Tiparra Rocks was our first stop on the second morning, a few minutes south of our night at The Bamboos on the way down to Port Victoria. We drove in along the sandy track, had a look at the sites and the beach, and carried on south, and it showed us more of what the west coast does so well: white sand, turquoise water and hardly anyone around.
What we like
- Camp on the sand behind the beach
- Clear water over the rock shelf
- Close to Moonta for supplies
- $20 a night per vehicle
What we don’t
- No toilets, water or bins
- No fires in summer
- Soft sand on the way in
About Tiparra Rocks CampgroundAbout
Tiparra Rocks is one of the 19 Yorke Peninsula Council bush campgrounds, on the west coast between Moonta Bay and Balgowan. The sites are on the sand among low dunes just behind the beach, with a sandy track running along the top of the shore between them, and the beach itself has a rock shelf running out into clear water, which is where the name comes from and where the fishing is.
As with every council camp, you book a permit online before you come. It was $20 a night per vehicle when we checked, plus a booking fee, and it only covers the one campground; camping without one can cost you a $312.50 fine.
Quick facts
- AddressTiparra Rocks Bush Campground, Yorke Peninsula, SA, AustraliaSee on the trip map →
- Phone receptionPatchy
- FacilitiesBeach AccessFishingCamper Trailer AccessNo ToiletsNo Drinking WaterNo BinsNo ShowersNo PowerNo Campfires
- Good to knowPermit online, $312.50 fine withoutSandy track inMaitland Showground for rubbish
- Fees$20 a night per vehicleplus a booking fee
- 7.8/10Overall rated
- Book your site
Getting There
From Moonta Bay, take the coast road south towards Balgowan and turn off at the Tiparra Rocks sign onto a gravel road to the coast. The last stretch is a sandy track through low scrub, and the sites are soft sand, so drop your tyres before you commit.
The Campsites
The sites are cleared patches of sand between the dunes and the beach, with scrub between them for a bit of shelter and the water a few steps away. A couple of campers were set up when we came through, with plenty of empty sand between them. It’s open to the sea breeze, so an awning or a windbreak on the water side helps.
A shingleback lizard was sunning itself on the track as we drove in, which is the kind of traffic you get out here. Take the sandy tracks slowly for their sake.
Things to Do NearbyThings to do
Port Victoria to the south has the jetty, the pub and the foreshore kiosk with air refills, and past it Second Beach is the first beach on the west coast you can drive onto. Moonta Bay to the north has the jetty, a supermarket and fuel, and The Bamboos, where we spent the night before, is the next council camp up the coast. The rest of the leg is in our Yorke Peninsula guide.
Summary
A sandy camp right behind a rock-shelf beach with turquoise water, and Moonta close by for supplies, for $20 a night. There are no toilets or other facilities, so come self-contained, drop your tyres for the sand, bring water and leave the firewood at home in summer.
A sandy bush camp right behind a rock-shelf beach with turquoise water, a short drive from Moonta for supplies.
There are no toilets or any other facilities, so it suits fully self-contained campers, but for $20 a night the beach out front is hard to beat.
- 4WD tourers
- Anglers
- Campers
Yes, if you’re self-contained. $20 a night for a site on the sand with the beach in front, and Moonta close for a resupply.
Recommended Gear for Tiparra Rocks
The track in is sand, so a tyre deflator comes out at the gravel. Carry your water in good water containers, use our Kings 270 Tourer awning for shade and a windbreak on the open sand, and a camp shower rinses the salt off after the rock shelf.
