3 days in Wallaroo

3 days in Wallaroo

Wallaroo is located an easy 90-minute drive from Gepps Cross on the northern edge of Adelaide, through Port Wakefield along National Highway One before heading towards the west along Copper Coast Highway.

Located in northern Yorke Peninsula, Wallaroo has a population of around 3,500 residents across the township, Copper Cove Marina and North Beach.  A popular holiday destination, Wallaroo is a great base for day trips to the Clare Valley, southern Flinders Ranges and south to explore more of Yorke Peninsula including Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park.

Planning your Wallaroo holiday

When it comes to planning the dates for your holiday in Wallaroo, consider the region’s robust events calendar with plenty of events on offer including the monthly Wallaroo markets held at the Wallaroo Town Hall on a Saturday morning, with a range of fantastic stalls and products from local artisans.

If you time your visit for May, you can head to the biennial FLAME Festival.  Showcasing Food, Light, Art, Music & Entertainment, the FLAME Festival is one of the newest additions to the Yorke Peninsula events calendar.  

Also in May, but in alternate years is the Kernewek Lowender – Copper Coast Cornish Festival.  Still going strong after 40 years, the Kernewek Lowender is the world’s largest Cornish festival (outside of Cornwall) and is a celebration of everything Cornish, embracing the Cornish culture & spirit, and the contribution to this northern Yorke Peninsula area.  Some of the festival highlights include traditional Cornish Dancing, Street Parade, Pasty Bake-Off, Classic Cavalcade of Cars and Motorcycles, Concerts, Cornish Ceremonies, a Street Party, Markets, Feasts, Exhibitions, Pub Specials and entertainment, Art Prize Exhibition and much more.

If you visit during Spring, participate in or watch a range of South Australian sporting events hosted in the region, including the Supa Series Bowls at the Wallaroo Community Sports Club, or the Copper Coast Cycling Cup with the Road Race taking place on a course through the streets of Wallaroo.

If you’re visiting Wallaroo in November, the annual Wallaroo Marina Challenge is held in Copper Cove Marina for Dragon Boat Racers from across South Australia.  With their colourful boats and amazing displays of fast-paced rowing, this is a fantastic event to watch.

Whatever time of year you visit Wallaroo, there is always something happening!

Day 1 of your Wallaroo holiday

Pack the car in preparation for your 3-day holiday to northern Yorke Peninsula, staying at the spectacular seaside town of Wallaroo, and head north from Adelaide in the morning, leaving the traffic lights in your rear-view mirror.

To make the most out of your 3-day holiday to this coastal paradise, get into town before lunch to maximise your time off and to experience everything that Wallaroo has to offer.

Park your car at Office Beach and stretch your legs for a walk around the block to grab a delicious baked treat from the Jetty Road Bakehouse with a range of made-in-house pies, pasties, rolls, cream buns and much more.  Get your bakery treat as takeaway, and then wander the nearby Wallaroo Jetty, which is 869m in length.  The jetty is a multipurpose facility and shares the port with fishermen, export ships as a Viterra grain port, or cruise ships during cruising season.

The next stop is The Shores Eatery overlooking the Wallaroo foreshore and jetty precinct, where you can enjoy a barista-made coffee and relax in the alfresco dining area with views over the coast and gulf.  Or grab your coffee to-go and explore the Wallaroo esplanade trail from the jetty to the Spencer Gulf Searoad ferry terminal, with mosaic artworks to discover along the way.

Continue your walk along the foreshore by following the Wallaroo Smelters Trail from Hughes Chimney Stack, an impressive structure built in 1861 and still standing as part of the Wallaroo Shores development.  The Wallaroo Smelters Trail has interpretative signage along the trail highlighting the heritage of Wallaroo and it’s smelting history.

Or follow the Wallaroo Heritage Walk from the Hughes Chimney Stack, past the Cutter Canberra, former Tipara Lighthouse and Wallaroo Heritage & Nautical Museum and throughout the townships to a number of heritage sites.  Download the digital guide and map for interpretive information for all the sites found along this walking trail, with fascinating facts about all the heritage sites.

As you loop your way back towards the beach, drop into the Wallaroo Visitor Information Outlet in the Wallaroo Heritage & Nautical Museum for great local tips on things to see & do, and places not to be missed during your Wallaroo visit.

Head back to the Office Beach car park to collect your car and continue with the heritage theme by following the self-drive Wallaroo Historic Town Drive.  At 9 kilometres and visiting 44 sites of interest which helped to form the development of Wallaroo, this leisurely drive takes around 60-90 minutes.  Make sure you download a copy of the Wallaroo Heritage Trail map, and then follow the 'Tour Drive 37' trail signs.

If you are keen to round off your day with some soft adventure experiences, you can hire paddle boards, kayaks, pedal carts or clear bottom kayaks.  Both the Wallaroo Holiday Park and the Wallaroo Marina Apartments offer hire to non-patrons, so you can make use of these to explore Wallaroo.

It's been a big first day in Wallaroo, and now it’s time to check into your accommodation for the next 2 nights….

Bring your van or camper and go self-sufficient in your choice of seaside caravan parks with the ultimate coastal views and direct beach access; choose from Wallaroo Holiday Park or Wallaroo Beachfront Tourist Park. Both parks have a range of facilities for those staying including camp kitchen, barbecues, fish cleaning area and spacious amenities.

Or treat yourself with a luxury apartment with marina views at the Wallaroo Marina Apartments.  Choose from a range of accommodation options overlooking the Copper Cove Marina, with studio suites, 2- or 3-bedroom penthouse apartments, or a multi-level boardwalk apartment.

If you’re bringing your furry family member, there are a number of pet friendly holiday houses right across the Wallaroo township, marina & North Beach, and both caravan parks welcome pets on sites if you’re bringing your caravan or camper.

The Wallaroo Dog Park on Heritage Drive is a must visit spot if you’re travelling with your dog.  With fenced off-leased areas, agility & exercise equipment, seating & shade; make time for a visit during your Wallaroo stay.

If you’re getting peckish after a big day, Wallaroo has plenty of dining options.  If you’re in town on a Friday night, head to the Wallaroo Sailing Club on the foreshore for a meal with their members and great sunset views over Spencer Gulf.

Or treat yourself to dinner at Coopers Alehouse Wallaroo, overlooking the marina.  No matter what night of the week, they have fantastic food options available.  Monday is seafood night, Tuesday’s steak night, Wednesday is schnitzel night, on Thursday nights kids can eat for free, and Friday is burger night; or choose from their full menu.

After dinner (or before dinner, depending on the showtime schedule and when you’re staying in Wallaroo); head to Jetty Road for the best viewing of the nightly Wallaroo Silo Light Show.  Projected onto the Wallaroo Silos this artistic display features monthly themes, and you can tune in online to the audio.

With 6 pubs, you have plenty of choice for after-dinner drinks at one of Wallaroo’s many fabulous hotels  – Weeroona Hotel, Cornucopia Hotel, Wallaroo Hotel, Anglers Inn Hotel, Prince Edward Hotel and the Coopers Alehouse. 

Day 2 of your Wallaroo holiday

If a ParkRun is your thing and you’re an earlybird, the Copper Trail ParkRun is held just outside Wallaroo, with the 5-kilometre run taking place every Saturday morning from 8am.  It’s free to be involved and you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or just watch.

After the Parkrun… or after enjoying a sleep-in!.... head to The Smelter on Owen Terrace for breakfast.  The sleek interior with industrial styling offers inside dining or sit outside to soak in the main street vibe. Specialising in all day breakfast, you can get there at any time and still enjoy some of their signature menu items - smashed avo on toast, big breakfast, waffles, bruschetta and scrambles.  Their drinks menu has plenty of tantalising offerings with piping hot barista-made coffee, colourful smoothies, or cold-drip coffee.   

Whether catching fish or water activities is your interest, there are two options for Day 2 in Wallaroo:

Option 1 - Fishing:

Bring your fishing rods and tackle box, and cast a line off the Wallaroo Jetty for a range of species including Australian Herring (locally called Tommies), Southern garfish, King George whiting, Southern calamari and Yellowfin whiting. If you have a boat, you can launch from the dual lane ramp at Wallaroo and target deeper water species in Spencer Gulf.  Make sure you grab a copy of the Yorke Peninsula Fishing Guide to help plan your fishing trip.

Pack your crab nets and go crabbing off the jetty or boat by dropping your net in. Blue Swimmer crabs are a delicacy on Yorke Peninsula!

If you haven’t had any luck fishing, drop into JJ’s Copper Coast Seafood with a range of seafood on offer including Spencer Gulf King prawns, tuna, oysters, local fish & squid and much more. 

For lunch, take your catch (or purchase) back to your accommodation and cook up your seafood feast!  Or pack in the freezer to take home after your holiday.

OR

Option 2 – Snorkelling & Swimming:

Bring your snorkelling gear & swimming togs!   Wallaroo has fantastic swimming beaches as Office Beach, North Beach and the Sailing Club Beach near the ferry terminal.  Or head to Point Riley just to the north of North Beach, which offers great snorkelling opportunities amongst reefs along the shoreline.  The reefs and rock pools attract a variety of marine life including cuttlefish, Port Jackson sharks, baby squid, sand whiting, Blue Swimmer crabs and more.

At lunch time, grab fish & chips from one of the fantastic takeaways in Wallaroo.  Choose from The Boat Shed Wallaroo, Hooked On Fish & Chips, or Wafflin’ On Café; and enjoy your feast on the beach straight from the paper wrapped bundle of steaming hot fish and crunchy chips. 

If you’ve got space when packing for your trip, make sure to bring your bikes to explore Wallaroo on 2 wheels.  Many of the trails can be used by both walkers and cyclists, but one of the best trails for cycling is the Rotary Copper Trail which runs between Wallaroo & Kadina and is 9 kilometres long one-way.

If you want to cycle around Wallaroo but don’t have your bikes, they can easily be hired while you’re here. The Wallaroo Marina Apartments offer bike hire even if you’re not staying there, and Copper Trails Bike Hire is located in Moonta but offer a drop off/pick up service in Wallaroo.  They have a range of bikes available for hire including universal, tandem, adults & children, and e-bikes.

After your ride, grab a coffee & snack from Wallaroo Treasures and Treats Café in Wallaroo’s Main Street (Owen Terrace).  This rustic & retro vintage café has a range of eclectic items for sale, and also offers traditional milkshakes or thickshakes bringing back childhood memories; the lime thickshakes and vanilla malt milkshakes are highly recommended!

Join a 2-hour guided walking tour of historic Wallaroo, with a local history guide from the Wallaroo Heritage & Nautical Museum.  Tours are by appointment only and are for a minimum of 5 people, so team up with other couples or groups to book this walking tour.  The tour visits all the haunted building and heritage sites including the old Post Office, old Bond Store, Cornucopia Hotel, Wallaroo Town Hall, Railway Station, Sonbern Lodge Motel, St Mary's Anglican Church, Wallaroo Primary School, residence of Caroline Carleton, Rotunda, Weeroona Hotel, Police Station and residence, Court House, Customs House, Hughes Chimney Stack, and Bew's Square; with commentary, quirky facts and insights from your local guide.  Bookings for the Wallaroo Historical Guided walking tours are made through the Wallaroo Heritage and Nautical Museum.

Or if the weather isn’t looking too good and you need a great rainy-day activity, head to the Wallaroo Heritage & Nautical Museum to explore Wallaroo’s history and early beginnings.  In this tiny museum, you’ll find fascinating exhibits including George the Giant Squid, learn about Wallaroo’s connection to the Song Of Australia, see the prized 1910 Wallaroo Waterside Workers Federation banner, and the tribute to former resident Miss Evelyn Marsden, the only surviving female passenger on the fateful Titanic which sank in 1912.

For dinner on your last night in Wallaroo, head to the Bond Store Wallaroo on Owen Terrace, a microbrewery, distillery & restaurant housed in the former Elands Bond Store, built in 1865.  Spread across multiple levels, make sure you see the attention to detail throughout the complex - from the 500-litre gleaming copper still named Ginger in the basement bar, to the stainless-steel brewing tanks on the ground level. You’ll be served up delicious cocktails and mouth-watering food creations!   Try the quandong & blood orange gin, or the signature pink gin; and you can also purchase from the bar to take home a bottle (or 2!) of your favourite flavours. Bond Store Wallaroo prides itself on delivering the freshest seasonal local produce. Using their charcoal grill “Parrilla”, which is a key feature of the kitchen, the flavour of their renowned steaks and locally caught seafood is enhanced to tantalise even the fussiest palates.  

Keep the Bond Store Wallaroo complex in mind for future holidays with a larger group.  The top level of the building offers group accommodation (as cu@wallaroo – CU2) and is just a quick walk downstairs to one of the best dining experiences on offer in Yorke Peninsula.

After dinner, head back to your accommodation and enjoy a relaxing barefoot walk on the beach with your loved one. If you’ve had an early meal, pull up a deck chair and watch the sun setting over the gulf – Spencer Gulf sunsets are some of the best in the world; or if it’s later evening, relax to the soothing sounds of the water lapping against the shore as the tide ebbs and flows. 

Day 3 of your Wallaroo holiday

Make sure you arrange a late checkout from your accommodation to make the most of your last day in Wallaroo and take the hassle out of preparing breakfast by pre-ordering a breakfast grazing box from Grazing Yorkes.  Delivered to your accommodation, these bespoke grazing boxes are filled with fresh local and season produce.  

Pack the car and checkout of your accommodation, before heading south of Wallaroo to Point Hughes (south of the Wallaroo Silos) to grab some of the best Insta-worthy holiday shots at the Wallaroo Powder Magazine, and then drive back through Wallaroo township to North Beach, parking the car on North Beach just off Otago Road.  The legendary swing at the Wallaroo Holiday Park is well-known across Instagram and is another iconic holiday shot.

Book ahead for 1-on-1 kite surfing coaching or Stand-Up-Paddleboard board lessons with Kite Surfing Yorke Peninsula for your last day in Wallaroo.   Held on North Beach at midday or in the afternoon, the coaching is conducted by an experienced instructor.

After your adrenalin rush in the waters off North Beach (or before if your lesson booking is in the afternoon), head up the beach to North Beach Kitchen for an all-day brunch or easy lunch.  Choose from local Port Broughton crab rolls or Blue Swimmer crab scramble; Gary Garfish burger, BHLT or a buttermilk fried chicken burger.  North Beach Kitchen offers a range of beverages with barista-made coffee, teas, shakes and freshly squeezed juices.

Head back into Wallaroo after lunch, parking the car before strolling the main street exploring the range of shops including  33 On Owen, Moda Bella, and Lifeline Op Shop.

As you stroll the main street, you’ll see art & murals throughout the town including the long railway mural and murals on business walls & shopfronts.  Painted by local artists, these artworks celebrate Wallaroo’s history and significant events.  Download a copy of the Wallaroo Art Trail brochure to follow the trail across the town centre, with information about each piece of art and the artists who created them.

Before heading out of town for the trip back to Adelaide, grab a takeaway coffee and a snack for the drive; and head back along Copper Coast Highway and National Highway One while reliving your great holiday memories made in Wallaroo.