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Arno Bay, South Australia - Mangrove Boardwalks, Jetty Views & Red Cliffs on the Eyre Peninsula
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Arno Bay, South Australia - Mangrove Boardwalks, Jetty Views & Red Cliffs on the Eyre Peninsula
Tucked away on the eastern side of the Eyre Peninsula, Arno Bay is a small, laid-back coastal town in South Australia. Set on the shores of Spencer Gulf, around 530 kilometres from Adelaide, this small seaside town is known for its fishing, beautiful beaches and easy country hospitality.
During our stay in Arno Bay, we explored the foreshore and jetty, enjoyed fish & chips from the Jetty Cafe and wandered along the Estuary Boardwalk. We admired the views from the boat harbour lookout and discovered Redbanks Beach.
Arno Bay Foreshore, Super Shed & Jetty
Arno Bay’s foreshore is the heart of town and a lovely place to begin exploring. There’s a spacious grassy park with picnic tables, barbecues and public toilets, along with a fantastic playground featuring a half basketball court and an inflatable bouncing pillow under shade sails — ideal for families travelling with kids. Just across from the playground sits the historic Super Shed, once used in the early 1900s to store goods before they were shipped from the jetty. Today, it houses an interesting collection of historic photographs and visitor information, giving a glimpse into Arno Bay’s maritime and farming heritage.
Stretching out into Spencer Gulf, the Arno Bay Jetty has long been central to life in town. Originally built in 1882 and extended in 1905 and again in 1912 to reach 370 metres, the jetty today measures 210 metres and remains a favourite spot for recreational fishing. It’s easy to see why anglers love it here, with the chance to catch King George Whiting, Australian Salmon, Mulloway, Mullet, Flathead, Garfish, Tommy Ruff and squid.
Fish and Chips by the Jetty
One of our favourite simple pleasures in Arno Bay was lunch from the Jetty Cafe. Open daily from 7.30 am, the cafe serves Boston Bean coffee, takeaway meals, ice cream, groceries, bait, tackle and more — a handy little hub for both locals and travellers. We enjoyed fish and chips and calamari and chips overlooking the foreshore and jetty, and honestly, it’s hard to beat seafood by the sea.
Right beside the jetty is the Arno Bay Caravan Park, with direct beachfront access and sweeping views over the bay. It offers powered and unpowered sites, cabins, barbecue facilities, laundry amenities and a fish cleaning station, making it a great base for a longer stay.
Historic Arno Bay Hotel
The two-storey Arno Bay Hotel, built in 1911, is another local landmark full of character. Open daily from noon, it offers cold drinks, hearty lunches and dinners, as well as accommodation. We stayed in our motorhome at the unpowered campground behind the hotel, and it’s a terrific budget-friendly option for self-contained caravans and motorhomes.
Camping costs just $20 for up to three days, and includes a $10 voucher to use at either the hotel or Jetty Cafe when you spend $20, while the other $10 supports the Arno Bay Progress Association. There’s also a dump point and potable water available, which makes it especially convenient for road trippers.
Wandering the Estuary Boardwalk
Heading south from the hotel, we discovered one of Arno Bay’s real hidden gems — the award-winning Estuary Boardwalk. This beautiful network of boardwalks winds through dense mangroves, mudflats and samphire grasslands, crossing small tributaries beside the main estuary waterway. It showcases the pristine beauty and diversity of the Arno Bay estuary and offers a peaceful place to slow down and take it all in.
There are several kilometres of boardwalks to explore. Taking the left-hand boardwalk from the carpark leads through sand dunes to the beach, with wonderful coastal views along the way. At the rear of the carpark, the Mangrove Boardwalk brings you even closer to this fascinating environment. As we wandered through, we spotted crabs and fish moving in the water below, and there are several fishing spots, viewing platforms and seats along the route to pause and enjoy the surroundings. There are also picnic shelters, barbecues and public toilets near the carpark, making it easy to spend a few relaxing hours here.
Harbour Views and Boating on Spencer Gulf
At the northern end of town, Arno Bay Harbour is a popular hub for fishers and boaties. The harbour features a well-equipped double-lane boat ramp, floating pontoon and ample parking, providing easy access to the sheltered waters of Spencer Gulf. These waters are rich in marine life, with opportunities to catch whiting, snapper, flathead, squid and blue swimmer crabs. Beside the harbour, the Arno Bay Lookout offers sweeping views over the coastline and Turnbull’s Beach — a lovely spot for taking in the scenery.
Redbanks Beach — Stunning Red-Cliffs & Camping
Just 7 kilometres north of town along a fully sealed road lies one of the region’s standout natural attractions — Redbanks Beach. With striking red cliffs rising around 10 metres above the shore, wide sandy beaches and clear waters, it’s a spectacular stretch of coastline. The cliffs, sculpted by wind and waves over some 125,000 years, give the beach its name and create a dramatic backdrop unlike anywhere else nearby. It’s a wonderful place for swimming, beach fishing, or simply enjoying a long walk along the shoreline.
We stayed at the Redbanks Beach Campground, tucked back among the sand dunes behind the cliffs. The campground has seven unpowered sites that can be booked and paid for online for just $10 per night. Facilities include bins, a picnic shelter and good Telstra mobile coverage — simple, scenic and hard to beat if you love beach camping.
Why Arno Bay is Worth the Detour
Arno Bay has that rare mix of relaxed seaside charm, great fishing, beautiful natural scenery and affordable camping that makes it easy to stay longer than planned. From strolling the jetty and wandering mangrove boardwalks to discovering Redbanks Beach and camping beside the coast, this little Eyre Peninsula town offers far more than first meets the eye. If you’re travelling South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula and looking for an authentic coastal stop with genuine country hospitality, Arno Bay is a destination well worth wandering, exploring and discovering.
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