• Coffin Bay National Park with a 4x4 on the beach

Coffin Bay National Park – Heaven on Earth

Published: August 2025 / Read Time: 4 Minutes

My personal favourite destination on the Eyre Peninsula, Coffin Bay National Park is a well-known staple of the region and for good reason. Around 8 hours’ drive from Adelaide, it offers epic beach runs, sandy inland tracks, jaw-dropping coastlines, and cracking campsites, making it the perfect week-long getaway.

If you’re chasing that true Eyre Peninsula experience, Coffin Bay National Park is hard to beat.

Track Details

  • Location: South Australia (8hrs from Adelaide)
  • Terrain: Sandy tracks, dunes, and rocky sections
  • Permits: All campsites must be booked in advance via the National Parks website

Vehicles

Getting There

From Adelaide, expect around an 8 hour journey to the park, well worth it for a four-day long weekend or longer. On your way in, stop into the tourist town of Coffin Bay for last-minute supplies, fuel, and maybe even a visit to one of the oyster farms that have made this region famous.

The first section of the park is bituminised, which makes it a popular day trip out to Point Avoid for tourists. But don’t write it off—there are some great sights to take in along these more accessible roads.

Gunyah Dunes and Beach

Often bypassed by those racing along the blacktop, taking the time to air down and head into Gunyah Beach is well worth it. What starts as a typical Eyre Peninsula rocky track through low scrub soon opens up into the Gunyah dune system – a great spot to explore and grab some photos.

Follow the track markers as you wind your way through the dunes and pop out on the other side at Gunyah Beach.

Point Avoid and Side Tracks

In peak times, this area can get a little busy, but it’s still worth a visit. There’s some epic coastal scenery on offer, and if you keep your eyes peeled, you might even spot seals or dolphins. Along the drive, you’ll notice multiple rocky side tracks peeling off towards the coast. If time allows, they’re well worth exploring.

The Good Stuff

The largest campground in the park is Yangie Bay, popular with those towing or looking for convenience. But we like to think of it as the gateway to the good stuff. From here, the blacktop ends and the adventure begins.

Beyond Yangie Bay lies a network of rocky tracks, beach runs, sand dunes, epic camping and best of all, far fewer people.

Yangie Bay to Seven Mile Beach

I’m not going to lie, having done this drive a dozen times, it can drag on a bit, especially when you know what’s waiting at the end. Parts of the track are great, with beach views and soft sand flats to navigate, but the stony sections can feel slow and bumpy. Nothing overly technical or challenging, just a bit tedious. But that only makes the end destination even sweeter.

Yangie Bay to Seven Mile Beach in Coffin Bay National Park

Seven Mile Beach

One of the prettiest beaches you can drive on. Think turquoise water fading into deep blues, all sheltered by the peninsula, meaning even on windy days, you can usually find a calm spot to park up. It’s a great spot to stop for a while, take a swim, and enjoy a bite to eat.

About halfway along the beach, you’ll come across another dune system where the dunes meet the sea – an incredible photo spot. I’ve often seen emus come down to the water’s edge here to cool off, so keep your eyes open.

Morgans Landing Campsite

A great little campsite positioned right on the beach. I haven’t stayed here overnight yet, but it looks like a great place to roll out some canvas and stay awhile.

Morgans Landing in Coffin Bay National Park

The Pool Campsite

Perched up overlooking the pristine beach below, The Pool is my personal pick for an overnight stay. It’s a beautiful base to explore the surrounding beach and dunes.

Point Sir Isaac

Exposed and epic. Depending on conditions, Point Sir Isaac can be windy and wild or calm and glassy. It’s exposed to the full force of the Southern Ocean, but that’s part of what makes it so striking. There are a few pristine beaches tucked away here, along with a rugged, rocky point. Just further along, Mullalong Beach is a hidden gem and a popular surf spot for those in the know.

Reef Point

A solid half-day trip. The drive out from camp is slow-going, weaving between coastal scrub and rocky sections. But when you arrive, you’re greeted by a surreal landscape of white chalky cliffs collapsing into the ocean.

As the name suggests, there’s a visible reef just offshore, with waves constantly breaking on it – a mesmerising sight.

Coffin Bay National Park is one of South Australia’s true 4WD treasures. It’s wild, remote, and incredibly rewarding, and likely to stick in your memory for years to come. Whether you’re chasing empty beaches, epic 4WD touring, or an idyllic beach camp, Coffin Bay delivers.

Watch more from our trip to Coffin Bay National Park:

Words And Images By Jayden Threadgold

Additional images by Edward Eastwood

“From being thrown in the 4WD when I was three for a lap around Aus, all the way through to today, I’ve spent most of my life exploring hard to reach corners of Australia and doing my best to capture them through my lens.”

Jayden Threadgold
  • Coffin Bay National Park viewed from a 4WD