2D1N Hunt and Gather Seafood Experience

Welcome to the beautiful Eyre Peninsula! You will be meet and greet at the Port Lincoln Airport by your personal guide before driving 30 minutes from Port Lincoln for some hunting & gathering. Coffin Bay is an area of outstanding beauty, and is home to not only the world’s best oysters but also a variety of important species of flora and fauna. If the tides are in our favor, we will collect cockles (also known as vongole, pippis or clams) at low tide and these are fantastic eating, plentiful and easy to get and a personal favourite. This is where you’ll dig your toes in the sand to gather your own fresh seafood for lunch. We will be picking up some freshly harvested oysters straight from the rack and you’ll get the opportunity to ‘shuck’ them yourself. Head further up the coast, about half an hour drive, to one of the best pristine beaches on this coastline. It’s now off to dive for some fresh abalone, which is done by our guide. If you are up for challenge, get into a wetsuit and snorkel and dive (abalone diving subject to weather conditions). So, we have hunted for our bounty of the day – cockles, oysters and abalone, and it’s time for lunch! Call this our catch and cook, right on the beach, while you relax with a glass of local wine, beer or cold drink. Enjoy the opportunity to breathe in the freshest sea air while looking out for local dolphins and sea lions that frequent the area.

Afternoon is the best time for the fish to bite so we will be throwing in a line in one of the pure white surf beaches on this coast, to see if we can catch the fighting Australian Salmon, these are a great fish and fantastic fun to catch. This is unique surf-fishing/beach-fishing where you become fully involved with casting a line and trying to catch your own fish. This day wouldn’t be complete without a bit of excitement to get the adrenalin, it’s action time for some fun and exhilarating 4-Wheel Driving through the un-spoiled massive sand-dunes, right beside the coast. Take in the spectacular coastal scenery on your way to the Port Lincoln Hotel so you can freshen up for dinner.

Lastly, you will be accommodated in an Ocean View Suite at the new 4.5-star Port Lincoln Hotel, developed by tuna baron Sam Sarin. With the best waterfront rooms including sweeping views of Boston Bay, the hotel offers exceptional service with 24-hour in-house facilities, a swimming pool, gym and with 2 fantastic bars and restaurant, plus entertainment each weekend, your stay here will be very memorable. The evening is yours and there are plenty of options for dinner at Sarins Restaurant, Sharkey’s Bar, the Lounge or utilize the in-house room service. Café Del Giorno’s is another great Restaurant close by and there are a number of other options within walking distance to the Port Lincoln Hotel. There is also the option of having a private chef catering for you with the smorgasbord catch of the day.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and you will be picked up by your guide. Drive down to the industrial sector of Port Lincoln, the Flinders Ports Wharf. This wharf is South Australia’s main grain exporting plant as the natural deep-water harbour enables Port Lincoln to fully load grain carriers, up to the massive panamax class vessels. On average during a season, almost 3 million tonnes of cargo were moved through the wharf, totaling around $2.2 billion. This includes the majority of grain commodities (including wheat, canola, barley, peas and beans) harvested on the Eyre Peninsula and a huge proportion of the fresh seafood caught in South Australian waters. Often you will have the opportunity to view the unloading of a fishing boat, or fertilizer that has been imported or see the grains that are to be exported.

Next, visit Marina Wharf, home of the largest fishing fleet in the Southern Hemisphere, to see the diversity of Port Lincoln’s fishing industries and vessels. The local fishing industries include Bluefin Tuna, Hiramasa Kingfish, Spencer Gulf King Prawns, Blue Mussel, Southern Rock Lobster, and Sardines as well as smaller trailer boats used for Abalone, Southern Calamari, Snapper, Crabs and King George Whiting. Following with a hands-on, 45-minute tour of the Fresh Fish Place, where you will see the full process a fish goes through, from oceanto plate. Meet local fisherman as they drop off the catch of the day from all over the Eyre Peninsula, to the factory that includes our famous King George Whiting, Flathead, Garfish, Leather Jacket, Boarfish, Snapper, Nannagai, Shark, Mussels, Coffin Bay Oysters, Prawns, Squid, Crabs and lots more. At the end of the tour, sample a tantalizing selection of in-house smoked fish and pickled seafood. Locally made souvenirs are available here for purchase.

Lunch at Fresh Fish Place. Select your own fresh fish or shellfish from the pre-arranged menu and have this cooked to your taste. Enjoy seafood in the Capital Seafood Destination in Australia. After lunch, visit the diversity of the Port Lincoln National Park. From the naturally rugged and wild Sleaford Bay and the Southern Ocean to the tranquility of the Spalding Cove area and other beautiful beaches. You will get the opportunity to walk or beachcomb along the pristine beaches and we will be enjoying a 4WDriving adventure amongst the extensive sand-dunes. Sand-boarding across the massive sand-dunes, if you have never done this before it definitely makes you laugh and smile as you slide down a sand-dunes. Then we head to our next beach stop for another adventure to catch the Australian Salmon, Flathead or even some Salmon Trout. From here, we take you a short drive back to the Port Lincoln Airport for your departure early evening.