Coffin Bay National Park, SA: Clear Water, Quiet Camps & Curious Dolphins
Coffin Bay National Park, SA: Clear Water, Quiet Camps & Curious Dolphins
Wim and Sam first camped at Coffin Bay back in 2022 and never quite shook it. Dolphins off the beach, kangaroos wandering through camp, emus strolling past like they owned the joint, all on a bay so calm it looks like glass. It stuck with them for years.
So in autumn this year they went back, half worried it could not live up to the memory. It did. Same quiet water, same dreamlike landscape, same feeling they had stumbled into a wildlife documentary.
This is their guide to Black Springs Overflow Campground in Coffin Bay National Park, on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. The wildlife, the water, and what you need to know before you go.
Best Time to Visit
Black Springs Overflow Campground is tucked along a sheltered stretch of coast with a sandy beach, and water so calm it looks like glass.
But this can be very different if the weather conditions are wrong. So the thing to plan around here is the weather, not the calendar. This place is at its absolute best on a calm day. Wind changes everything, so it pays to check the forecast before you commit to the drive in.
Always check parks.sa.gov.au/parks/coffin-bay-national-park before you visit to make sure you are prepared.
Trip Highlights
This is a slow-down kind of trip, not a packed itinerary.
The main highlights:
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SUPing with dolphins swimming around and under the board
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Kangaroos and emus strolling through the camp
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Quiet mornings with a coffee and no one else around
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Chairs set up right on the edge of the water, nowhere to be
As Wim and Sam put it, genuinely hard to leave. Calm water, dolphins, roos, emus, and a fun 4WD track in.
Getting There
This is the part to read properly, because it is not a roll-up and wing-it spot.
Black Springs Overflow Campground is in Coffin Bay National Park, about one hour from the coastal town of Coffin Bay.
The track into this part of the national park is 4WD only, with soft-sand sections and a few steep parts. Wim and Sam said it is not suitable for caravans, so you will want a capable setup and enough time to make the drive in properly.
Facilities are limited, with a drop toilet at Black Springs Campground. Wim and Sam stayed at the overflow campground, which sits right on the edge of the bay with great views and direct water access. You will need to be self-sufficient with your own drinking water, food and supplies.
You will also need to organise your camping fees and park pass before you arrive. Make sure you check the latest access, conditions and fire restrictions through the official parks website before you go.
What to Pack
You are fully self-sufficient out here, so a bit of planning makes the whole stay smoother.
The essentials Wim and Sam swear by:
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A SUP or kayak, so you can get out on the water with the dolphins
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Plenty of drinking water, since there is no fresh water on site
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All your own food and supplies, because there is no quick stop once you are in
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A couple of muk mats to keep the sand out
Kid & Pet Friendly?
Kids, yes. The calm shallow water, the wildlife and the open space make it a great spot for families.
Pets, no. Dogs are not allowed inside Coffin Bay National Park, so this one is best left for trips without the four-legged crew.
Final Thoughts
Coffin Bay is one of those places that rewards the effort it takes to get there.
For Wim and Sam, the calm water, curious dolphins, roos and emus around camp made it the kind of trip you do not get just anywhere. It takes a bit of planning, a capable setup and a decent drive in, but that is part of what makes it so special.
If Coffin Bay is on your list, be sure to check the latest park access, camping information and conditions before you go: parks.sa.gov.au/parks/coffin-bay-national-park
It is one trip you have to do at least once.
Get the Same Mats as Wim and Sam
