SA Weekend Getaway: Black Point

Sometimes, you just want to get away and it doesn’t really matter where you go or what you do.  After being cooped up in the house for three months during the peak of South Australia’s coronavirus restrictions, this was exactly how we felt.

Luckily, SA’s restrictions were eased slightly, just in time for June long weekend, allowing for intrastate travel and camping.  A change of scenery was exactly what we needed and while I was still a little apprehensive, I was very excited to see our friends in person and take a short break.

Black Point

Black Point, on the eastern side of the Yorke Peninsula, is about a 2-hour drive from Adelaide and is a nice spot for a short weekend getaway.  There are a lot of walking trails throughout the Peninsula and it is a popular spot for fishing.  In the warmer months I’m sure the swimming is great, but it was cold this winter and we stayed firmly on dry land.  

Yorke Peninsula is shaped like a leg with the foot pointing west; Black Point is near its calf.  The area has a beautiful, east facing and quiet beach, with dozens of shacks and beachfront houses lining the bay.  The sunrise over the beach was spectacular and made for a nice change to watching sunsets over Adelaide’s west-facing metropolitan beaches.

The Black Point Camping Ground has 13 powered sites, with 5 overlooking the beach.  Most of the sites are for caravans, but there are three tent sites are on a small grassy area in the back corner.  The campground was clean, and our camping neighbours were all very friendly.  I think everyone was just super happy to be out of the house.  The new toilet block was completed just before we arrived.  It was clean and hot water available in the showers as long as you got up early enough to beat the rush.

We booked all three tent sites for two couples in an effort to ensure physical distancing in our space and it allowed for a pretty good glamping set up.  Between the two tents we had two gazebos pushed together, some heaters and a fire pit.  While we were next to a road, it was a quiet residential road so there wasn’t a lot of noise or traffic, except in the morning when there were a few people heading down the boat ramp. 

Watsacowie Brewing Company

The Watsacowie Brewing Company, located in Minlaton (inland a bit from the shin and about where the top of the laces on a hiking boot would be), is a great small country craft brewery inside a large shed.  Inside there are tables and a fireplace off to the back near the door to the back pergola and toilet block.  

Coronavirus restrictions meant we had to book in for an allotted time, and only those with bookings were allowed past the gate.  The Watsacowie Cellar Door hosts various caterers during the weekends, so we were able to order a BBQ meal deal for the table from TnT BBQ to go along with our three tasting paddles, including cheeseburgers, brisket burgers and wings.

Port Vincent

Port Vincent is south of Black Point and directly east of Minlaton.  It is a small town with a nice bay and large marina.  From the Marina, one of the many walking trails takes you through native bushland up to the cliff top lookout, overlooking the Marina, Port Vincent, and the Gulf of St Vincent.

There is another caravan park and several holiday homes in the town, along with the obligatory pub.

The Essentials

Getting There

The drive to Black Point from Adelaide is easy, and Port Wakefield makes an excellent stopping point for petrol, bathrooms, and bakeries.  However, Port Wakefield gets packed on long weekends and it often creates a bottle neck, particularly on the return journey.  Traffic heads into Port Wakefield from both the Yorke Peninsula and further north from Port Pirie/ Eyre Peninsula.  On the way home you from Yorke, you have to cross the traffic returning from the north on the Princes Highway.  We left much later than planned and we were backed up almost to Port Arthur on the way home; it took us about an hour to go 10 km.  

From Adelaide, take the National Highway A1 towards Port Wakefield.  After a quick stop at one of the bakeries, leave the A1 for the Copper Coast Highway, then turn left onto the St Vincent Highway.

Costs

Black Point Camping Ground has 13 powered sites.

• Sites 1-8 are $25 per night for 2 guests
• Sites 9-13 (those overlooking the beach) are $30 per night for 2 guests
• Extra adults are $10 per night
• Extra children are $5 per night