Innes National Park

Innes covers the foot of the Yorke Peninsula where the gulf waters meet the Southern Ocean, a coast of limestone cliffs, granite headlands and surf beaches that has claimed dozens of ships, including the Ethel, whose rusted ribs lie on the beach named after her. Inland the park is low mallee scrub holding western whipbirds, ospreys and emus. Inneston, a company town built to mine gypsum, was abandoned in 1930 and its stone buildings survive, some restored as accommodation. Cape Spencer lighthouse looks out to Kangaroo Island across Investigator Strait, and Pondalowie Bay has a small fishing fleet and one of the state's better surf breaks.

What you actually see

• The Ethel wreck - the rusted hull on the beach below the cliffs.
• Inneston - the abandoned gypsum town with restored stone buildings.
• Cape Spencer - the lighthouse and cliffs at the peninsula's tip.
• Pondalowie Bay - surf, fishing boats and dune-backed beach.

When to go

September to April for the best weather; winter is cold and windy but good for surf. Wildflowers in the mallee flower in spring. Campsites and lodges must be booked, and holidays fill them entirely.

Honest expectations

Vehicle entry is charged. The park is a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Adelaide, with limited supplies at the tip. Beaches have strong rips and are unpatrolled. Wind on the cliffs is close to constant.

Nearby

Marion Bay is the nearest village; Moonta and the copper coast lie north.