Innes National Park Guide: Fees, camping, beaches & Walks

Last updated: September 2026

If you’re road-tripping through South Australia, do not skip Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park.

This national park is located at the very foot of the Yorke Peninsula, and it’s the reason many people come to this part of the state. Rugged cliffs, crystal clear water, white sandy beaches, two lighthouses, a shipwreck on the sand, epic surf breaks, and an abandoned gypsum-mining township you can walk through. All of it reachable in a 2WD.

We’ve visited twice now and spent five days here in total. This guide covers everything you need before you go. What it costs, all seven campgrounds, the seven walking trails with distances, the best beaches and lookouts, and a one-day itinerary if that’s all the time you have.

➤ If you’re heading this way, start with our complete Yorke Peninsula Road Trip Guide with a 5-Day itinerary to see the best of the Yorke Peninsula.

Innes National Park at a glance

Do you need to pay to enter Innes National Park?

Yes. Here’s an overview:

→ Book your entry and your camping permit online through the official Parks & Wildlife SA website before you go.

Where is Innes National Park located?

Dhilba Guuranda Innes National Park is located at the foot of the Yorke Peninsula, about 284 kilometres from Adelaide (roughly 3.5 hours). It’s the perfect weekend getaway to escape into nature.

Marion Bay is the last town before the park’s entrance, and it’s where you’ll find fuel, a general store, a pub and accommodation. Fuel up there, there’s no fuel inside the park.

Stenhouse By is the entry point, and the visitor centre is here. Stop in, grab a park map and ask about the current conditions.

What does Dhilba Guuranda Mean?

Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park is named in acknowledgement of the Narungga traditional owners. Dhilba is the name of the Southern clan group of Narungga people, and Guuranda means southern land, or southern territory.

The park was renamed in late 2020, alongside the fiftieth anniversary of its proclamation and the start of a co-management agreement with the Narungga traditional owners. Both names refer to the same place, and you’ll see both used.

Can you drive around Innes National Park?

Yes, you can! And it’s the best way to explore the National Park.

The good news? You don’t need a 4WD to explore Innes National Park. The park is accessible to all vehicles, with a sealed main road of around 26 kilometres running from the entrance of Stenhouse Bay to the far end, and sealed, well-maintained side roads leading to the beaches and lookouts.

Our tip: drive straight to the far end of the park first and work your way back. Everyone else starts at the entrance and moves outwards, so going the other way often means you get the popular spots, such as Cape Spencer, Dolphin Beach and Shell Beach, before the crowd catches up.

Camping in Innes National Park

There are seven campgrounds, all bookable online and starting at $27.50 per night. Don’t forget the vehicle access permit of $14.40 on top of the camping fee.

Our two picks:

Casuarina: It’s central, it takes any setup, and it’s a short walk down to Pondalowie Bay, which is exactly where you want to have your morning coffee.

Gym Beach is the one for a quieter trip. Six sites, on the northern site, reached via Corny Point Road. We stayed at site 6, which had its own beach access and spent a whole afternoon swimming and paddleboarding without seeing another person.

➤ For a full overview of all the camping spots, check out our complete guide to Camping in Yorke Peninsula.

Accommodation in Innes National Park

If camping isn’t your thing, you have a few other options:

The Inneston Heritage Cottages

The restored buildings in the historic Inneston township are available to book, and they’re the most interesting place to stay in the park. you’re sleeping in an early 1900 gypsum-mining township surrounded by bushland, with the lake and the historic walk on your doorstep.

Book them through the National Parks and Wildlife Service SA website, same as the campground.

Accommodation in Marion Bay

The town at the park entrance has a caravan park, a pub and holiday rentals, and it’s a great base if you want to do the park across two or three days without camping.

The seven walking trails in Innes National Park

Bushwalking is one of the best ways to see this park, and the trails range from a half-hour stroll to a four-hour hike. Here’s an overview:

If you only do one: make it the Royston Head hike. Two hours, a proper workout, and the views over the rugged coast are the best in the park.

If you’d rather not work for it, do the Inneston Historic Walk. Grade 1, starts just inside the gate at the Inneston car park, and it takes you back through the gypsum-mining era of the early 1900s. Easily the most interesting flat walk on the Yorke Peninsula.

Things to do at Innes National Park

Here’s the full rundown of stops:

Gulawulgawi Ngunda-Nhaga Lookout

This is a newer lookout, and a great addition to scenic lookouts within Dhilba Guuranda Innes National Park. Located right at the beginning of the park, it definitely sets the tone for the rest of the day.

Chinamans Hat Island Lookout

A bit further, the Chinamans Hat Island Lookout awaits. This lookout has a breathtaking view of the coastline. It’s renowned as one of Dhilba Guuranda Innes National Park’s most iconic and Instagram-worthy spots. For a truly unforgettable experience, consider returning to catch the stunning sunset from this beautiful point.

Royston Head Hike or Inneston Historic Walk

Kickstart your day with a scenic workout on the Royston Head Hike. This approximately 4km return trek takes about 2 hours and rewards hikers with magnificent views of the rugged peninsula coast. Suitable for those with a moderate fitness level, it’s a perfect way to immerse yourself in the park’s natural beauty.

Don’t feel like a workout? If you’d rather stretch the legs. Inneston Historic Walk is an easy Grade 1 walk of 2 km and will take about 1,5 hours. This popular walk starts from just inside the gate at Inneston Car Park and will bring you back to the early 1900s and the gypsum-minig era.

Shell Beach and Dolphin Beach

Dolphin Beach, along with Shell Beach, marks the final stretch of accessible beaches via the main road. We started our journey at Shell Beach, known for its stunning rock pools and pristine waters. You’ll find some epic rock pools when walking towards the end of the beach.

Dolphin Beach is exactly the kind of South Australia’s beach that we had imagined. With its crystal-clear blue waters, white sands, and vibrant red rocks, it’s a perfect spot to begin your day with a leisurely stroll or a refreshing swim after the Royston Head hike. We highly recommend exploring the far end of the beach, where you can unwind at the secluded “private beach” nestled amidst the surrounding rocks.

➤ Both are in our guide to the 12 best beaches on the Yorke Peninsula.

Pondalowie Surf Break

At Pondalowie Surf Break, you can either watch surfers and bodyboarders enjoying the thrill of this reef break or jump in yourself. A scenic 1.2-kilometre or 5-minute walk along a beautiful boardwalk leads you to a viewing platform where you can observe the action on the waves or enter the water. Keep your eyes peeled along the way—you might spot kangaroos relaxing in the shade, adding to the park’s natural charm.

→ The viewing platform itself is currently closed due to storm damage. The bay, beach and boardwalk are still worth doing.

West Cape Lighthouse

For a picturesque lunch spot, head to West Cape Lighthouse. Not only does it offer a scenic walk, but there are also sheltered picnic tables where you can enjoy your meal. Take in breathtaking coastal views of the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park and nearby islands while you let your lunch settle. Afterwards, take a leisurely stroll around the lighthouse loop to fully soak in the surroundings.

Ethel Beach – Shipwreck

Ethel Beach is a gem within Innes National Park, boasting surf ideal for experienced surfers, a historic shipwreck, and stunning natural beauty. Spend a few hours here relaxing on one of the park’s prettiest beaches, exploring the shipwreck, and watching surfers ride the waves near the rocky shoreline.

Cape Spencer Lookout

The short walk to Cape Spencer Lighthouse was a highlight of our visit. This trail offers 360 degree views of offshore islands, vibrant red cliffs on one side, and a completely different yet equally captivating coastline on the other. It’s a must-visit for panoramic vistas and a glimpse into the park’s diverse landscapes.

Stenhouse Bay Lookout

A 2 km loop from near the visitor centre about an hour, easy. The old jetty and the loading infrastructure from the gypsum days are still there, and it’s a good first or last walk, depending which way you’re driving.

Browns Beach

One of South Australia’s best salmon fishing beaches, on the northern edge of the park. It’s the far end of the Gym Beach hike, so you can also walk in from the south. It’s a very exposed beach; it gets very windy, and it’s not a swimming beach.

The perfect one day in Innes National Park

If you only have one day, here’s how we’d spend it:

That’s a full day. If you’d rather not rush or hike, drop Royston Head and Ethel Beach, and you’ll have a more comfortable one.

Know before you go

There are a few things to keep in mind when visiting this South Australian National Park.

When to visit Innes National Park?

You can explore Innes National Park any time of the year, each season offering a unique experience:

• Winter: The park transforms into a lush green landscape, with wild seas and impressive surf. There’s a chance of seeing whales on the southern coast.
• Summer: Warm and dry conditions make it ideal for camping and beach activities. Also, the busiest and the hottest.
• Autumn: Cooler temperatures provide the perfect setting for a full day of hiking and other outdoor activities. Our pick, and the crowds have gone.
• Spring: The park bursts into colour as wildflowers bloom, creating a picturesque and vibrant environment

Innes National Park Map

We’ve pinned al seven campgrounds, hikes, the Inneston heritage lodges, every lookout and beach on this free Yorke Peninsula Map.

Free Yorke Peninsula map — camps, beaches, highlights and Innes National Park Send it to me →

Is Innes National Park worth visiting?

Absolutely, YES!

This South Australia National Park has it all. A spectacular coastline with beautiful white sandy beaches, rock pools, historic shipwrecks, and lots of wildlife. It’s fair to say that Dhilba Guuranda Innes National Park has one of the best coastal views in South Aus­tralia, and the fact that all of it is reachable in a 2WD makes it one of the most accessible great parks in the country.

For $14.40 a vehicle, it’s great value, and a day here is enough to see the best of what this national park has to offer. If you’re into camping, bushwalking, surfing or fishing, give it two or three days.

➤ Innes National Park is Day 4 of our full Yorke Peninsula Itinerary.

Our honest opinion after five days in the park

What we loved

The drive, the hidden cove at the end of Dolphin Beach, and staying overnight at Gym Beach.

What we’d warn you about

The wind, the lack of shade, and the fact that there’s no water in the park. Also, Gym Beach can’t be reached from inside the park, which is something we didn’t know.

Innes National Park FAQs

More Yorke Peninsula Guides

If you’re heading to the Yorke Peninsula, start with our complete Yorke Peninsula Road Trip guide. For more detailed guides, check out:

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