Food Drink

Your guide to Yorke Peninsula’s hidden gems

We have put together a list of the Yorke Peninsula’s greatest hidden gems from beaches, to cafe’s and restaurants.

The Yorke Peninsula is one of the premiere holiday locations in South Australia, and we’re honestly spoiled that we have this beautiful coastline at our doorstep.

There are a lot of popular destinations on Yorkes, and a host of other gems for tourists to get out and explore.

We have put together a list of the Yorke Peninsula’s greatest hidden gems. From beaches, to cafes and restaurants, we have you covered.

Restaurants & Cafes

Port Vincent Kiosk

You’d be hard pressed to find a better location than the Port Vincent Kiosk. Right on the beach, it is primed for all-day dining, with dishes such as bacon and egg rolls, burgers and, of course, fish and chips. There are few pleasures greater than looking at the water and eating seafood, and this is just about the perfect place to do it.

You can find Port Vincent Kiosk at 20 Marine Parade, Port Vincent.

Nolenes Book Cafe

This place is the definition of a hidden gem. This quirky cafe makes fresh brewed coffee, home-made cakes, and slices. They are always buying and selling second hand books as well so you can grab a coffee and pick up a new (old) book for your collection.

Find Noelene’s Book cafe at 4B Evans Road N, Wallaroo.

Coffee Barn & Gelateria Moonta

This cafe makes artisan gelato and sorbets on the premises with flavours changing daily. Home-made dessert is also on the menu, including fruit-filled pancakes.

12775 Spencer Hwy, Hamley.

Nook and Nourish

Another Moonta offering, this slick cafe should be high on your list of things to check out when you’re in the area. Offering somewhere healthy options to eat, Nook & Nourish provides beautiful organic coffee, herbal teas, raw desserts, cakes, fresh seasonal juices, and smoothies.

Find Nook and Nourish at 24 Ellen street Moonta.

North Beach Kitchen

North Beach Kitchen on Wallaroo’s foreshore offers great local food, and an expansive view of white sand you can drive on, and the bluest of water from the Spencer Gulf. Known for its use of the best locally caught and locally grown ingredients, ‘NBK’ has developed an outdoor dining experience that is hard to beat in SA. The Blue Swimmer Crab roll is a real must-try.

Find North Beach Kitchen at Beachfront, 1 Pamir Court, Wallaroo.

Dalrymple Hotel

A great place for a meal with a stunning view of Stansbury’s foreshore, this spot recently won an Award for ‘Bistro Casual Dining – Country’ at the AHA Awards, so you know you’re in for a treat. I hear the scallops are a must-order.

Find the Hotel at 4 Anzac Parade, Stansbury.

Point Turton General Store & Bakery

This place has all your general pantry needs, but it’s the bakery that is really exciting. People come from far and wide to try their Witchetty grub. Don’t worry, it’s actually a sausage wrapped in pastry with ham and mustard.

Find Point Turton General Store at Bayview Rd, Point Turton.

Beaches

WILLYAMA BEACH

Situated around the headland from Marion Bay beach, this family-friendly stretch of beach can be accessed via the walkway across the headland from Marion Bay, or any number of the paths cutting through the sand dunes. Although the sand is not the whitest on the peninsula, it still offers everything you need for a summer’s day down the beach.

Photo credit Lachy Riley

Port Moorowie

Port Moorowie is a small settlement with a scattering of houses spread along 2km of low bluffs in the western corner of Waterloo Bay, called McLeod harbour. The protected section of the bay has a shallow seagrass covered floor with shallow sand flats bordering the bluffs and beaches. Apart from a boat ramp, there are no facilities at the port, so it’s certainly secluded. Six small beaches are located along the base of the 5 to 10 m high bluffs, with vehicle access to the top of each of the beaches.

Formby Bay Beach

Formby Bay beach begins immediately north of this beach, and runs for 6.5 km to 60 m high Daly Head, a dune and calcarenite capped bedrock headland and point. The beach is backed by a foredune, then up to 3.5km of active and stable sand dunes. There is good access to the Daly Head car park, but a walk is required to access most of the beach. This beach offers great fishing and surfing opportunities.

Galleries/ Museums

Kernewek Lowender Art Prize Collection

The Kernewek Lowender Art Prize Collection is a collection of art works purchased from 1977 onwards during the biennial Kernewek Lowender – Copper Coast Cornish Festival Art Prize.The collection comprises early pieces of work from some now well-known artists. The collection is based on the judge selections from each year with the works representing the variety and diversity of the judges.

Find the collection at 50 Graves Street.

Gundersen Reserve

Gundersen Reserve is located on Dinham Drive in Ardrossan, and is home to a number of pieces of old machinery once used in the Ardrossan area. It also features a draft horse, Neddy, who has been made entirely from small pieces of rod welded together.

Find Gunderson Reserve at Dinham Drive, Ardrossan.

Wrecks and Relics

Wrecks ‘N’ Relics is a unique gallery for the enjoyment of art, artefacts, light meals and beverages. It’s a place seeped in history, particularly motoring memorabilia.

Find Wrecks and Relics at 28 Tank Road, Moonta.

Drinks

Bond Store Wallaroo

Bond Store is a Microbrewery/Distillery/Restaurant located in the heart of Wallaroo, just a 90-minute drive from Adelaide. Think fantastic food, quality gin and 12 taps of great beer.

Find Bond Store at 3 Owen Terrace, Wallaroo.

Barley Stacks Wine

Barley Stacks Wines is the first commercial vineyard and winery to be established on the traditional barley belt of the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. The vision of the winery/vineyard was to transform the rich grey loam over limestone soil sloping paddocks into a vineyard, producing premium grapes. Barley Stacks Wine is owned and operated by the Schulz family, who have a high level of determination, passion and commitment to ensuring only premium wines are produced.

Find Barley Stacks Wine at 159 Lizard Park Dr, South Kilkerran.

Sunny Hill Distillery

Sunny Hill Distillery is a family-owned distillery on the Yorke Peninsula. Vodka and Gin are the two spirits distilled here under the watchful eye of Olivier and Sam Colliver. Tours are available by appointment. This distillery really highlights the beautiful outback scenery of the Yorke Peninsula.

Find Sunny Hill Distillery at 8658 Upper Yorke Rd, Arthurton.

Emoyeni Wines

Emoyeni Wines is a small family run gourmet winery with a focus on quality. The Hollitt Family proudly grow & produce their wines at Ardrossan to be enjoyed with family & friends because ‘ Life is too short to drink poor wines’. The Winery is open for tastings & sales most Sundays from 11am – 5pm & other times when the ‘Open Sign’ is out or by Appointment 

Find Emoyeni Wines at 35A Bowman Road, Ardrossan.

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