Ceduna -Pt Augusta and the Eyre Peninsula via Flinders Highway (Hwy Alt 1)
Total distance 741km
All distances measured from Ceduna

For people with time to spare, the alternate route to Port Augusta via the Eyre Peninsula has much to offer with rugged coastlines, sleepy villages, modern towns and scenic views.

Taking the Flinders Highway (Hwy Alt 1) from Ceduna you travel along the coast past Smoky Bay to the port of Streaky Bay (107km). Here you can see tuna boats and other fishing craft plus many private vessels taking advantage of the protected deep water anchorage. The port is used for shipping grain grown in the surrounding countryside.

After the long distances found across the Nullarbor, it comes as a pleasant chance to come to little towns and villages along the coast with the next being Port Kenny and Venus Bay before coming to the thriving centre of Elliston (235km). Here a local artist has transformed the local community hall with beautiful murals completely covering its walls. The toilets have even received his attention.

Towards the bottom of the Peninsula we come to the turnoff to Coffin Bay just 12km from the highway and well worth the detour. Coffin Bay is famous for its seafood including cultivated oysters while its beaches and scenic estuary attract plenty of holidaymakers in the summer months.

Down here at the very bottom of the Peninsula there a couple of National Parks worth a visit - the Coffin Bay National Park and the Lincoln National Park.

The next town is Port Lincoln (404km) and this is a major centre with tuna farming one of its main industries. It is a busy port with huge grain silos storing the areas cereal stocks before loading on bulk carriers. Australiaís largest tuna fishing fleet has its home here.

With caravan parks, restaurants, hotels and an abundance of shops, Port Lincoln is an ideal place to use as a base while exploring nearby parts of the Eyre Peninsula.

The highway north from here again skirts the coast and little seaside villages on its way to Cowell (563km) where a very special type of jade can be purchased.

A further 100km or so and we come to the steel city of Wyalla (668km) and another 73km takes us to the end of this stage of our journey at Port Augusta (741km)