On the tip of SA’s Eyre Peninsula, Port Lincoln’s livelihood is the tuna industry. But make no mistake, the 14,000-strong town deals in more than just that particular fishy gold: sharks are on the menu too.

Popular with visitors for its once-in-a-lifetime status, tourists here actually pay to go underwater and see this apex predator up close. Luckily they feed their sharks well, since snorkelling with playful sea lions might otherwise mean you’re on today’s menu.

“Galloped onto the tourist map on the back of Melbourne cup winner Makybe Diva, and thank God for the victory. Wild, bountiful, geographically diverse, isolated, and yet well populated and full of culture.” – MyPOWER Team

Apart from all things maritime, Port Lincoln is blessed with an otherworldly feel, from daily rainbows over pristine Lincoln and Coffin Bay National Parks to deserted beaches and undulating sand dunes – a stunning panoramic view from Winters Hill Lookout on a sunny day. The town itself has two hubs: the Marina and town centre. Wandering along the seafront promenade dotted with eclectic little shops, you’re bound to run into a statue of possibly the most famous export after tuna: race horse Makybe Diva. Its owner, tuna fisherman Tony Santic, also runs the Port Lincoln Hotel, one of the many restaurants offering outstanding seafood in town.

Where? // 640km (45min flight) southwest of Adelaide.

Did you know? // Port Lincoln almost became the South Australian capital, but was overlooked in favour of Adelaide, largely due to KI’s problems with access to fresh water.