Flaherty Beach was our stop on the way from the brewery in Minlaton to Corny Point, on the second afternoon of the Yorke leg. A 4WD-only track drops through the dunes, and at the bottom is a wide white beach with shallow turquoise water, sand bars and, between Christmas and New Year, what looked like half the peninsula parked on the sand with their gazebos up.
What we like
- Park on the sand by the water
- Turquoise shallows and sand bars
- Free, no permit needed
- Short drive from Minlaton
What we don’t
- Busy in the summer holidays
- No camping or sleeping overnight
- No facilities on the beach
About Flaherty BeachAbout
Flaherty Beach is on the north coast of the foot of the Yorke Peninsula, near Point Turton and Hardwicke Bay, on Southern Guuranda, home of the Widhadha, the shark, to the Narungga people. It faces north across the water to Point Turton, and the water is shallow a long way out, with sand bars and pools at low tide, so it’s a calm beach rather than a surf one. It’s free, but it’s a beach for the day: the track is for 4WDs only, and the signs at the top make it clear there’s no camping or sleeping overnight, with fines if you try.
Quick facts
- AddressFlaherty Beach, Point Turton, Yorke Peninsula, SA, AustraliaSee on the trip map →
- Phone receptionPatchy
- FacilitiesBeach AccessFishingParkingNo ToiletsNo BinsNo Drinking WaterNo CampingNo Shade
- Good to know4WD only, soft sand5 km/h on the trackNo camping or sleeping overnight
- FeesFree
- 8.2/10Overall rated
Getting There
From Minlaton, head south-west towards Warooka and the foot, and turn off towards the coast at Flaherty Beach. The last stretch is a sandy track through the dunes, 4WD only, and you’re asked to keep it to 5 km/h on the way in; there was also a state algal bloom notice saying the beaches were open. The sand is soft and the track is single-lane in places, and in the holidays there are cars coming up as you go down, so drop your tyres before you start and give way where you can.
On the BeachOn the beach
At the bottom the track opens onto the sand, and the beach runs a long way in both directions. People drive along the top of the beach, pick a spot and park facing the water with an awning or a gazebo out. The water is clear and turquoise over white sand and stays shallow a long way out, with sand bars and pools that change with the tide. It was the busiest beach we saw on the peninsula, and still there was room.
If you’d rather walk in, a path leads through the dunes from the top of the track, past the Narungga Caring for Country board asking visitors to respect the place and leave no trace.
Things to Do NearbyThings to do
Watsacowie Brewing Company in Minlaton was our stop just before the beach, and Corny Point Lighthouse was our next stop, on the north-west corner of the foot, before our night at Daly Head. The rest of the leg is in our Yorke Peninsula guide.
Summary
A free 4WD-only beach near Point Turton with wide white sand, turquoise shallows and your car parked by the water. Drop your tyres before the track, keep to 5 km/h on it, bring shade and water, and leave before dark: there’s no camping.
Flaherty Beach is the Yorke Peninsula’s beach-day car park.
A 4WD-only sandy track drops through the dunes onto a wide white beach with shallow turquoise water and sand bars, and between Christmas and New Year it was lined with 4WDs and gazebos. Come for the day: there’s no camping, and you’ll want the car beside you for shade and supplies.
- 4WD tourers
- Families
- Day trips
Yes, if you have a 4WD. It’s free, it’s a short drive from Minlaton, and parking on the sand beside turquoise shallows is the best kind of beach day.
Recommended Gear for Flaherty Beach
A tyre deflator before the track and a compressor for the road out. The track is soft and busy in the holidays, so a recovery kit and a folding shovel are worth having in the back if someone gets stuck in front of you.
