National park · Australia
Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park
Give it a full day by car from Marion Bay or a two-night camp: drive the loop to Cape Spencer and West Cape lighthouses, walk the 1.2 km Pondalowie boardwalk, and pay the per-vehicle park entry at the gate. Skip it as a day trip from Adelaide — 300 km each way.Give it a full day by car from Marion Bay or a two-night camp: drive the loop to Cape Spencer and West Cape lighthouses, walk the 0.7 mi Pondalowie boardwalk, and pay the per-vehicle park entry at the gate. Skip it as a day trip from Adelaide — 186 mi each way.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
94 km²36 sq mi
approximate
Established
1970
Best months
Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 94 km²36 sq mi
- 94.15 km²; the state's most-visited park.
- Established
- 1970
- Best months
- Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park protects 94 km² of the southern Yorke Peninsula: cliffs from Cape Spencer to West Cape, sand dunes behind Pondalowie Bay, and the old gypsum town of Inneston. It is South Australia's most-visited park despite sitting nearly 300 km from Adelaide. Since 2020 it has been co-managed by the state parks service and the Narungga traditional owners, and renamed to include the Narungga name Dhilba Guuranda. There is one road entrance, next to Marion Bay; everything inside is reached by car, with short walks from the car parks.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 2020Co-managed with Narungga traditional owners; renamed from Innes National Park.
Size and age
94 km²36 sq mi · national park since 1970
94.15 km²; the state's most-visited park.
Why go
- Sandy beaches and a rugged cliff coast within a few kilometres of each other.
- Two lighthouses — Cape Spencer and West Cape — both with ocean lookouts.
- The abandoned gypsum town of Inneston, with a 1 km historic walk through the ruins.The abandoned gypsum town of Inneston, with a 0.6 mi historic walk through the ruins.
- Campgrounds and heritage lodges inside the park, so you can stay after the day visitors leave.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayGo
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanHot, dry; start walks early
- FebHot; coastal breeze helps
- MarMild days, calm sea
- AprMild and settled
- MayCooler; some rain
- JunStrong cold winds off the Southern Ocean
- JulWettest, windiest month
- AugCold winds; rough surf
- SepImproving; wildflowers start
- OctMild, green, good walking
- NovWarm and dry
- DecWarm; school holidays fill campsites
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emus, ospreys, peregrine falcons and wedge-tailed eaglesAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Little penguinsAll year · Keep your distance and do not use lights on the beach at night. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Hooded plover (vulnerable) and painted snipeAll year · Plovers nest on the sand; keep off signed nesting areas and keep dogs away. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Western grey kangaroosAll year · Most active around dawn and dusk; drive slowly. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Brown snakes and shingleback lizardsOct–Mar · Snakes are active in the warm months; watch where you step off-track. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Adelaide
Augusta Hwy (A1) to Port Wakefield, then Copper Coast Hwy (B85) and Yorke Hwy (B86) south to the park entrance.
3.5–4 h
Open the page →
From Marion Bay
The only road entrance to the park sits next to the town.
5 min
From Yorke Peninsula and Clare Valley
The wider region plan: where to base, what else to see.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Stenhouse Bay | Visitor centre, campground, jetty and lookout walk. | Open with a park entry ticket. |
| Inneston | Abandoned gypsum town, heritage lodges and the 1 km historic walk.Abandoned gypsum town, heritage lodges and the 0.6 mi historic walk. | Open; do not enter renovated lodges. |
| Pondalowie Bay | Large campground, boardwalk through the dunes, lookout for sunsets. | Open; 2WD and 4WD. |
| Cape Spencer and West Cape | The two lighthouses and the cliff coast between them. | Open; short walks from car parks. |
| Gym Beach | Secluded campground and beach in the north of the park. | Reached only by its own road from Marion Bay Rd, or the 5.5 km one-way hike.Reached only by its own road from Marion Bay Rd, or the 3.4 mi one-way hike. |
Sketch map
- 1Park entrance (Marion Bay) · Gate≈-35.241, 136.887Map ↗
- 2Visitor centre, Stenhouse Bay · Headquarters≈-35.270, 136.941Map ↗
- 3Stenhouse Bay Jetty · Viewpoint≈-35.279, 136.943Map ↗
- 4Inneston · Village≈-35.273, 136.893Map ↗
- 5Pondalowie Bay Campground · Sleep≈-35.237, 136.839Map ↗
- 6Cape Spencer Lighthouse · Viewpoint≈-35.299, 136.882Map ↗
- 7West Cape Lighthouse · Viewpoint≈-35.247, 136.828Map ↗
- 8Ethel Wreck · Beach≈-35.272, 136.846Map ↗
- 9Royston Head · Viewpoint≈-35.196, 136.844Map ↗
- 10Gym Beach · Sleep≈-35.155, 136.909Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (per vehicle, day) | Free | vehicle | South Australian parks charge a per-vehicle entry fee at the gate; the current amount is set by the parks service — check before you drive in (check). |
| Unpowered campsite | AUD 24.5–35.5 | site | Per night; the higher band is for larger sites. No showers at any campground. |
| Heritage lodge (Inneston) | AUD 122–183 | night | Two-night minimum; linen not always supplied. |
| Shepherds Hut | AUD 66.5 | night | No electricity; two-night minimum. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Camping and lodge bookings permit or guide
Gym Beach access no permit
Park rules
- Stay only at designated sites
- Camping and sleeping are allowed only in the signed campgrounds or the heritage lodges.
- No showers
- No campground in the park has a shower; bring your own water and plan for it.
- Gym Beach by road
- Do not try to reach Gym Beach through the park's internal roads — mapping apps get this wrong. Use the Gym Beach Rd turnoff from Marion Bay Rd.
- Fires
- Check the current fire danger rating and any total fire ban before lighting anything; bans are enforced.
- Wildlife
- Do not feed or approach kangaroos, emus or penguins; keep to signed tracks near nesting shorebirds.
Where to stay
In the park
Inneston heritage lodges
Six restored buildings sleeping 2–10, from A$122 to A$183 per night with a two-night minimum; some need your own linen.
In the park
Park campgrounds
Cable Bay, Casuarina, Gym Beach, Pondalowie Bay, Shell Beach and Stenhouse Bay; A$24.50–A$35.50 per site per night, unpowered, no showers.
Near the park
Marion Bay
Motels and holiday rentals at the park gate; the practical choice for a single night.
Safety
Distance and fuel medium
Cliff edges and surf high
Cold wind in winter medium
Snakes in warm months medium
No phone signal in places medium
Accessibility
- Cape Spencer Lighthouse, West Cape Lighthouse, the Pondalowie boardwalk (except the beach stairs) and the Casuarina and Pondalowie campgrounds are marked wheelchair accessible.
- The Inneston ruins walk is on uneven ground and is not suitable for wheelchairs.
- Royston Head and Gym Beach hikes are rough sand and not accessible.
Visiting lightly
- Pay the park entry fee — it funds the co-management program with the Narungga traditional owners.
- Carry out all rubbish; there are no bins at the remote campgrounds.
- Keep to the boardwalk in the dunes and off signed shorebird nesting areas.
- Use the Gym Beach Rd access rather than driving across the dunes.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park?
South Australian parks charge a per-vehicle day entry fee at the gate, set by the parks service — check the current amount on the official site before you drive in. Camping is separate: A$24.50–A$35.50 per site per night, and heritage lodges run from A$122 to A$183 per night with a two-night minimum.
What are the best hikes in Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park?
For most visitors: the 1.2 km Pondalowie Boardwalk through the dunes, the 1 km Inneston Historic Walk, the 2 km Stenhouse Bay Lookout Walk and the 1 km West Cape Headland loop. Longer options are the 4 km return Royston Head Hike and the 5.5 km one-way Gym Beach Hike.
When is the best time to visit Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park?
March to April and October to November give mild days and settled sea. Summer is hot and busy with school-holiday campers; June to August brings strong cold winds off the Southern Ocean, which makes the cliff walks uncomfortable.
Can I visit as a day trip from Adelaide?
It is possible but long: about 300 km each way, roughly 3.5–4 hours of driving. Most people stay at least one night in Marion Bay or in a park campground.
Do I need a 4WD?
No. The park's roads are sealed or good gravel and suit a 2WD. Gym Beach is the exception — it is not connected to the park's internal road network, so reach it via the Gym Beach Rd turnoff from Marion Bay Rd.
Are there showers at the campgrounds?
No. None of the six campgrounds has a shower, and sites are unpowered. The heritage lodges in Inneston have basic facilities, and some require you to bring your own linen.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go