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 in Coffin Bay National Park, on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. The wild life, the water, and what you need to know before you go.
Best Time to Visit
Black Springs is tucked along a sheltered stretch of coast with a sandy beach, tea-tree and mallee for a bit of shade, and water so calm on the right day 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 and swimming with the dolphins
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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.
The northern beaches of Coffin Bay National Park are 4WD only, and you want decent clearance. The track has soft-sand sections and a few steep bits, so it is not suitable for caravans. Allow sufficient time to get from the start of the 4WD track to camp.
Black Springs has a small number of allocated sites and a long-drop toilet. The overflow campground, where Wim and Sam stayed, sits right on the edge of the bay with great views and direct water access. It is unallocated and has no facilities of its own, with the nearest toilet back at the main Black Springs sites, so you need to be fully self-contained.
You also need to sort camping fees and a park pass before you arrive. Easiest to book online through the parks website ahead of time.
One heads up from their trip: fire restrictions were in place during their visit, so a campfire was off the cards. Always check current conditions and restrictions 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
