line that runs from Inneston to Stenhouse Bay, with a series of interpretive signs depicting the local environment and history. Access: just after the horse stable ruins at Inneston, or in the reverse direction from Stenhouse Bay.

Royston Head Hike 2 hours 4km return

You’ll have amazing views of the rugged peninsula coast from the lookout point on the cliffs at Royston Head. Access: Royston Head Hike car park, along the road to Dolphin Beach.

Gym Beach Hike 4 hours 11km return

A diverse hike through the unique flora and high sand dune areas between Browns Beach and Gym Beach. You may see a variety of birdlife and native orchids as you pass through the dense mallee vegetation. Access: campgrounds at Gym Beach and Browns Beach. It can be taken in either direction.

Camping and accommodation There are two large campgrounds in Innes National Park, at Stenhouse Bay and Pondalowie. Both are suitable for caravans, camper trailers and tent camping. Innes also boasts 5 smaller campgrounds in idyllic surrounds, either next to a beach or nestled among native vegetation.

You can also enjoy the park from the comfort of self-contained accommodation ranging from a single-roomed hut at Shell Beach to a large hall at Stenhouse Bay. Dotted among the mallee and stone ruins of the Inneston historic township are several restored and renovated buildings where you can wake up to wildlife on your doorstep!

All camping and accommodation* must be pre-booked and paid for via our online booking system. You’ll also find detailed information about each campsite, building, and available facilities. Visit parks.sa.gov.au/innes.

Groups Schools and other groups planning to camp in the park must notify park staff and complete a Trip Intentions Form available from parks.sa.gov.au. There are limits on group size and site availability.

*Stenhouse Hall must be booked by phone. See website for more information.

Natural Resources Centre Clare T: 08 8841 3400 www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/northernandyorke Innes National Park 9,415 ha

Know before you go Every national park is different. Each has its own challenging environment and it is important to understand how to stay safe, while enjoying all the park has to offer. Please:

 leave your pets at home  leave the park as you found it and take your rubbish with you  observe fire restrictions  respect heritage sites  camp only in designated areas  walk and drive only on designated tracks or trails  do not feed or disturb animals, or remove native plants  be considerate of other park users. Fire safety This park may be closed on days of heightened fire danger. Listen to your local radio station for broadcasts, or call the CFS Hotline on 1300 362 361 for current fire information.

 Wood fires and solid fuel fires are prohibited from November to April.  On days of total fire ban all solid, liquid and gas appliances are prohibited.  Gas fires and stoves are permitted (except on days of total fire ban).  BYO firewood, gathering firewood in the park is prohibited.  Never leave your fire unattended. Bushwalking safety  Keep to defined vehicle tracks and walking trails at all times – don’t try to take short cuts or wander off the trails.  Pay attention to the weather – be extra careful in extreme weather conditions.  Wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Make sure you have appropriate wet weather clothing.  Carry enough food and drinking water to be self-sufficient. The hotter the conditions, the more water you will need.  Choose a trail appropriate to your level of fitness and always leave yourself plenty of time.  Do not rely on tanks in the park for drinking water.  Carry a map of the park and the walks at all times. Water safety  Strong currents and rips can make swimming dangerous.  Do not climb on, or fish, from slippery rocks. Mobile phone coverage Mobile phone coverage can be patchy and unreliable in national parks, especially if you are in a low-lying area (such Contact as a gorge or a gully). To get a signal, you may have to walk or drive to one of the higher areas in the park. Emergency: 000

Natural Resources Centre Clare: (+61 8) 8841 3400 Get involved Volunteers play an important role in managing our natural General park enquiries: (+61 8) 8204 1910 resources and make a difference to the whole community. [email protected] There are all kinds of volunteering opportunities in Innes parks.sa.gov.au │ facebook.com/parkssa National Park. Find out more at parks.sa.gov.au or naturalresources.sa.gov.au/northernandyorke.

Natural Resources Centre Clare T: 08 8841 3400 www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/northernandyorke