Barkers Rocks, Campground

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Halfway down Yorke Peninsula's west coast sits a secluded rocky beach cove and campgrounds at Barkers Rocks. The beach sits below a strip of sandy coastal reserve perched above, boasting crystal-clear green water at low tide and scattered with rocks, perfect for beachcombing or fishing off the rock flats – the fisherman in our group caught a few squid and cuttlefish easily.



We took advantage of one of the sandy sections of the beach to take a picnic down and soak up the sun, dipping into the clear water for a swim and even spotted a few dolphins. If you bring a boat, you can launch it from the lower campground boat ramp. At the end of the day, you can kick back on the rocks with a drink in hand and watch the spectacular sunsets.



Located just ten minutes drive from Minlaton, the final section of the road is a gravel road easily accessible by 2WD, trailer or caravan. Once you reach the entrance, the road forks in two directions where you will find two separate campgrounds. There are no amenities here; it is basic bush camping so you'll need to be a fully self-contained visitor by bringing your own water, shade and firewood (depending on fire ban restrictions), and taking rubbish away with you as there are no bins.



The lower campground to the left features a boat ramp and a drop-toilet with hand basin for those not keen on digging their own toilet spot behind a bush - just remember to BYO toilet paper! If you have a large caravan, you'll likely need to use this campground as it has more space available.

The upper campground to the right where we stayed sits higher on a clifftop overlooking the beach and rocks – you'll find a sheltered picnic table next to a water tank with clean drinking water. This is shared with hikers and cyclists, so use it sparingly. From here you can take the 5km walking trail north to Port Rickaby if you want to get in a bit more exercise and stunning ocean views along the way. Our visit was in early March so the weather was sunny by day, very breezy, and chilly at night. Flies and mosquitoes were a bit problematic at times, even a few biting Marchflies down on the beach, so a fly-net and repellent would be ideal if you don't mind looking silly but you'll avoid all that fly frustration.



Camping permits are required for a small fee per vehicle, which can be purchased online at the Yorke Peninsula Visitor Information website , or by phone on 1800 202 445 (Freecall). A discounted rate is available for ratepayers of Yorke Peninsula. Dogs are permitted but must be kept under effective control at all times.

#beaches
#camping
#escape_the_city
#natural_attractions
#outdoor
#snorkelling
#swimming
#tourist_sites
#weekend_escapes
#yorke_peninsula
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