Pastries & Cocktails at West Coast Distilling Co, Port Lincoln. Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.

11 Fantastic Port Lincoln Eats & Drinks to Try

Hey there, friend!

Explore Port Lincoln in the Eyre Peninsula with me

In this journal entry, I’ll be sharing some of the fun things you can see and do while staying in the incredible coastal city of Port Lincoln, in the southern Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. 

Looking back, I realise that most of the fun things we did in Port Lincoln involved eating and drinking. It was just so hard to resist when there were so many funky breweries, restaurants, and cafes in the area!

So, if the combination of eating, drinking and walking is your jam— I think you’ll enjoy this journal entry. As always, you’ll find that most of these are dog-friendly!

Pretty Boston Bay views along trail near Port Lincoln Caravan Park, North Shields. Located near Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Port Lincoln’s Boston Bay

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Before we get into it, you might want to read the first entry to our Eyre Peninsula sojourn. It’s all about our brief time in the seaport town of Whyalla where I met the local bottlenose dolphins. Click here to read.

Quick roundup of fun things to do in Port Lincoln & surrounds

The fun things we got up to

We might have exceeded our budget for going out. Oops. I realise this list involves a lot of eating and drinking, but there’s a couple of non-food-and-drink-related activities in there too!

  • Brunch at a number of wonderful cafes in town: we popped into L’Anse French Café & Croissanterie, Rogue and the Rascal, Boston Bean Coffee Company, Cafe Chino’s, The Beach Bakery on King, and The Ethical Kitchen.
  • Kick back and grab a tasty craft beer at Beer Garden Brewing and Jump Ship Brewing.
  • Savour fresh, quality seafood at the local favourite, The Fish Place.
  • Enjoy a leisurely lunch with beautiful bay views at Hotel Boston.
  • Indulge in a cocktail with a twist at the funky West Coast Distilling Co.
  • Pop by the Winter Hill Lookout for a scenic view of the Port Lincoln township and surrounds.
  • Walk along Port Lincoln’s varied coastline via the Parnkalla Trail, including walking along the foreshore. 
  • Take a day trip to Tumby Bay and explore the amazing street art displayed throughout the town. I’ve written a separate journal entry for our day trip, you can read it here.
  • Take a day trip to Coffin Bay and sample the oysters at Oyster HQ. I’ve written a separate journal entry for our day trip, you can read it here.
  • Explore the rugged coastline of the southern Eyre Peninsula with your furbaby by visiting Whaler’s Way Sanctuary, a privately owned scenic nature reserve where dogs are welcome! I’ve written a separate journal entry for our day trip, you can read it here.
Charlie inside Beer Garden Brewing. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Charlie at Beer Garden Brewing

Other fun things to do in Port Lincoln

For those seeking more than just a croissant from a French cafe like myself, Port Lincoln is still a destination worth bookmarking. Its rugged coastline offers numerous thrilling experiences.

  • An award-winning attraction that Port Lincoln is well-known for is Cage Diving with Great White Sharks. There’s a healthy population of great whites in Port Lincoln’s waters; it’s the only spot in Australia where you can do a cage dive tour with these predatory creatures! 
  • If the thought of shark-cage diving makes you squeamish, there’s plenty of other guided tours and adventures available in Port Lincoln. You could swim with the friendlier sea lions instead, or join a deep-sea fishing charter. 
  • Ocean lovers, there’s an endless array of activities to enjoy, from snorkelling, surfing, scuba diving, and swimming, to everything in between.
  • For those of you who enjoy nature and outdoor activities, you might want to check out Lincoln National Park. 
View of Kirton Point Jetty from Parnkalla Trail. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Kirton Point Jetty – seems to be a popular snorkelling area

Where is Port Lincoln & how to get there from Adelaide

The small city of Port Lincoln in South Australia is located at the southern end of the Eyre Peninsula.

From Adelaide, it’s about 650 kilometres, going north past the Yorke Peninsula, towards Port Augusta and then back down along the right edge of the Eyre Peninsula.

You can get there by car, roughly a 7-hour journey. Or, you can get there quicker by flying with Rex or Qantas; it’s just under an hour’s flight.

Charlie in front of ocean views along Parnkalla Trail (second section). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Charlie in front of a pretty ocean view along the Parnkalla Trail

The undulating terrain of the Eyre Peninsula

Having driven the entire length of the Yorke Peninsula, I kind of had this thought that the landscape of Port Lincoln and the rest of the Eyre Peninsula would be similar – very flat and open.

However, it wasn’t similar at all! We found the drive was like being on a rollercoaster, we were constantly going up and down. The good thing is that the highway is fairly straight and not winding.

Storytime: Experiencing car issues along the way

Just 50 kilometres out of Whyalla, our car’s Ultragauge started sounding an alarm, and an error code popped up. At the same time, our car stopped accelerating. What the heck!

What is an Ultragauge?

The Ultragauge is a scanning tool that connects to your car and monitors different engine parameters, displaying the information on a screen. It will sound an alarm if there’s something wrong or potentially could go wrong. 

This is not an ad for it or anything, lol. This is not by any means sponsored. I’m just explaining what it is! It’s been pretty handy actually.

We pulled over and tried to see if there was anything obvious. A gentleman stopped and tried to help us, but to no avail. When we googled the error code, we found a couple of likely causes.

We decided to drive back to Whyalla; we weren’t sure about driving to Port Lincoln with a car issue. However, the car started fine and seemed to run okay going back to Whyalla and driving around the industrial area. 

Risk it for the biscuit

My hubby and I talked the scenario over, and long story short, we made the decision to risk the 3-hour drive to Port Lincoln. To us, the code and the car’s behaviour didn’t seem to indicate complete engine failure or anything catastrophic.

As you can guess by this journal entry, we got there in the end!

We took it very slowly, although the constant hills didn’t help! It made us feel anxious the entire time. For the rest of the drive, the alarm and error came on again only once, but thankfully, the car didn’t have issues starting back up. 

Very hilly farmlands. Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Showing the undulating terrain of the area

Cracked MAPS filter

Our googling led us to believe it was a cracked MAPS filter. When we opened the hood, this filter and the area around it were splattered with black liquid. Apparently, this is something that can commonly occur and often!

Fortunately, when I got in touch with the guys at Rocket Repairs, they were able to fit us in for a quick look the next day. They confirmed it was a cracked MAPS filter. They were able to order a new one in, and it was sorted within a matter of days.

Silo Art in Cowell

Not dog-friendly 

Car dramas aside. If you enjoy viewing silo art, you might want to stop by the town of Cowell to see their huge hyper-realistic silo artwork of a local legend. 

Please note that the silos are located in a recreational area where dogs are not allowed.

The small seaside town of Cowell is about 106 kilometres south of Whyalla and 162 kilometres north of Port Lincoln.

Large Silo Art. Located in Cowell, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Large silo art at Cowell in the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

Map of the Eyre Peninsula

Map of Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. Created by Sheryl

Eyre Peninsula Journal Entries

Want to browse all of the Eyre Peninsula journal entries? Click here. If you would like to view an interactive Google Map of dog-friendly attractions, eats & drinks in this area, please visit my Dog-Friendly Aussie Map page!

About the port city Port Lincoln, South Australia

I feel like Port Lincoln is the type of destination that would please any type of traveller. There’s something for everyone—the experiences you can have range from more mellow activities like lunching at a winery to more adventurous ones like shark-cage diving!

Also, there are a few cute towns you could easily day trip to, like Tumby Bay or Coffin Bay.

Entrance to office at Port Lincoln Caravan Park, North Shields. Located near Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Check out the entrance at the caravan park’s entrance. Sharks are big deal in Port Lincoln!

One bit of history that stood out was learning that Port Lincoln was surveyed by Colonel William Light to be the capital of South Australia. However, it lacked reliable fresh water supply, among other negatives, and was rejected in favour of Adelaide.

If you’re from South Australia or have lived there for a while, can you imagine?

Boston Bay

Speaking of harbours, Port Lincoln is situated on Boston Bay, a harbour three times the size of Sydney Harbour and is one of the largest protected natural harbours in the world, according to the Port Lincoln website. 

We DID notice a lot of shops and brands had “Boston” or “Boston Bay” as part of their name.

Pretty Boston Bay views along trail near Port Lincoln Caravan Park, North Shields. Located near Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Boston Island & Bay views along the walk trail near the caravan park

The Port Lincoln landscape & city centre

Port Lincoln is quite a hilly area. Even travelling into the city centre, you’ll notice some gentle slopes, but once you venture into the countryside, you’ll find epic elevations. 

One thing I didn’t particularly like was driving around the city centre. While Port Lincoln is not a huge city, the CBD felt very compact and tight, and it always seemed busy.

There’s also a CRAZY amount of roundabouts that have weird lanes that suddenly end or have 5 or 6 roads coming off them. I must say, there’s some very odd intersections and roads in Port Lincoln.

A significant feature of the township is the large grain-handling facilities located at the edge of the foreshore. You’ll notice the giant grain silos and long green conveyor stretching into the bay.

The Parnkalla Trail (section near Grain Silos). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Grain-handling facilities at the bay

The best time to visit Port Lincoln in the Eyre Peninsula

Being a coastal town, I would say the best time to visit Port Lincoln is during the summer months. We visited from late October to mid-November, and it was still quite cold, cloudy, wet, and windy.

Although in saying that, this will be peak season and it might be very busy, so make sure to book any accommodation in advance.

If you’re planning on bushwalking, you might want to consider going in the spring or autumn months when it’s cooler during the day. When we explored Whaler’s Way Sanctuary in mid-November, it was windy and freezing, even with our jackets on.

Beach along the Port Lincoln Caravan Park, North Shields. Located near Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Beach near the Port Lincoln Caravan Park, North Shields

We noticed that it got windy most days, with the sea breeze starting to pick up in the mid-afternoon and sometimes getting quite strong. We only had a couple of days where it stayed relatively calm.

The daytime temperatures stayed between the high teens and low to mid twenties. We found that most of the time, the day would start off grey and gloomy and then the sun would come for a bit in the afternoon. It was cold at night though!

Charlie standing on a rock at Shelly Beach along Parnkalla Trail (second section). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Charlie at Shelly Beach

Where we stayed in Port Lincoln

We decided to stay at the caravan park in North Shields, just a short 10-minute drive north from the main town centre of Port Lincoln.

I was considering the Port Lincoln Tourist Park, which would have been slightly closer to the township, but I read a lot of reviews of people having a really difficult time getting their caravans level.

While we were walking the Parnkalla Trail, we walked past the Port Lincoln Tourist Park in person. It looked lovely, but most of the sites were indeed located on a slope. Something to be mindful of!

Port Lincoln Caravan Park, North Shields. Located near Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Rural but coastal environment

Port Lincoln Caravan Park, North Shields

Port Lincoln Dog-friendly caravan park
  • Website: plcp.com.au
  • Length of our stay: 21 nights
  • Time of year: Late October – Mid November
  • Type of site: Powered grass site
  • Site number: 34
  • Cost per night and total: $630 total, $30/night. There was no online booking form so I enquired over mail and confirmed the booking through phone. No deposit was required to secure the booking. We received a discount of 1 night free per week. 
  • Grocery shopping: Coles and Woolworths available in Port Lincoln town, along with  a large range of retail shops.
  • Phone and internet reception: No issues with Telstra phones and Nighthawk wifi router.
Our site at Port Lincoln Caravan Park, North Shields. Located near Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Large grass sites available

The pros of staying at Port Lincoln Caravan Park, North Shields

  • The rate per night is incredibly cheap, especially if you’re planning to stay more than a week. 
  • I think it’s a pro that it’s located slightly out of town, away from the hustle and bustle. 
  • It wasn’t particularly busy while we were there in late October to November. It felt quite relaxed and peaceful. 
  • It has a laid-back coastal rural feel where it overlooks the ocean but is also bordered by rolling farmland hills. We were literally only a few metres from the cliff edge and could see the ocean from our dinette window. 
  • It’s a larger-sized caravan park but doesn’t have a crammed/overcrowded feel. Everything is well spaced out with plenty of grass, bushes, and trees. 
  • The sites are extra roomy, fairly level, and separated by bushes/trees for privacy. 
  • There’s access to a small dog-friendly beach next to it, although it’s very gritty sand with shells. Not really the type of beach you’d walk along barefoot.
  • There is a paved walking trail that passes the caravan park and joins up to the Parnkalla Trail. It offers scenic views of the ocean and rolling farmland hills.
  • The Ampol Roadhouse next door serve surprisingly great coffee, on par with or better than some of the cafes in town! Their cabinet is usually full of delicious cakes, wraps, sandwiches, plus hot pies, sausage rolls etc. It also makes it easy to fill up when you’re running out of petrol.
Ampol Roadhouse next to Port Lincoln Caravan Park, North Shields. Located near Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Ampol Roadhouse next door
Custard tart from Ampol Roadhouse, North Shields. Near Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
The roadhouse serve surprisingly fantastic coffee and cakes

The cons of staying at Port Lincoln Caravan Park, North Shields

  • It is right on the Lincoln Highway, which can get a fair bit of traffic. It can get slightly noisy at 110 kilometres/hour, especially with heaps of trucks passing by. 
  • Being so close to the ocean, it can get quite breezy. It consistently got breezy towards the afternoon and evenings. 
  • This might be a con for some, but the area of North Shields is limited; it only has the Ampol Roadhouse and the Wheatsheaf Hotel (about 500 metres from the caravan park). The Wheatsheaf was very much like a local RSL, good for a cheap weekday meal. They mainly serve different types of schnitzels.  
  • The caravan park facilities are dated and need some TLC. This extends to some of the park grounds as well. 
  • They only have picnic shelters, no real camp kitchen or enclosed area where you can sit charging a laptop/phone. My hubby said that someone had left their laptop charging inside the communal bathroom underneath the sink.
Amenities at the Port Lincoln Caravan Park, North Shields. Located near Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Amenities need some TLC

Other things to note about Port Lincoln Caravan Park, North Shields

  • They have a large number of cabins, these looked a bit cramped and close together. They offer pet-friendly/dog-friendly cabins.
  • All of the oceanfront sites have hoses to spray off sea salt
  • They have a funny shark statue as their entrance. 
The Wheatsheaf Hotel, North Shields. Near Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
The Wheatsheaf Hotel
Chicken schnitzel at Wheatsheaf Hotel, North Shields. Near Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Chicken schnitzel; okay for a midweek cheap meal

Would we stay at Port Lincoln Caravan Park, North Shields again?

Aside from the highway traffic, it was actually not a bad caravan park. It was nice that the sites were so large, level and spaced out, and overall, it had a relaxed feel. 

Walking trail near Port Lincoln Caravan Park, North Shields. Located near Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
The walking trail near the caravan park has some nice scenery. Look at the crumbling!

Where to eat & drink in Port Lincoln

If you’re a foodie, Port Lincoln offers a plethora of superb venues. We’ve only just scratched the surface with this list. There’s plenty more venues you could visit in the area, all offering delicious food & drinks! 

Being a coastal city, I feel like sampling the locally caught seafood is a must on your visit. Unless you’re allergic or don’t like the taste, of course.

One: L’Anse French Café & Croissanterie

Port Lincoln Dog-friendly Cafe with outdoor seating

I didn’t take many photos of this place, and the single photo I did take doesn’t do the croissants justice.

L’Anse is located within a row of shops in the center of town, opposite Coles. It’s the end shop, and they have customer parking at the back.

The shopfront is unassuming and doesn’t show much personality. But once you step inside, it’s quite pretty and chic. It reminds me of a cafe or restaurant you’d find at a boutique hotel; at least, that’s the vibe I got!

Raspberry croissant from L’Anse French Café & Croissanterie. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Raspberry Croissant

This place is really popular; there was a constant stream of people coming and going. When we got there at 11:30 a.m., it was full inside. Out the front, they only have a few small 2-3 seater tables.

The croissants and pastries looked beautiful and tasted great. It would be best to get there earlier rather than later so you have more choice! My hubby ordered their cola ribs burger, which tasted delicious and was well presented.

Two: The Rogue and the Rascal

Port Lincoln Dog-friendly Cafe with outdoor seating

This seemed like a very popular funky little place. Every time we walked past, it was teeming with people. With only having a few tables out the front, we had to find elsewhere the first couple of times we tried to eat there. 

We managed a quick sneaky lunch though during the work week, and we were finally able to get a table outside. My hubby and I didn’t feel like much so we both just ordered burgers from their cabinet. 

Mushroom Burger at The Rogue and the Rascal. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Mushroom Burger

I had a mushroom burger with pesto, I love this combination and theirs had a great flavour. Simple but delicious. 

The Rogue and the Rascal have a wonderful brekkie/brunch menu with things like eggs benedict, smashed avo, bagels, nourish bowls and more. Plus, they have a cabinet stocked with sweet and savoury items. 

Three: Boston Bean Coffee Company

Port Lincoln Dog-friendly Cafe with outdoor seating

This cafe and store is slightly out of town towards more of an industrial area. Their contemporary building stands out with its wood paneling, sleek lines, and black trim. There are tables undercover available to the side of the building and bar seating at the front.

Boston Bean Coffee Company building. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Boston Bean Coffee Company building

I only popped in quickly to grab us some takeway drinks, after taking Charlie to the groomers.

According to my hubby, the coffee tasted great, and I can vouch for their sticky chai. I tried to order large-sized takeaway drinks, but they only offer this size if you bring your own keep-cup or purchase one of theirs. Otherwise, you’re stuck with just the small.

In terms of food, they have a small selection of cakes and sweet treats in a cabinet and along the counter. I think some of it is supplied by L’Anse French Café & Croissanterie.

Takeaway coffee and sweet treats from Boston Bean Coffee Company. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Takeaway coffee & sweet treats

Four: Cafe Chino’s

Port Lincoln Dog-friendly Cafe with outdoor seating

Cafe Chino’s is located across the road from the foreshore, near the town jetty and Makybe Diva Statue. We only grabbed takeaway hot drinks and a couple of biscuits from here. The drinks were okay and the biscuits were tasty, but so small for the price!

They do have a fair few tables out the front, and it’s a big venue inside. The service was kind of slow, but there were quite a few patrons dining. Their menu was pretty standard for brunch.

We chose to sit across the road at an empty picnic bench along the foreshore, overlooking the water. We had nice sunny blue skies so this was quite a pleasant spot.

Takeaway oat matcha latte and sweet treats from Cafe Chinos. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Takeaway coffee & sweet treats

Five: The Beach Bakery on King

Not dog-friendly

This bakery was located on the edge of the foreshore, towards Hotel Boston. I must admit, I’m a sucker for light, airy, boho aesthetics which The Beach Bakery on King has. 

When we got there, we realised that they didn’t actually have any outdoor seating available. Luckily, the venue is near the foreshore park which has a couple of picnic benches. 

The Beach Bakery on King in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
The Beach Bakery on King building

The Beach Bakery on King has multiple large cabinets filled with mouthwatering-looking sweet treats like cupcakes, donuts and pastries, as well as savoury options like pies, sausage rolls, sandwiches and salads.

We grabbed a custard bomb donut and sponge cake which both tasted nice. The hot drinks were a bit so-so. 

Coffee & sweet treats from The Beach Bakery on King in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
The Beach Bakery on King building

Six: The Ethical Kitchen

Port Lincoln Dog-friendly Cafe with outdoor seating (sometimes)

I visited this cafe by myself after doing some grocery shopping. I knew it was one that my hubby probably wouldn’t enjoy as much as some of the others!

The Ethical Kitchen cafe building. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
The Ethical Kitchen building

The Ethical Kitchen is located along Lewis St, diagonally opposite Lincoln Surf Co. They sometimes have 1 or 2 tables outside, without any shade or cover.

They serve a small selection of food; things like falafels, vegan burgers, curries, nourish and smoothie bowls. The cafe doubles as a shop where you can pick up ethical pantry, home, and bulk food items.

Vegan Burger from The Ethical Kitchen. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Pink Panther Vegan Burger

I ordered their Pink Panther vegan burger, which was a veggie patty, roast veggies, pesto, mayo, and chipotle sauce. It had plenty of flavour but was slightly gummy with the patty. The side salad of raw broccoli looked manky but tasted okay.

The highlight for me was the vegan caramel milkshake with coconut cream ice cream and oat milk. It was so delicious!

Vegan Caramel Milkshake from The Ethical Kitchen. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Caramel Vegan Milkshake

Seven: Beer Garden Brewing

Port Lincoln Dog-friendly Brewery, dogs welcome inside and outside

We popped into Beer Garden Brewing after a lengthy, tiresome walk along the first section of the Parnkalla Trail. A cool alcoholic beverage was definitely in order!

This laid-back microbrewery is located just outside of the town centre, on the corner of London and Stevenson St, and opposite the Port Lincoln Grain Terminal.

Beer Garden Brewing building. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Beer Garden Brewing building
Outside beer garden at Beer Garden Brewing. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Beer Garden

As with a lot of other breweries, Beer Garden Brewing is housed in a giant shed. It’s a large rustic casual space with plenty of seating outdoors and indoors, and a great ambience.

The venue is dog-friendly, where furry friends are welcome inside. Gotta love that. It’s also very family-friendly; they have a giant lawn with toys available for kiddos to play with.

Beer Garden Brewing has a stage inside and seems to host a lot of live bands, sing-alongs, and the like. You can check out their Facebook page to view their upcoming events.

Inside Beer Garden Brewing. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Inside the brewery

Beer & Food 

Beer Garden Brewing offer quality craft beers, they had about 8 beers on tap with a cider and seltzer available.

They serve a small selection of wood-fired pizzas Friday to Sunday and offer a limited all-day grazing menu with items like chicken wings, cheese boards, and antipasto platters.

We ordered a couple of pizzas, which were nice, but we thought the toppings were a little middle of the road. The bases did have a good wood-fired taste to them, and they weren’t floppy or falling apart.

Beer Tasting Paddle at Beer Garden Brewing. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Beer Tasting Paddle
Wood oven Pizzas at Beer Garden Brewing. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Wood oven Pizzas

Eight: Jump Ship Brewing

Port Lincoln Dog-friendly Brewery, dogs welcome inside 

I thought  Jump Ship Brewing was quite lovely with its industrial warehouse look balanced with lots of plants, light colours and plenty of retro modern artwork or local artwork on the walls. A downside is that it gets noisy with all of the concrete. 

Charlie outside the Jump Ship Brewing building. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Charlie outside Jump Ship Brewing Co
Inside Jump Ship Brewing. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Inside the brewery

It’s quite a large airy venue with plenty of seating inside. There’s hardly any outdoor seating but that’s okay because Jump Ship Brewing allows dogs inside! 

They’re also very family-friendly with games and play areas available inside for kids or those young at heart. They seem to also frequently host events and specials, so check out their Facebook page to see their latest news. 

Beer Tasting at Jump Ship Brewing. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Beer Tasting

Beer & Food 

The craft beers at Jump Ship Brewing are good quality, they had about 8 beers on tap with a cider and seltzer available. They served a lot of ales, from memory.

The brewery has a wonderful menu that offers tapas and smaller bites. For example, we had a mini feast of ham croquettes, Spencer Gulf prawns, pumpkin & gorgonzola arancini, chorizo & octopus skewers, chips and chicken & jalapeno bites.

Share plates at Jump Ship Brewing. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Chicken & Jalapeno Bites and Chips
Share plates at Jump Ship Brewing. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Spencer Gulf Prawns, Ham Croquettes, Pumpkin & Gorgonzola Arancini, Chorizo & Octopus Skewers

We enjoyed pretty much all of the dishes, they had great flavours, textures and were presented well. Except for the prawns, disappointingly, they had a chalky texture. Not what you would expect from a city that prides itself on their seafood!

We went in another time and I tried one of their desserts which was a chocolate cake with rum and raisin ice-cream. Even though it looked good; it was very bland, stale and dry. The ice-cream tasted like a cheap store-bought one. 

Dessert at Jump Ship Brewing. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Chocolate Cake with Rum & Raisin Ice-cream

Nine: The Fish Place

Not dog-friendly (sort of) 

One of the things that Port Lincoln is well known for is its fresh, quality, locally caught seafood. And, if you’re wondering where to buy some or eat some, you can do both at the Fish Place. 

This venue was recommended to us by so many locals, it was clear that we needed to try the seafood there. The Fish Place is located outside of the town centre, towards the industrial area of Port Lincoln. 

The Fresh Fish Place building. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
The Fish Place building with a small table out front

The unfortunate thing about this place though is that it’s not exactly dog-friendly.

I say ‘sort of’ because they had one small poxy table out the front of the building, basically at the car park. It was ridiculous. We left Charlie in the car for a little while as it was in the evening and cool. 

Inside The Fresh Fish Place. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Inside seating area with boho coastal decor for sale

Cafe, marketplace and retail store in one

The Fish Place is a cafe serving delicious seafood dishes, from fish and chips to prawn cocktails. For those who’d rather cook, it’s also a marketplace where you can shop fresh seafood, plus other pantry goods that compliment. 

They also sell a range of coastal boho decor and accessories, as well kitchen items. 

The Food

My hubby and I ordered a prawn cocktail to share. I got a flathead wrap because I didn’t feel like anything too oily. My hubby grabbed S&P squid and chips. 

When was the last time you had a prawn cocktail? It’s so 80s or early 90s. It tasted delicious and light. Everything tasted fresh and tasty, but mind you, it was expensive for the amount you receive. 

Seafood from The Fresh Fish Place. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Prawn Cocktail, Flathead Wrap, Salt & Pepper Squid and Chips

Ten: Hotel Boston

Port Lincoln Dog-friendly Pub with outdoor seating

I loved our visit to Hotel Boston; I couldn’t fault anything. We had a beautiful sunny day, and it was delightful sitting outside in their large beer garden with a gorgeous view of Boston Bay.

Hotel Boston is located on the corner of Porter Street and London Street, and backs onto Boston Bay with access to the beach and Parnkalla Walking Trail.

Hotel Boston building. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Hotel Boston building

There didn’t seem to be much parking around the hotel, and it was all full. We ended up parking at the Kirton Point Jetty Car Park and walking over via the Parnkalla Walking Trail, which was maybe just under a kilometre’s walk.

The venue is next to an industrial/wharf area, but they’ve got high walls that block out the view.

Sheryl walking Parnkalla Trail (section near Grain Silos). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Walking to Hotel Boston via the Parnkalla Trail

Their beer garden is fantastic, with a large lawn where you can grab one of their deck chairs and chill. They have a number of sheltered picnic benches around the sides (we sat under one of these), as well as plenty of tables and chairs closer to the building. They also have bar chairs underneath the trees next to their outdoor kiosk.

Beer garden with ocean views at Hotel Boston. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Beer garden with ocean views

One thing I remember distinctly is how dog-friendly they were. One of the lovely staff members came out and gave us a biscuit for Charlie, who gobbled it up in 2 seconds!

Beach in front of Hotel Boston. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Beach in front of Hotel Boston

The Food

As you would expect from a beachfront hotel, there’s a lot of seafood on the Hotel Boston’s menu. They offer quite an extensive range of dishes, from entrees, salads, pastas, burgers to mains.

If seafood isn’t your thing, don’t worry; they also serve other options like pork ribs, Korean fried chicken, and vegan garden burger, to name a few.

I ordered the lemon pepper calamari; it had a nice thin flavourful batter, a large serving of chips, and a small side salad. I did make a small note of it being on the slightly pricier side for the size.

Lemon Pepper Calamari from Hotel Boston. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Lemon Pepper Calamari

Eleven: West Coast Distilling Co.

Port Lincoln Dog-friendly Distillery & Cafe with outdoor seating

West Coast Distilling Co is a distillery, cocktail bar, and cafe all in one, located along Railway Place, near the Port Lincoln Railway Museum.

The renovated building, which used to be a fire station, makes for a unique space. Inside, the venue has an artsy and colourful vibe with its eclectic decor and beautifully vibrant choice of wallpapers and artwork.

The distillery rooms are small and have limited seating. I thought with the concrete flooring and warehouse-like feel, dogs might be allowed inside, but unfortunately, they aren’t. Outside, they have limited seating as well.

Hubby and Charlie outside West Coast Distilling Co building. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
West Coast Distilling building

The Drinks & Food

West Coast Distilling Co. offers a huge cocktail menu with pages and pages of delicious concoctions. It was kind of overwhelming for someone like me who’s incredibly indecisive when presented with too many options.

I settled on a Milo martini; I can’t quite remember, but I’m sure they used their own gin or vodka. The verdict? Yum. If you prefer sweet cocktails like this, they have plenty like it.

I was also famished, so the pastries on the counter looked incredibly tempting. We ended up ordering a Nutella cronut and a custard Danish. Both were so tasty; I’m hungry just conjuring up the memories!

West Coast Distilling Co is open from Wednesdays to Sundays. Along with fantastic drinks, they also serve coffee, delicious cakes, toasties, and dumplings. On the weekends, they team up with local food vans for more substantial options.

Check out their Instagram for their latest news on events, food, music, and much more!

Pastries & Cocktails at West Coast Distilling Co. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Nutella cronut, custard Danish & Milo martini

Fun attractions in Port Lincoln 

Winter Hill Scenic Lookout 

Port Lincoln dog-friendly lookout scenic lookout

This scenic lookout is located out of town. Take the Flinders Highway west and then turn right onto Winter Hill Drive. From memory, the road ends at the lookout, and there’s a small building with a tower.

The parking area is the lookout itself; there are no platforms or structures to climb. It offers a wonderful view of the township, Boston Bay, Boston Island, and the national park in the distance.

View from Winter Hill Lookout. Located in Port Lincoln. Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
View from Winter Hill Lookout

Parnkalla Walking Trail 

Port Lincoln dog-friendly walking trail

This is a long one-way stretch of walking trail that follows the Port Lincoln coastline.

You can grab a map from the Visitor Information Centre which tells you a little bit about some of the sites and attractions along the way. 

I can’t find the exact length of the entire trail but apparently from Axel Stenross Maritime Museum just north of the city centre, to Billy Lights Point, slightly south of the city centre, it is about 11 kilometres one way. 

Beautiful ocean scenery along Parnkalla Trail (second section). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Parnkalla Trail with beautiful ocean views (second section)

We broke it up into a couple of sections:

  • From Lions Picnic Spot to Port Lincoln Foreshore (first section which we did second; about 10 kilometres return or 5 kilometres one way). In all honesty, I didn’t like this section of the walking trail.
  • From Kirton Point Jetty to Mundy’s Mooring (second section which we did first; about 8 kilometres return or 4 kilometres one way). This was definitely the better side and offered much better scenery.

Kirton Point Jetty to Mundy’s Mooring

This section of the Parnkalla Trail offers easy walking along a fairly flat gravel path. There’s a couple of short stairs but nothing major. 

Hubby and Charlie walking the Parnkalla Trail (second section). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Parnkalla Trail with beautiful ocean views (second section)

Kirton Point Jetty is next to the grain-handling facility at the wharf or port, it has a small car park that generally doesn’t seem to get full. 

The trail is very close to the water at the start and goes past some beaches and people’s houses. It then goes into some bushland, but you get beautiful glimpses of the bay throughout. 

Path near homes along Parnkalla Trail (second section). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Walk trail nearby people’s homes and close to the water (second section)

Travel Tip

You might want to bring fly repellant or a head net, especially if it’s not super windy. We didn’t bring anything, and once we got to the bushland areas, they were all over us. They were sticky flies too. 

The path takes you past Shelly Beach, an industrial site (a bit chemical fume-y), a marine centre, a caravan park, fishing spots and boat ramps. 

It’s not picturesque the whole way but for most of the way, you have wonderful scenery. 

Charlie in front of cool retro map along Parnkalla Trail (second section). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Cool retro maps along the trail (second section)

You’ll find information boards, cute retro maps and benches along the trail, as well as a few stairs that lead down to the beach. 

Stairs leading down to the beach along Parnkalla Trail (second section). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Stairs leading down to the beach (second section)

Shelly Beach looked like a pretty little beach cove that seemed very popular, the car park was full and there were plenty of families there. We had to go down and have a quick look around!

View of Shelly Beach along Parnkalla Trail (second section). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
View of Shelly Beach from the trail (second section)

Our return point was Mundy’s Mooring (or North Point Reserve), this was actually a really lovely spot to take a break, sit down on a bench and admire a fantastic view of the ocean. It had a very tropical, island feel. 

Mundy's Mooring or North Point Reserve along Parnkalla Trail (second section). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Mundy’s Mooring or North Point Reserve (second section)

The reserve has a large lush lawn with a little beach at the front of it. It has plenty of trees and pretty gardens. The cool thing is that it’s a dog off-leash exercise area! What a beautiful place for dogs to have a good romp. 

Charlie off-leash at Mundy's Mooring or North Point Reserve along Parnkalla Trail (second section). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Charlie off-leash at Mundy’s Mooring or North Point Reserve (second section)

Lions Picnic Spot to Port Lincoln Foreshore 

Friends, I’m going to be honest, I did not like this section of the Parnkalla Trail. I wouldn’t do it again, given the choice.

The path follows the coastline, but it’s also right next to the Lincoln Highway, which gets busy. It didn’t feel relaxing having cars zoom past you at a close distance.

It was not like the other section where you’re surrounded by interesting bushland with peaceful ocean views. It felt very barren most of the way with not many scenic parts to it.

Hubby and Charlie walking Parnkalla Trail (first section). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Parnkalla Trail (first section)

Hence, I didn’t take many photos.

We started at the Lions Picnic Spot; this was one of the prettier locations along the walk.

At the park, there’s a large lush lawn, sail shades, plenty of picnic benches, a playground, and toilets. Plus, because of its ocean front position, it had excellent views of Boston Bay.

The walking trail at this section is still relatively easy but not as flat as the other section. It has a fair few steep hills along the way.

Lions Picnic Spot along the Parnkalla Trail (first section). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Lions Picnic Spot (first section)

It goes past the Axel Stenross Maritime Museum, a good spot to visit if you’re into nautical history. We also came across a bridge and signage where it had historical information about the water supply, if I recall correctly.

Just before the city centre, we climbed down a set of stairs that clearly no one had walked down in a while because the weeds were overgrown. The signage indicated that you could walk along the beach to the foreshore if the tide was low, as an alternate route.

I don’t recommend it. It was rocky, and everything was covered in slimy seaweed.

Rocky beach alternative path along Parnkalla Trail (first section). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Slimy alternative beach route (first section)

We finally got to the foreshore and walked along its length. We saw a lot of doggies playing along the beach. There were heaps of people brunching at the foreshore cafes because the sun was finally out again.

Along this area of the foreshore, there is a huge playground, large grass lawns, picnic benches, the beach, plenty of cafes. You can also see a statue of Makybe Diva, who won the Melbourne Cup three times in a row.

Charlie watching other dogs playing off-leash at the foreshore beach along the Parnkalla Trail (first section). Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Charlie watching other dogs playing off-leash on the foreshore beach (first section)

Caravanning with dogs: Services in Port Lincoln

I thought I would chuck this information in here for the dog parents travelling around Australia in a caravan. Being the largest retail and service town in the Eyre Peninsula, Port Lincoln is an excellent place to organise those much needed repairs!

Mechanic in Port Lincoln

Rocket Repairs

As mentioned earlier, we took our car into Rocket Repairs to sort out the cracked MAPS filter. They were friendly and accommodating! They are located near The Fresh Place, just outside of the town centre.

Caravan Servicing in Port Lincoln

KC Caravans

Our caravan was due for its 6-month service and so I booked one in with KC Caravans. 

Klatyn and his wife were friendly and the servicing seemed thorough. It was also done very quickly, which is handy when you live in your caravan full-time!

Their workshop is located at their property which is up some steep hills. They’re in a beautiful part of Port Lincoln with epic views of Boston Bay.

Charlie standing in front of the caravan. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Ziggy the Starcraft serviced by KC Caravans

Vet in Port Lincoln

Lincoln Veterinary Centre

Charlie was due for a health check-up, so I took him to Lincoln Veterinary Centre. This is located outside of the town centre, near The Fish Place. They were able to fit us in, and their service was fine.

Dog Grooming in Port Lincoln

Top Dog Boutique

Charlie’s coat was getting a bit unruly so I needed to book him somewhere for a full groom. I initially got in touch with one of the vets but they were busy and recommended Top Dog Boutique.

They were able to fit us in and were reasonably priced at $50. Their place is located outside of the town centre, in an industrial area of Port Lincoln.

Charlie inside Jump Ship Brewing. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Pre-groomed Charlie at Jump Ship Brewery
Charlie inside Jump Ship Brewing. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Freshly groomed Charlie at Jump Ship Brewery

Day trip out to Tumby Bay 

Eyre Peninsula dog-friendly travel

We took a drive north to the small sweet coastal town of Tumby Bay, the best place to visit for amazing street art.

Charlie in front street art by S. Lu titled "Where is Our Water?". Located in Tumby Bay, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Street Art titled “Where is Our Water?” by S. Lu at Tumby Bay in the Eyre Peninsula

Day trip out to Coffin Bay 

Eyre Peninsula dog-friendly travel

Another outing we did was to the peaceful Coffin Bay, known for its fresh oysters.

Secluded beach. Located in Coffin Bay, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Secluded beach at Coffin Bay in the Eyre Peninsula

Exploring Whaler’s Way Sanctuary 

Eyre Peninsula dog-friendly travel

We also spent a day at Whaler’s Way Sanctuary, a privately owned nature reserve at Port Lincoln. This is a dog-friendly location with a ruggedly beautiful coastline.

Swimmable rockpool (in better weather) at the bottom of the cliffs. Located in Whalers Way, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Swimmable rockpool (in better weather!) at Whalers Way in the Eyre Peninsula

And that’s a wrap!

I hope you’ve enjoyed exploring the beautiful coastal city of Port Lincoln and surrounds through this journal entry. 

It’s certainly a location that offers a wide range of amazing experiences. There’s something for everyone, whether your travel style leans towards drinking and dining, or you’re more into outdoor adventures!

Have you been to any of these places before? Please feel free to share your experiences in the comments or pop in any questions you might have; I’d love to hear from you. 

Safe travels and happy exploring! Thanks for joining me, hope to see you again!

Sheryl

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Pinterest Cover for Port Lincoln Post featuring West Coast Distilling Co Food & Drinks. Located in Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.

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