Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park Park

Website: https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/innes-national-park

Dhilba Guuranda13Innes National Park is a coastal national park at the southwestern tip of Yorke Peninsula in South Australia that protects cliffs, sandy beaches, coastal dunes and remnant mining-era settlements. It is managed for both conservation and recreation and includes historic and natural attractions.

Coastal headlands, sand beaches and cliffs provide opportunities for swimming, surfing, fishing and coastal walking; the park also contains historic limestone mining remains and the small preserved township of Inneston. Marine wildlife, sea birds and seal colonies are commonly observed from headlands such as Cape Spencer.

The park was established to conserve the peninsula’s coastal ecosystems and historic sites, and more recently the name was extended to include the Indigenous Dhilba Guuranda in acknowledgement of traditional owners. Management balances visitor access with protection of coastal habitats and cultural heritage.

The park occupies the southwest corner of Yorke Peninsula, facing the Southern Ocean and Gulf St Vincent, and is accessible by road from towns on the peninsula.

• Dual name and Indigenous significance: The park’s dual name recognises both the European name Innes and the Indigenous Dhilba Guuranda, reflecting local Narungga connections to Country.

What to See#

• Inneston historic precinct: The ruined limestone town of Inneston preserves mining-era buildings, a small heritage museum and interpretive signage about the area’s industrial past.
• Cape Spencer: Cape Spencer provides a coastal promontory with a navigation light and opportunities to view seals and sea birds from coastal trails and headlands.
• Pondalowie Bay: Pondalowie Bay is a sheltered beach and surf access point popular for swimming and coastal walks within the park.

Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park is accessed from the town of Marion Bay on Yorke Peninsula, reached by sealed and unsealed roads from Adelaide (about 3-4 hours by car). Visitors commonly drive from Adelaide via Port Wakefield and Yorketown, then south to Marion Bay and the park entrance.

• Visit the Cape Spencer and South Spencer Gulf lookouts at low tide for exposed reefs and shorebirds.
• Check tide and wind forecasts before planning boat trips - the coastline is exposed and sea conditions can change quickly.
• Explore the park's wetlands in the morning for the best birdwatching, especially for waders and migratory species.