Looking to start your new year with an unforgettable outdoor adventure? Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park is hosting a series of fantastic events from New Year’s into January. From guided snorkeling to yoga on the beach, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
EVENTS
Stansbury New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Ring in the New Year on the Yorke Peninsula with Stansbury’s much-loved New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Hosted by the Stansbury Progress Association, this annual tradition lights up the sky above the Stansbury Boat Ramp and can be enjoyed from multiple vantage points along the cliffs and foreshore.
Kicking off at a family-friendly 9.30pm, it’s the perfect way for locals and visitors alike to celebrate the arrival of the New Year without a late night — just bring a picnic rug, settle in by the water and watch the countdown go off with a bang.
When: Tuesday 31 December, 9:30pm–10:00pm
Where: Stansbury Boat Ramp, Towler Street, Stansbury
Cost: Free
For more info, click here.
Drakes Supermarkets Copper Coast New Year’s Eve Celebration
Wallaroo is going big to farewell 2025, with an all-ages New Year’s Eve celebration taking over the Copper Coast foreshore. From afternoon through to midnight, Jetty Road and surrounds will be buzzing with rides, markets, food and live spectacle.
Families can kick things off early with show rides at Jetty Road Reserve and twilight markets at John Reserve, while local food vans line Heritage Drive serving up dinner and treats throughout the evening. As night falls, the Silo Lightshow illuminates the area before two fireworks displays — one at 9.30pm for families and another at midnight to welcome the New Year in style.
When: Wednesday 31 December, from 4pm
Where: Jetty Road, Wallaroo
Cost: free
What’s on:
- Show rides at Jetty Road Reserve (5:00pm–10:30pm)
- Twilight markets at John Reserve (4:00pm–8:00pm)
- Local food vans along Heritage Drive
- Silo Lightshow from 9:00pm
- Fireworks at 9:30pm and midnight
For more info, click here.
Port Vincent Gala Day | Jan 1
Kick off the New Year seaside-style at the much-loved Port Vincent Gala Day, returning on January 1 with a full afternoon and evening of family-friendly fun on the Yorke Peninsula.
Each year, the town’s main foreshore is closed off and transformed into a buzzing fairground, complete with pop-up shops, market stalls, sideshows, raffles, food vans and plenty to keep kids entertained. As the sun goes down, live music takes over before one of the biggest fireworks displays on the Yorke Peninsula lights up the bay and foreshore after dark.
With more than 50 years of history behind it, Gala Day has become a New Year’s Day tradition, drawing locals and visitors from across the region for a relaxed, festive day by the water.
When: Thursday 1 January, 2:00pm–10:00pm
Where: Marine Parade, Port Vincent
Cost: free
Facilities: Bar, cafe, car park, family-friendly, kiosk, pop-up wine bar, public telephone, public toilets, restaurant
For more info, click here.
Italian Night Cooking Class | Jan 3
Spend an afternoon immersed in classic Italian flavours at this relaxed, hands-on cooking class in Kadina. Designed to feel more like a dinner party than a formal lesson, the experience begins with a drink on arrival before guests roll up their sleeves to cook a simple but impressive Italian menu together.
Once the cooking’s done, everyone sits down at a shared long table to enjoy the fruits of their labour — good food, good wine and good company, with zero pressure and no perfection required. It’s ideal for couples, friends, locals and visitors looking for a fun, social way to spend an afternoon on the Yorke Peninsula.
The menu features warm focaccia with olive oil and herbs, fresh handmade pasta with a seasonal sauce, a slow-cooked Italian main (with a vegetarian option available), and a simple Italian dessert. All ingredients, equipment and recipes are included.
When: January 2026, 2:00pm–5:00pm (approx. 2.5–3 hours)
Where: Kadina, Yorke Peninsula
Cost: from $120 per person (includes food, class and drinks)
What’s included: Drink on arrival, guided hands-on cooking, shared long-table meal
For more info and to book, click here.
Ranger-guided Reef Ramble Pondalowie Bay | Jan 3
Explore the intertidal reef of Pondalowie Bay alongside National Parks & Wildlife Service rangers, as low tide reveals the rich marine life of the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park. The experience begins with a short, informative talk on the Great Southern Reef (a marine system more diverse than the Great Barrier Reef) and the role marine parks play in protecting this unique ecosystem. From there, participants will walk out onto the reef to discover the flora and fauna that thrive along this rugged coastline.
When: January 3, 10:00-11:00 & 11:15am–12:15pm, January 17, 9:00am–10:00am & 10:15am–11:15am
Where: Pondalowie Bay Lookout Carpark (also known as Goblet Bay), Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park
Cost: Free
What to bring: Water shoes or old sneakers suitable for rocky surfaces, sun protection, drinking water (1L recommended), shorts or pants that can be rolled up, a T-shirt, and any personal medication. An underwater camera is optional.
For more info and to book, click here.
Curramalka Markets | Jan 4
Start your Sunday the country way at the much-loved Curramulka Markets, a relaxed monthly community market held in the heart of this charming Yorke Peninsula town.
Browse stalls filled with baked goods, fresh local produce, plants and bric-a-brac, while classic Australian breakfast favourites keep everyone fuelled – bacon and egg rolls and a proper sausage sizzle. It’s a low-key, friendly morning out that draws locals and visitors.
When: First Sunday of the month, 9:00am–11:00am (excluding December and January)
Where: Main Street, Curramulka
Cost: free
Facilities: Car park, public toilets, pet friendly
For more info, click here.
KUYA WORKSHOP with Jamie Goldsmith from Taikurtinna | Jan 11
An immersive cultural workshop inviting participants to connect with Narungga Country through traditional knowledge, practice, and story. Open to people of all backgrounds, it offers a meaningful opportunity to listen, learn, and strengthen connections to place through culture, respect, and shared experience.
When: Sunday 11 January
Where: Stenhouse Bay Hall Rotunda – Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park
Cost: Free
For more info and to book, click here.
Wallabies after dark: Ranger-guided night walk | Jan 11 and 24
Join park rangers for a guided night walk through the historic Inneston Township, where you’ll learn the remarkable story of the tammar wallaby – once locally extinct on the South Australian mainland. Discover how the species was successfully reintroduced to Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park after being brought back from New Zealand, and keep an eye out for these shy, nocturnal marsupials in their natural habitat.
The walk covers around 2km on unsealed trails with some uneven surfaces and slight inclines. As the experience takes place at night with no lighting, a torch or headlamp is required. Suitable for families of all ages; children must be accompanied by an adult.
When: Sunday 11 and Saturday 24 January, 9-10pm
Where: Inneston Historic Township, Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park
Cost: Free
For more info and to book, click here.
Ghost Rope Workshop with Sonya Rankine–Lakun Mara | Jan 18
Join local First Nations artist Sonya Rankine (Lakun Mara) for a hands-on workshop transforming recycled ghost ropes from the fishing industry into sculptural forms inspired by Narungga stories and Country. Participants will learn about the Widhadha (shark) Dreaming, the endangered Yalgi (brush-tailed bettong), and create their own shark, fish or Yalgi nest sculpture using repurposed materials.
Blending environmental sustainability with First Nations cultural knowledge, storytelling and weaving traditions, this workshop also shares insight into the Marna Banggara project and ongoing conservation efforts. All materials are provided, just bring your curiosity and creativity. Suitable for families of all ages; children must be accompanied by an adult.
When: Sunday 18 January, 10am-12pm
Where: Stenhouse Bay Hall, Innes National Park
Cost: Free
For more info, click here.
The Secret Life of Hooded Plovers: Free guided beach walk | Jan 21
Join BirdLife Australia and the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board for a free guided beach walk at Gropers Beach, and learn about the secret life of the hooded plover, a threatened shorebird that calls South Australia’s coast home. More than a third of the state’s population live on the Yorke Peninsula, making this region critical to their survival.
Discover how these charismatic birds raise their chicks, the threats they face, and the conservation work helping protect them. Suitable for all ages and experience levels, children must be accompanied by an adult.
When: Sunday 18 January, 11am-12pm
Where: Gropers Beach, Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park
Cost: Free
For more info, click here.
Stansbury Seaside Markets | Jan 24
Spend a summer morning wandering one of the Yorke Peninsula’s most loved markets at the award-winning Stansbury Seaside Markets. Set right along the foreshore of Oyster Bay, these vibrant markets run from October through April and are a firm favourite with both locals and holidaymakers.
Expect a diverse mix of stalls showcasing everything from fresh local oysters and homemade pastries to handcrafted jewellery, artwork, plants, clothing and fishing gear. There’s also boutique wines, oils, candles and spices, plus plenty of food options to enjoy on the spot.
With lush lawns, shaded picnic tables beneath towering fig trees and Norfolk pines, and uninterrupted seaside views, it’s the kind of market you can easily turn into a full morning or relaxed day out with family and friends.
When: January 2026, 9:00am–2:00pm
Where: 1 Anzac Parade, Stansbury
Cost: free
Facilities: Car park, family-friendly, public toilets
For more info, click here.
Snorkel Chinamans Hat Sanctuary | Jan 25
Join Experience Marine Sanctuaries (EMS) and National Parks & Wildlife Service SA rangers for a guided snorkel at Chinaman’s Hat Sanctuary in the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park, bordering Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park. Held as part of January’s Park of the Month celebrations, this experience explores a sanctuary zone that has recovered well following earlier algal bloom impacts.
Expect to spot blue devil fish, dolphins, eagle rays, southern rock lobsters, reef fish and colourful nudibranchs among the seagrass and reef. This is a heavily subsidised event supported by NPWS and local volunteers.
When: Sunday 25 January
Where: Chinamans Hat Sanctuary – Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park
What’s included:
Wetsuit, boots, mask, snorkel, fins and an experienced accredited snorkel guide. Wetsuits available from child size 4 to adult 5XL. You’re welcome to bring your own mask and snorkel.
Who can attend:
Suitable for adults and children aged 5+, who are confident swimmers (able to swim at least 25m). This snorkel requires good fitness and intermediate to advanced snorkelling experience. One adult must supervise every two children aged 15 and under.
Cost: Prices from $39
For more info, click here.
EXPERIENCES
Chair Yoga Classes | Fridays
Looking for a gentle way to stay active on the Yorke Peninsula? These Chair Yoga classes in Wallaroo offer a relaxed, supportive approach to movement, designed especially for older adults or anyone seeking low-impact exercise.
Using a chair for stability, the sessions focus on improving strength, balance and flexibility without putting pressure on the joints. It’s ideal for those living with arthritis, managing mobility concerns, or easing back into regular movement in a calm, welcoming environment — with the added bonus of a café on site for a post-class coffee.
Classes run every Friday, with two session times available.
When: Fridays, 9:00am–10:00am and 10:00am–11:00am
Where: 4B Evans Road North, Wallaroo
Cost: From $10 per session
Facilities: Cafe on site
For more info, click here.
Yoga on the Beach
Beginner Friendly Yoga on Naruunga Land.
When: Saturday 10 January, 9am
Where: Dolphin Bay Beach – Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park
Cost: $20 per person
To book, click here.
Find out more on the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia website here.
