Whyalla is situated at the head of the Spencer Gulf in South Australia and is a fantastic place for a holiday. The town has its roots deep in the steel and ship building industries with the Iron Knob iron ore mine located about 70 kilometres inland and the BHP steel works located in the town. For the holiday maker there is much to offer. There is a calm water beach which is great for families as well a modern marina with 32 floating moorings for boats up to 13metres in length. The marina is the home of the Whyalla Sport Fishing club and the Whyalla Sailing Club and also provides a great venue for the charter fishing boats that operate from here. Whyalla is famous for its Snapper fishing and the National Snapper fishing championships are held here annually. There are also great launching facilities for visitors who bring their own boats to the region. Whyalla has a beautiful foreshore area which is a great attraction for families with kids.

The Whyalla maritime Museum was established in 1988. Its main focus is to preserve World War Two maritime memorabilia and also maintain an exhibit about naval history and BHP shipbuilding. The largest display is the HMAS Whyalla constructed in 1941 and was the first modern warship built in South Australia. Tours of the ship are available daily. Giant Cuttlefish congregate in the waters of Whyalla and every year between the months of May and August thousands of these creatures descend on the local coastline. These creatures grow up to 60 cm in length and reach up to 5kg in weight. The cuttlefish come to this region for their annual spawning and females with thousands of eggs attach them to rocky outcrops for the males to fertilize. There is a cuttlefish boardwalk that allows divers easy access to the water to view these fantastic creatures.

Whyalla is famous as a recreational fishing destination. There are fishing charters available or you can fish from the beaches, rocks or jetties. Blue swimmer crabs are around in abundance and wading through the shallows with a scoop net can produce a tasty meal. Whiting, Snook, Tommy Ruff and Garfish are among the most common catches. Whyalla has lots of accommodation, mostly in motel and hotel configurations.

Whyalla is different from the average holiday destination but still a great place to stay.

Whyalla