Capturing the Eyre Peninsula: A GoPro adventure

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From swimming with sea lions to shucking fresh oysters, the Eyre Peninsula is an intoxicating blend of natural beauty, thrilling activities and delicious flavours. We captured the entire adventure on the GoPro Hero 12.

Day one

From Adelaide, it’s a short flight to Port Lincoln Airport where you’ll embark on a scenic flight with Lincoln Air Charter. Soar over the expansive coastline and soak up the natural beauty of Lincoln National Park and the rural landscape of the southern Eyre Peninsula.

GoPro tip: Use the handler attachment to capture the view from above.

Lincoln Air Charter flight over Eyre Peninsula
Embark on a scenic flight with Lincoln Air Charter. (Image: Anita Jokovich)

Venture northwest to Oyster Farm Tours in Coffin Bay , where you can harvest oysters straight from the ocean. Slip into waterproof waders and make your way to the semi-submerged saltwater pavilion where you’ll shuck your own oysters while sipping on a South Australian riesling, all while soaking in the stunning surroundings.

GoPro tip: Attach the bite mount to capture all the hands-free shucking action.

FRESHLY PICKED OYSTERS from Oyster Farm Tours in Coffin Bay
Harvest oysters straight from the ocean. (Image: Anita Jokovich)

Next stop is Yarnbala, a pristine piece of bushland in Coffin Bay owned by Kane Slater and his family who host nature-based experiences. One of South Australia’s last remaining grassy low sheoak woodlands, this area is now critically endangered. Kane’s desire to share this tranquil haven led to the creation of a thoughtfully designed central gathering area around a fire pit, crafted from locally sourced natural and recycled materials. Experiences include a guided tour, foraging for bush tucker and live performances of the didgeridoo and lap steel guitar. Enjoy with woodfired pizzas and drinks such as local gin, wine and craft beer. A magical experience.

GoPro tip: Capture the live music hands-free by using the attached tripod while you sip on a Yarnbala signature G&T made with Green Ant Gin.

Retreat to the comfort of Port Lincoln Hotel , a four-star resort boasting panoramic views of Boston Bay. It’s the perfect pit stop to unwind and relax, allowing you to recharge for the next day’s activities.

Yarnbala live performance
Watch live performances at Yarnbala. (Image: Anita Jokovich)

GoPro tip: Charge up your GoPro for the next day while editing and downloading images to social media.

Day two

Day two promises the highlight of the Port Lincoln experience: swimming with playful sea lions, affectionally known as the ‘puppies of the ocean’. It’s a 90-minute boat trip from Port Lincoln to Blythe Island, where sea lions can usually be seen basking on the shore. While regulations require visitors to maintain a distance of 50 metres, these curious creatures often approach with excitement. During the hour-long swim, you are likely to encounter about a dozen sea lions, whose enthusiasm will grow as you engage with them in play.

GoPro tip: The GoPro is waterproof to 10 metres and built for rugged conditions. Its hydrophobic lens keeps underwater shots crystal clear, so you can capture footage of these magical sea creatures.

Sea lion in the Eyre Peninsula
Swim with playful sea lions. (Image: Anita Jokovich)

Fuel up at L’Anse French Cafe , known for its flaky French pastries, before embarking on your next adventure.

Make your way to Mikkira Station , a picturesque picnic and camping ground that’s home to a large colony of koalas. Take a stroll through the property to spot koalas in their natural habitat and, if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of baby joeys nestled in their mothers’ pouches. Indulge in a picnic provided by Australian Coastal Safaris as the sun sets.

GoPro tip: Once the sun has set, you can capture light trails in the night sky with night-lapse videos.

Koala in tree at Mikkira Station in the Eyre Peninsula
Mikkira Station is home to a large colony of koalas. (Image: Anita Jokovich)

On your last day, experience a 4WD and sandboarding adventure with Australian Coastal Safaris in Lincoln National Park. Enjoy the exhilarating thrill of speeding down the dunes on a sandboard or as a passenger four-wheel-driving on the dunes. Capture footage of the towering sand formations and shimmering waters, all while keeping an eye out for native wildlife. With luck, you might even catch a glimpse of an emu roaming the sandy landscape!

GoPro tip: Use HyperSmooth 6.0 and AutoBoost to keep your videos stable when filming your adventurous pursuits. There’s also a built-in Horizon Lock so you can keep the shot level even when your camera is rotating and moving.

Sand dunes in Port Lincoln
Enjoy the exhilarating thrill of speeding down the dunes. (Image: Anita Jokovich)

After tasting the freshest seafood at the Fresh Fish Place , get ready for an e-biking adventure – the perfect way to explore the coastline without exerting too much effort. Set out from Australian Coastal Safaris and make your way to the marina, located about five kilometres from the town centre. The cycle route traces the coast along the picturesque Parnkalla Trail .

GoPro tip: Consider the chest mount accessory to film video while you’re riding your bike for added safety.

Sand dunes and ocean in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula
Take in the stunning views with your GoPro. (Image: Anita Jokovich)

Designed to capture high-quality photos and videos, the GoPro Hero 12 has advanced features such as image stabilisation and enhanced image quality. Download the GoPro Quik app as a tool for editing and sharing footage on the go.

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Your Mandurah guide: art, dining & dolphins await in WA’s coastal gem

Discover the perfect road trip stopover between Perth and wine country.

Western Australia punches above its weight when it comes to coastal hot spots, but no other town or city has seen a tourism boom quite like Mandurah. Named Australia’s Top Tourism Town in 2023 , it’s the relaxed, beachside break you’ve been searching for. And it’s perfectly placed, sitting between Margaret River and Perth, as it’s just a 55-minute drive from Perth’s CBD. Which is why we’ve put together your ultimate Mandurah guide.

Aerial view of Mandurah.
Plan your perfect coastal escape to Australia’s Top Tourism Town of 2023.

The best things to do in Mandurah

Wetlands and rivers, ocean and inlet; Mandurah’s laid-back lifestyle centres around the aquatic. Its waterways cover twice the ground of Sydney Harbour – measuring some 134 square kilometres in total – and form a unique environment for oceanic and estuarine flora and fauna to thrive.

In the city’s estuary lives perhaps the region’s most famed inhabitants – a resident pod of 100 bottlenose dolphins – and the inlet’s silty bottom is home to the prized blue manna crab. Spot the former breaching and playing on an hour-long dolphin cruise through the channels, or try your hand at catching the latter by wading through the estuary’s shallows with a scoop net in hand.

While swimming at the circular Kwillena Gabi Pool, chance encounters with the local wildlife aren’t uncommon. The sheltered estuarine pool takes its name from the traditional custodians of the land, the Bindjareb people, and directly translates to ‘dolphin waters’. Jutting out of the eastern foreshore, it’s enclosed by a ring of net-free floating pontoons, which allow the dolphins to swim freely through the attraction.

If that’s a little too close for comfort, book a kayak tour with Down Under Discoveries . The dolphins have been known to cruise beside the paddle-powered crafts, which are a fun, family-friendly way to explore the city’s inner waterways.

Dolphins swimming in Mandurah.
Watch dolphins glide by as you explore Mandurah.

You don’t have to be on the water to appreciate the coastal city’s aquatic beauty, with 600 kilometres of cycleways and scenic walking trails traversing Mandurah’s estuary, inlet and coast.

Follow the 30-kilometre coastal trail and you’ll come face to face with one of Thomas Dambo’s headline-making ‘Giants of Mandurah  sculptures, Santi Ikto, along the way. There are five sculptures around Mandurah in total, hidden among gum-filled reserves or sitting sentry over the water.

Head to the Mandurah Visitor Centre to pick up a map to pinpoint their exact location and download the traveller’s companion to learn more about the sights along the way. Or join a three-hour e-bike tour from The Bike Kiosk and you’ll stop by two of the giants – Santi Ikto and Yaburgurt Winjan Cirkelstone – as you sightsee central Mandurah.

 The towering Santi Ikto, one of Thomas Dambo’s iconic Giants of Mandurah.
Meet Santi Ikto, one of the legendary Giants of Mandurah.

Where to eat in Mandurah

Mandurah’s culinary scene reflects its laid-back lifestyle, with large, honest meals and locally brewed beer. After visiting Lake Clifton’s 2000-year-old thrombolites, head to the peppermint and gum-shaded beer garden at Thorny Devil Brewery . Tuck into a platter of house-smoked meats and an ale pulled fresh from the tanks. Closer to town and right on the waterfront is Boundary Island Brewery ; here, woodfired pizza, pub-style seafood dishes and easy-drinking brews are centre stage.

On a Murray River Lunch Cruise , the focus is as much on the environment around you as the food you’re filling up on. Help yourself to the colourful salads and freshly cooked meats on the buffet as you meander up the winding, jarrah tree-lined waterway, stopping at the heritage Cooper’s Mill for a quick walking tour along the way.

Keep your eyes trained on the Creery Wetlands as you pass – you’ll spot much of the region’s migratory birdlife, and, as always, might see the playful bottlenose dolphins in the inlet.

The most memorable meals aren’t necessarily always the fanciest, and lunch aboard a self-skippered Mandurah BBQ Boat is a testament to that. All food and beverage prep is left up to you as you cruise through the canals, sausages and steaks sizzling away on the central hot plate.

If seafood is more your kind of fare, board the Wild Seafood Experience , where dolphin cruise meets long table lunch. Eight courses of crab, crayfish and scallops await.

A table filled with plates of crab, crayfish, and scallops.
Dine on the water with eight courses of ocean-fresh fare.

Where to stay in Mandurah

With so many waterways comes abundant waterside stays. Like the self-contained Seashells Mandurah on the shores of Comet Bay. The calm, oceanic outlook from the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and villas is as close to Maldivian as Mandurah gets. Families especially enjoy the property, bouncing between the protected cove and the beachfront pool for endless hours of fun.

Seashells Mandurah; on the shores of Comet Bay.
Stay right by the sea.

The Sebel Mandurah , just a hop, skip and jump from the Mandurah Ocean Marina, has a different outlook entirely, overlooking the estuary and lively foreshore on the other side. It’s also within walking distance of the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre , cinema and a swathe of waterfront bars and eateries.

But you can’t get any closer to the water than on a vessel from Mandurah Houseboats . You don’t need a skipper’s ticket to hire one, nor do you need comprehensive boating experience; just a full driver’s license and your undivided attention during the pre-departure tuition will do. Then you’re free to take to the estuaries and tributaries for a few nights of peaceful rest, surrounded by the very element that makes Mandurah so special.

A houseboat cruising in Mandurah along the river
Captain a houseboat to explore Mandurah at your own pace.

Plan your next WA getaway in Mandurah.