Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park

There is perhaps no better place to see Yorke Peninsula scenery than Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park (formerly Innes National Park). This national park is one of the many coastal parks in South Australia, but none quite have sandy beaches and a rugged coastline within a few kilometres like Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park.

Although the national park protecting the coastal wilderness is small with an area of just, it's the state's most visited park (despite the distance from Adelaide nearing 300 km). With distances between many of points of interest being comparatively short, Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park is never short of what a coastal wilderness needs to have.

History
The first peoples of this area area were the Narrunga Aboriginal people, who consisted of four clans: the Kurnara of the north, the Windera of the east, the Wari of the West and the Dilpa of the south.

The first European settlers cultivated land around Cape Spencer for grazing by sheep around 1847. The national park is named after William Robert Innes, who found commercially exploitable deposits of gypsum in the area at the beginning of the 20th century, which were then exploited until the 1930s. The main tourist settlement in the park, was founded in the early 1900s for this exact purpose was converted into a tourist town after the demise of mining.

The park was then established in 1970 to protect the remaining patch of coastal wilderness. In 2020, the park became a part of a joint-management program where the park was co-mananged by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Narungga traditional owners, to celebrate its 50th anniversary. It was also renamed from Innes National Park to Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park in recognition of this.

Landscape
The coastal stretch from Willyama Bay to Cape Spencer contains several bays, including Cable Bay and Stenhouse Bay, along with notable headlands like Rhino Head. Between Cable Bay and Stenhouse Bay, there's a line of cliffs; between Cape Spencer to West Cape, you'll find tall cliffs and sandy beaches.

The area from Pondalowie Bay to Gym Beach is dominated by sand dunes, except for Royston Head and the cliff line extending to Dolphin Beach. There are saline lakes between the national park's boundary and the road system.

Flora and fauna
Approximately 140 bird species have been sighted in the national park: these include emus, ospreys, peregrine falcons, little penguins and wedge-tailed eagles. Notably, the park is home to the rare Australian endemic species of the painted snipe and the vulnerable hooded plover. The once widespread western grey kangaroo experienced a significant decline in the first half of the 20th century, but its population within Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park is stable. Reptiles found in the park include species such as brown snakes, shingleback lizards and eastern bearded dragons.

The park is also home to over 300 plant species.

Climate
There isn't a particular time of year to specifically visit the park, but the wind can get strong during the winter, making it cold.

Visitor information

 * National Parks and Wildlife Service SA website
 * Park map
 * Park map

Get in
There is only one entrance to the park which is next to Marion Bay. Upon entering, there is a roundabout – turn left for the visitor centre and continue straight for all other points of interests. You are not allowed to enter the park via Gym Beach (despite what various mapping applications might claim) – use the Gym Beach Rd turnoff from Marion Bay Rd to access this beach and campground.

To get to Marion Bay from Port Wakefield, exit onto Copper Coast Hwy (B85) from Augusta Hwy (A1) and take the first exit onto Yorke Hwy (B86) from the Federation Corner Roundabout. After about ≈, turn right to stay on Yorke Hwy (B86). Continue on this road and follow B86 until the park entrance.

Fees and permits
A vehicle fee applies for all vehicles entering the park and must be made on the park website. As of June 2023, the fee per vehicle is A$12.50 and is A$10 for concession holders. The entry fee covers you to visit the park for one day.

SA parks passes (both the 2- and 12-month passes) are valid in Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park.

Get around
You will only be able to get around Stenhouse Bay and Inneston on foot, but otherwise, you will need to drive to explore the park. The distances between points of interests are far too large to travel on foot.

Gym Beach is not accessible from the rest of the park's road network – see for the specifics.

See
Being a coastal wilderness, there isn't exactly one thing to see – the many points of interest tend to vary from scenic lookouts to historic sites to lighthouses – the diversity is what made this park the most visited in the state in 2021.

Lighthouses
There are two lighthouses in Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park. Both of which are automated, but the reason why both are popular with tourists is for the views they provide.

Short walks

 * Inneston Historic Walk (coloured  on map) – a 1-km walk within the historic town of Inneston passing through various now-abandoned buildings. Some of them may be visitable, but make sure you don't accidentally intrude into a building that has now been renovated into a lodge.
 * Pondalowie Boardwalk (coloured  on map) – a 1.2-km (return) walk that takes roughly about 40 minutes to complete. The boardwalk passes through high and ecologically pristine sand dunes before terminating at a long viewing platform near the beach (which is accessible via three sets of stairs from the platform).  (except beach)
 * Stenhouse Bay Lookout Walk (coloured  on map) – the closest walk to the visitor centre, 2 km return and takes 40 minutes. It passes both Stenhouse Bay Lookout and the Stenhouse Bay Jetty.
 * West Cape Headland Hike (coloured  on map) – this hike gives you views of Pondalowie Bay, Wedge and the Althorpe Islands. It's a 30-minute and 1-kilometer loop and does not require high fitness levels.

Longer trails

 * Gym Beach Hike (coloured  on map) – this is the longest trail in the park and is a good 5.5-km bushwalk one way. It takes about 2 hours to complete one way, and is the only piece of infrastructure anywhere in the park that connects Gym Beach with the rest of the park (the only other way to access Gym Beach is via a separate road from Marion Bay). The trail passes through very high sand dunes – if you're into birdwatching, then make sure to bring a camera along.
 * Royston Head Hike (coloured  on map) – a 4-km return hike linking the cliffs of Royston Head with the carpark. The trail contains many informative signs along the way about the local plantlife along the way.
 * Thomson-Pfitzner Plaster Trail Hike (coloured  on map) – this trail is 7 km (one way) from the visitor centre to the remains of Inneston. It is relatively easy, but also very uninteresting compared to the others. You don't need to hike this trail to get to the ruins as there is parking right next to the town itself.

Buy, eat and drink
Unfortunately none in this park. You will need to go to Marion Bay or bring your own supplies.

Sleep
Accommodation is plenty in Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park – an unusual number for a park of its size. You are only permitted to stay at a designated venue (i.e. a lodging venue or a campground).

Lodging
Most lodges are concentrated around the old settlement of Inneston. You will most likely have to stay for a minimum period of two nights (the booking system will not allow you to book for one night), so if you are thinking of staying for just one night, consider camping or finding a motel in Marion Bay.

Camping
Camping at Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park is similar to any other South Australian national park, except not a single campground has a shower. It's a great way to better connect with the coastal wilderness of the park, but also to save some cash if you're travelling on a budget.

Not all campgrounds are wheelchair-acessible – campgrounds that are wheelchair accessible are marked with a icon.

Go next
Your only way out is via Marion Bay. From Marion Bay, use the Yorke Hwy (B86) out northeast towards other parts of the Yorke Peninsula.