Landing at the small Port Lincoln Airport, located about 13 kilometers north of the town, you can already feel the refreshing sea breeze and the laid-back atmosphere that defines this part of Australia. The flight from Adelaide takes just around 50 minutes, offering a quick and scenic route over St Vincent Gulf, the Yorke Peninsula, and Spencer Gulf before reaching the Eyre Peninsula.
The Port Lincoln Hotel is one of the best places to spend the night before exploring the richness of the surrounding region. It offers comfortable rooms with bay or town views and an on-site restaurant. In this charming coastal town, seafood is a must, and it’s no wonder Port Lincoln is often referred to as the "Seafood Capital of Australia," with its oysters, Southern Bluefin Tuna, Kingfish, and other fish that make it a paradise for food lovers.
"The town is a gateway to beautiful national parks, such as Lincoln and Coffin Bay, with breathtaking landscapes featuring rugged coastlines, pristine beaches, and rich wildlife including kangaroos, emus, and sea lions," says Craig Haslam. Commonly known as "Hassie", the passionate and dynamic founder of Untamed Escapes offers immersive, authentic experiences with small-group tours that focus on connecting travelers with nature, culture, and local communities, exploring remote and pristine areas—including the Eyre Peninsula, the Flinders Ranges, Kangaroo Island, Western Australia and the Red Centre.
Port Lincoln is also an active fishing port with numerous trawlers. The town is known for events like the Tunarama Festival, celebrating the its deep connection to the fishing industry.
This morning, we depart by 4WD with Untamed Escapes toward Lincoln National Park at the southern tip of the Eyre Peninsula, 25 km from Port Lincoln. The spectacular landscapes are indeed on display, a true representation of South Australia's raw beauty, where limestone cliffs meet the turquoise waters of the Southern Ocean, and vast sand dunes stretch out toward the horizon. Driven by Geoff, an experienced guide from Untamed Escapes, our 4WD navigates through soft, rolling dunes, providing an exhilarating ride as it rises and falls over the sandy terrain and skirts the limestone outcrops along the coastal cliffs. Geoff stopped on the way to enjoy the views and also tea and coffee overlooking a pristine beach, untouched by time and human activity. A peaceful and awe-inspiring moment, offering a chance to soak in the natural surroundings, while a kangaroo suddenly bounded through the shifting sands, a testament to the wild and untamed spirit of the region.
Back in Port Lincoln, The Fresh Fish Place is a simple but must-visit restaurant to enjoy a lunch based on products such as squid, scallops, and other locally caught fish like Kingfish, Flathead, and King George Whiting. The menu features a warm welcome and simple yet delicious dishes, cooked before you in a picturesque setting that evokes the sea and fishing.
Another pleasant surprise awaits us in the afternoon at Mikkira Station, 26 km from Port Lincoln. This historic and picturesque property offers visitors a unique glimpse into the region's past and its abundant wildlife. Established in the mid-19th century, it was originally a sheep station, and it still retains much of its rustic charm with old stone homesteads, heritage-listed buildings, and sprawling open landscapes. Untamed Escapes is one of the few operators allowed access to the property.
One of the key attractions is its thriving population of wild koalas, often seen lounging in the eucalyptus trees that dot the property. This makes Mikkira one of the best places in Australia to observe these iconic creatures up close in their natural habitat. Emus and kangaroos are also part of the experience! The station's lush surroundings, with its mix of native vegetation and rolling hills, provide a perfect setting for a peaceful day of wildlife watching and photography.
To conclude this exceptional day, Hassie chose a winery and restaurant worthy of the occasion, nestled on the hills overlooking Port Lincoln. "Peter Teakle Wines is a renowned winery known for its great wines and its commitment to showcasing the best of the Eyre Peninsula's viticulture," comments Craig Haslam. Established by Peter Teakle, a visionary in the Australian wine industry, the winery has quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region. Set in a picturesque location overlooking Boston Bay, it offers visitors stunning views alongside a world-class wine-tasting experience, featuring Merlot Cabernet, Shiraz, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Chardonnay. The restaurant Line & Label, located right next door, is renowned for its fine dining and elegant setting, perfectly situated to enjoy beautiful views of the surroundings while savoring high-quality dishes prepared with local ingredients.
A new and unique experience awaits us this morning. A boat from the "Coffin Bay Oyster Farms & Bay Tour" takes us to an oyster farm 16 km from Coffin Bay Township, providing a fascinating insight into the process of oyster cultivation, from the farm to the table, and highlighting the importance of sustainability in this thriving local industry. All passengers don a wader—a waterproof pants designed to extend up to the chest, allowing them to walk in the water without getting wet—and here we are, walking in the crystal-clear waters of Coffin Bay amid the oyster baskets! Back on the boat, we taste freshly shucked oysters right from the sea. Delicious!
As our flight to Adelaide approaches, one last snack is in order! Our final lunch stop is at L’Anse Restaurant, a French café and croissanterie which was voted "the best croissant in SA 2023," according to French Chef Maxime Renaud, who brings a taste of France to Port Lincoln, using high-quality ingredients and meticulous attention to detail "to ensure that every croissant is perfectly flaky, buttery, and satisfying." A nice way to end this famil in the Port Lincoln region!
Untamed Escapes is “dedicated to connecting travelers from all walks of life with enriching experiences that blend adventure, culture, wildlife, wellness, and epicurean delights in nature”, Craig “Hassie” Haslam, Untamed Escapes founder and manager says . Led by a team of passionate storytellers, their small group and exclusive private tours, ranging from 1 to 10 days, explore the remote regions of South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory's Red Centre.
Their diverse offerings include luxury gourmet getaways, wellness retreats, Indigenous cultural experiences, wildlife encounters, camping adventures, and conservation efforts. Untamed Escapes provides the perfect opportunity for people to escape, unwind, connect, and transform. They partner with the finest tourism operators and wellness practitioners in their regions, introducing travelers to local makers, creators, growers, and characters. They take great satisfaction in witnessing the transformation of their guests as they reconnect with the land and themselves.
Since their inception in 2004, environmental sustainability has been a core value at Untamed Escapes. However, they believe their responsibility as a business and as individuals goes beyond sustainability. In 2022, they hired a dedicated Regenerative Tourism Specialist and recently launched their "Roadmap Towards Regeneration." This evolving manifesto guides them on a long-term journey of implementing regenerative practices in their tour operations, with a commitment to measure and report on their progress as they move forward.
