Attractions

  • Tumby Bay

    Address:
    Tumby Terrace, Tumby Bay SA, Australia .

    In a world where time and genuine friendliness are becoming more difficult to find, I can recommend a journey in our direction to experience the simple pleasures of being able to relax, make new friends and enjoy a look at what Tumby Bay has to offer.  Whether you travel on or decide to stay, I’m sure that like us Tumby Bay locals, you will appreciate the quiet freshness in which our day-to-day lives function – that sense of well-being that feels familiar and safe and satisfying.

    Tumby Bay is a beautiful coastal township of 1200 residents, who have chosen to establish livelihoods, raise families and retire in a safe and serene environment.

    Where the ocean meets our shoreline, you will find a relaxed yet well-appointed town and district with all the

    amenities and access to adventures that form pleasurable living, together with  the openness to accommodate visitors and wanderers.  This is a community where peace and potential abound, and which those who value family, friendship, fun and future are happy and proud to call their home.

    Eyre Peninsula travelers, who base themselves in Tumby Bay can enjoy an endless 10km stretch of white beach with a wide choice of ways in which to experience the bay.
    In a temperate climate without excesses, and a relaxing friendly environment, your holiday becomes a choice of

    easy day drives to a diversity of places such as Coffin Bay, the City of Port Lincoln or the Koppio Smithy Museum to name just three.   

    Immersing yourself in the many facets of Eyre Peninsula, gifts a richness of encounters, brilliant memories and a welcoming place to return to.

    We have developed this website to help visitors to Tumby Bay find accommodation, where to eat, and what to do and see.

  • Colour Tumby Street Art Festival

    Address:
    Tumby Bay SA, Australia .

    COLOUR TUMBY STREET ART FESTIVAL

    Colour Tumby Street Art Festival returns in 2019 bigger and better thanks in large part to an Australian Government grant via the Building Better Regions Fund, along with local and national sponsorships.

    2019 will see 11 wonderfully talented street artists visit Tumby Bay from across the globe including two local street artists collaborating together for the first time, a couple of returning favourites, and some new world class artists all coming together over the weekend.  These artists are certain to ensure a memorable event on the South Australian calendar.

    As well as that world class artist line up, this year there will be a full and impressive program for the local community and visitors alike.  Thanks to Optus and their state-of-the-art LED movie screen there are free movies on Tumby Bay foreshore, an opening night at The Hub with great food, music, drinks and merchandise available.  Saturday sees “Tapas with Friends” return to The Hub after last year’s success.  An exciting live concert at the Soldier’s Memorial Hall with Melbourne rockers Kingswood is sure to be a huge hit, supported by SA bands Junior and Ripcord.

    Free silent discos for the event’s younger attendees will be hosted by and thanks to Tumby Bay’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC).  A couple of later night adult silent discos will also be held on Friday and Saturday.

    Event organisers are delighted this year to also welcome the involvement of the local Barngarla people for an exciting collaboration with Australian large scale portrait specialist Adnate, returning for his second appearance at Colour Tumby Street Art Festival.  Adnate will visit Port Lincoln prior to the event to discuss and develop this project with Barngarla representatives.  Barngarla artist Vera Richards will be working alongside Adnate for this mural.  Everyone is incredibly excited to see the final result of this special collaboration.

    Local school children will be more involved this year with a free “Paint-By-Numbers” mural at Tumby Bay Area School by French artist Choq.  Some of the school students have also decorated a “Roaming Piano” that will be strategically placed around Tumby Bay during the event for anyone to jump on and play.  Also returning from last year is “Chalk the Walk” on Tumby Bay Foreshore walking trail. Multi-coloured chalks will be available for all to show off their creative side and decorate the path for the three days of the festival.

    The festival opens on Friday 12th April and runs through to Sunday 14th April.  Booking your accommodation and travel in advance is advised.
    Festival Program

    FRIDAY 12 APRIL 2019
    10:00 AM – Live Painting (All Day)
    4.00 PM – Guided Street Art Tour (from The Hub)
    4.00 PM – Foreshore Movie on the Optus LED Screen (Tumby Bay Foreshore)
    6:00 PM – Official Opening including Welcome to Country, Food and Drinks Stalls and Music (The Hub)
    10.30pm – Adult Silent Disco (The Hub)

    SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2019
    10:00 AM – Live Painting (All Day)
    10.00 AM – Chalk the Walk (Foreshore Walking Trail)
    12:00 PM – Guided Street Art Tour
    2.00 PM – Free Kids Silent Disco hosted by Tumby YAC (Tumby Bay Area Middle School Courtyard)
    3:00 PM – Guided Street Art Tour
    5.00 PM – Tapas Night (The Hub)
    7.00 PM – Live Music with Kingswood, supported by Ripcord and Junior (Soldiers Memorial Hall – doors open at 6.00PM)
    11.30 PM – Adult Silent Disco (The Hub)

    SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2019
    10:00 AM – Live Painting (All Day)
    10.00 AM – Chalk the Walk (Foreshore Walking Trail)
    10.00 AM – Magic FM Live Radio Broadcast 10am to 1pm (Tumby Bay Foreshore)
    12.00 PM – Free Kids Silent Disco hosted by Tumby YAC (Tumby Bay Area Middle School Courtyard)
    12:00 PM – Guided Street Art Tour
    3:00 PM – Guided Street Art Tour
    4.00 PM – Foreshore Movie on the Optus LED Screen (Tumby Bay Foreshore)
    6.30 PM – Blue Planet 2 followed by a presentation and Q&A with experienced and entertaining submarine pilot Mark “Buck” Taylor. On the Optus LED Screen (Tumby Bay Foreshore)

    Colour Tumby is a community wide strategic plan set by the Tumby Bay Progress Association to enliven Tumby Bay.

    Colour Tumby is about identifying, creating and delivering a range of community projects that will have significant social and economic benefits for our community. We also want to be promoting Tumby Bay’s image of being progressive and innovative to achieve this.  

    It is also about creating community wide projects to engender a greater community spirit that will leave a lasting benefit.

  • Leafy Seadragons

    Address:
    Tumby Bay SA, Australia .

    Diving with Leafy Seadragons Tumby Bay!

    Among the pylons and weed beds thrives an abundance of life!

    When I first moved to Tumby Bay, it was the impressive undersea life of the area that had me reaching frequently for my scuba gear.   Among the pylons and weed beds thrives an abundance of life,  providing in the clear, calm water, a diving mecca for scuba and snorkelling enthusiasts, who can observe the mysterious striped pyjama squid, wobbegong shark, numerous nudibranchs, common day octopus, southern rock Lobster, giant cuttlefish, short-headed sea horse and the awesome but deadly blue ring octopus.

    This pleasurable pastime became a passion, after my first sighting of the elusive leafy seadragon, an experience many divers recall vividly and with delight. Floating as insignificantly as a piece of loose plant, this glorious creature and its effortless grace has enchanted me ever since. With a newly-purchased underwater camera, each visit to their realm had me planning my return, as each dive concluded.

    Despite their amazing ability to blend with the environment in which they live, breed and feed, I have become familiar with each individual of the small, healthy population of ‘Leafys’ that live in Tumby waters.   So far I have documented 14 individuals, including the progress of a large male laden with eggs through to their hatching and growing up.   It has taken a little effort, a keen eye and great care over a regular frequency of dives, to capture a rich treasure of photographs and details, and I have become very attached to the leafy seadragons of Tumby Bay.

    I consider myself very fortunate to have this wonder of the world right here on my doorstep, and have enjoyed showing the area’s diversity and enchantments to many friends and fellow divers. Tumby will always be a special place for me.

    Jamie "Yook" Coote
    www.redbubble.com/people/yook
    yook.coote@gmail.com
    Ph. 0472 625 735

  • Koppio Smithy Museum

    Address:
    1385 Koppio Rd, Koppio SA 5607, Australia .

    SCENIC ROUTE TO A STUNNING RE-COLLECTION

    Beautifully set among the scenic hills of Lower Eyre Peninsula are the 2.5 acres of Koppio Smithy Museum. Central to all travel plans in the area it can be reached from   any  direction   with   an  enjoyable   drive   through peaceful  country  of  rolling  hills  and  interesting  places. It is well worth your visit.

    Over the past 40 years, National Trust volunteers have established what is really a village encompassing the area’s heritage. Their work in collecting, researching and restoring these buildings, vehicles, machinery and artifacts has created a place of value and amazing interest for all ages. In fact you enter this remarkable Museum through the old country store of 1910, which once stood in Liverpool Street Port Lincoln.

    Of significant interest is the Koppio School, built in 1934 and the last of its kind on the Peninsula. In its single room, one teacher taught seven grades right up till its closure in 1970, when it was transported over 2 kilometres of road to the museum using wooden sleighs and four tractors. Displayed now as an historically furnished classroom, it delights many visitors. Also furnished in true historic style is the 1890’s Pug and Pine Cottage, now beautifully restored from the crumbling shell relocated from about 60 kilometers away.

    The centrepiece of the museum is The Blacksmith’s Shop, built by Tom Brennand in 1903 to service the horse and bullock  teams  of  newly  occupied  farm  settlements.  His
    ‘Smithy’ and stone cottage represent the remarkable spirit of early Eyre settlers which can be experienced throughout this wonderful museum.

    Pioneering is hard work, so you may want to take a break and enjoy your lunch or BBQ if you brought it along, at the restful picnic area. Or perhaps a hot pie, cold drink or icecream from the museum shop. You are also welcome to use the modern 40-seat function room, complete with kitchenette and toilet facility, all disabled-friendly.

    As  you  continue  your  museum  meander,  watch  for  the Wheat Agent’s Shed, White Flat Post Office building, and the unbelievably small Bank of Adelaide building from Ungarra. Other sheds house all manner of heritage trucks, cars, machinery and equipment which it’s doubtful we’ll see the like of again, particularly those purpose-made by desperate and ingenious pioneers. This includes a WWII Army tank, driven from Melbourne to Port Lincoln by road, and used for scrub clearing in the late 1940’s.

    Throughout these displays the presence of women is subtle, until you get to the Pioneer Women’s Room, where their hard lives are evidenced with open cooking fires, laundry boilers and hand-sewn clothing that was repaired and re-fashioned for usually 11 or more children. Many descendants of these families still live on the Eyre Peninsula, and it is indeed the family - and visitor-friendly nature of this amazing museum, that contributes to its ambience and continuing successes. Every display, of which only a few have been mentioned here, rises from the dedicated work of all involved and thus continues the ethics of our settlers.

    So plan a day at the Koppio Smithy Museum and enjoy the journey – a scenic route to some stunning re-collections.

  • King George Whiting

    Address:
    Tumby Bay Jetty, Spencer NSW, Australia .

    The world-famous King George whiting, regarded by many people as a contender for the title of Australia's best eating fish. Arguably placed into anybodies top half dozen.

    King George Whiting is a magnificent fish to catch. At Tumby they are relatively easy to locate, often caught from the jetty and from many different feeding grounds along the coast and at the groups.  The King George whiting is one of South Australia’s most important food fishes, comprising approximately 27 per cent of the total annual commercial catch of inshore fishes.

    Whiting are fussy feeders moving around quickly sucking in, then spitting out interesting morsels. All you feel is the quick sudden tug of the line as the fish samples your bait, but just as quickly spits it out again if it looks or tastes a bit suss. When the tide and weather is perfect, and you find a school that is feeding, the action on board the boat is furious.

    There is only one thing better than catching a King George Whiting. Eating one!

    Tumby Bay is regarded as not only one of the best places in the world to catch the King George Whiting, it is also a favourite destination to consume this magnificent fish. No visit to Tumby is complete without sampling this tasty fish.

    Every day of the year, our local chefs at Tumby are proud to present our local delicacy.