South Australia » Burra

Burra is an old copper mining town, with many historic buildings, pretty Cornish cottages and National Trust sites still remaining. The area is known as Burra Burra and has gained its name from both the Hindu meaning of Burra (great) and the Aboriginal meaning of Burra (creek). It is well worth buying the Discovering Historic Burra booklet as it details points of interest along an 11km walk as well as giving entrance into various National Trust Sites and museums.

Around the town you really get to see how the miners and other residents of Burra used to live. You can visit the Dugouts along the creek, Malowen Lowarth and other cottages on Paxton Square, as well as the Market Square Museum. The buildings are beautiful and the atmosphere is fantastic. You can also visit the Redruth Gaol, Burra Mine Museum and the Bon Accord Complex, which supplied the town’s water until 1966.

There is a selection of accommodation, although to make your stay that extra bit special you can stay in one of the old Cornish cottages on Paxton Square. This certainly gives you a trip and a stay to remember. There are also a number of places to eat, with most of the hotels serving food. You can get to Burra daily on the Greyhound Pioneers service to Sydney from Adelaide.

Port Lincoln
Port Lincoln is a major tuna fishing area, situated on the southern tip of the Eyre Peninsula. It is backed by the remarkable Lincoln National Park, which offers fantastic coastal landscape and some good surfing beaches. Just south of Port Lincoln, Cape Carnot has magnificent scenery, and nearby Sleaford’s Bay offers some fantastic beaches.

For those of you who like furry and fluffy creatures buy a permit and visit the Mikkira Koala Sanctuary. Those of you who aren’t afraid of a few sharp teeth hop aboard one of the cruises out to Dangerous Reef, which is a very popular breeding ground for Great White Sharks. You can also go cage diving if you are brave enough along with other activities.

Around the town there are several historic buildings that you can visit, including Mill Cottage, the Old Mill and Port Lincoln Hotel. Being a major tuna town there is also a tuna festival called Tunarama held in January every year.

There are plenty of accommodation places around the city including hostels and apartments, as well as a number of restaurants and other eating areas.

Quorn
Quorn is the ‘Gateway to the Flinders’ and is a pretty town that has an air of the past about it, and of its busy railway days. Although the railway is now closed there is a wonderful vintage tram which makes its way to the beautiful Pichi Richi Pass pulled by an old steam engine. You can also join a tour of the railway workshop, which has loads of great things to see. If you do decide to have a trip on the tram there are a number of great scenic walks once you get to Pichi Richi Pass, including the Heysen Trail and the Waukerie Creek Trail.

There are also a number of interesting walks around town, including walks around Devil’s Peak as well as Dutchman’s Stern. There is also rock climbing in the area, at Warren Gorge and plenty of other things to do.

There is a small selection of accommodation in the town, and you can get food from the various pubs.

Wallaroo
Wallaroo is a port town that exports various agricultural products, now that the mining has finished. However, one of the large mining chimneys still stands, aptly named the ‘big stack’. There is also an interesting Heritage and Nautical Museum where you can find out about the ships that sailed to the area. You can also take the Heritage Walk around the town, where you can find out more about the town’s history as well as take part in other attractions in the area.

Wallaroo offers a number of places to stay including several hotels and a campsite. Most of the hotels have their own restaurants, although there are also a few cafes and snack bars in the town.

Semaphore
If you prefer large, sandy beaches then you'll find them at Semaphore and nearby Largs Bay. Semaphore is an historic seaside resort, offering nice walks, bicycle rides, restaurants and attractions, including an International Kite Festival and the Miniature Steam Train (operating during school holidays).

Largs Bay is a quiet resort, and home to numerous species of coastal plant life. Like the other resorts its also historic, being the last remaining area that is home to the Red Capped Plover coastal colony.

If you prefer boats, then visit North Haven, where you can either watch the yachts or take part in some sailing yourself.

Quorn
Quorn is the ‘Gateway to the Flinders’ and is a pretty town that has an air of the past about it, and of its busy railway days. Although the railway is now closed there is a wonderful vintage tram which makes its way to the beautiful Pichi Richi Pass pulled by an old steam engine. You can also join a tour of the railway workshop, which has loads of great things to see. If you do decide to have a trip on the tram there are a number of great scenic walks once you get to Pichi Richi Pass, including the Heysen Trail and the Waukerie Creek Trail.