Camping At Sheringa Beach, South Australia

We just got back from camping on Sheringa Beach on the gorgeous Eyre Peninsula, and it was stunning! I can’t wait to share this experience with you all.

If you’re looking for a quiet, unspoilt camping spot, then Sheringa Beach is an excellent option. In fact, we think it’s one of the best camping spots in South Australia. However, to have the best experience, there are several things you’ll need to be prepared for. Here’s our guide to everything you need to know to enjoy camping at Sheringa Beach.

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land referred to here as the Eyre Peninsula – the the Nauo, Parnkalla, and Wirangu peoples – and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging.

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How to get to Sheringa Beach

Sheringa Beach is located approximately 680 km west of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. You’ll really need a car, and the journey takes around 8 hours from Adelaide.

If you’re not from South Australia and don’t have a car, we like DiscoverCars for car rental. They have many options for car rental out of Adelaide. You can rent a car from the airport or the city center, and there are plenty of petrol stations along the way.

The route we took was Adelaide to Port Augusta (we actually left in the evening and stayed at Mambray Creek in the Flinders Ranges to break the journey up); then to Whyalla for fuel; down to Cowell for lunch and a play; then across to Sheringa Beach. Here is the map of our route:

You’ll need to know though, that the road down and into Sheringa is unsealed – we actually blew a tyre here! (Shoutout to Dunlop Super Dealer in Port Lincoln for getting us out of a massive jam).

On the way home we drove north to Elliston and then across to Port Augusta, avoiding the dirt roads (except the 7km road directly into Sheringa Beach, which is unavoidable).

Best time to visit Sheringa Beach

Sheringa Beach is stunning year-round, but certain times of the year have its advantages.

For starters, there is no real shelter at Sheringa Beach. While the sand dunes will provide some wind protection, all camp sites are pretty out in the open. This means you’re really exposed to the elements. With that in mind, we think the times at the beginning of summer (November and March) are best. At these times, the days won’t be searing hot but you’ll have the sunshine to keep you warm and less wind and rain.

We recently went in early April, and we did have a bit of rain and quite a bit of wind. However, when the sun came out it was still beautiful.

The beach is a beautiful swimming beach in the right conditions, but can get choppy. Surfers will rejoice – we spotted some perfectly formed barrels. Summer in general (November – March) is the perfect time for swimming, surfing, and fishing.

You’d get the dramatic views in Winter, but for me (who hates the cold) braving the weather wouldn’t be worth it.

Costs and bookings

Sites range from between $20 – $40 AUD per night depending on the size and location of the site.

The District Council of Elliston have listed the two sites (Tommy Ruff Shoal and Trevally Shoal) on the BookEasy platform along with other awesome Eyre Peninsula camping spots. Click through to the Eyre Peninsula camping section to book.

Camping facilities

There are two main campgrounds at Sheringa Beach: Tommy Ruff Shoal and Trevally Shoal.

The first campground you’ll come across as you enter is Tommy Ruff Shoal. This camping ground is right by the beach, amongst smaller sand dunes and shrubs. Each of these sites need to be booked – sites are numbered and you’ll need to camp at the specific site number you booked. We stayed at site 6, which is one of the smallest and had a bit of shelter from the wind thanks to the dunes. Site 13 also looked like it had a bit of extra wind shelter, and was a bigger site suitable for caravans.

Heading around the cliff, you’ll find Tommy Ruff Shoal. The views here are spectacular. These campsites are not numbered, so it’s first in, best dressed when it comes to picking the best site. Do note though, that what you gain in view, you lose in shelter – so be prepared for some wind and plan your site set-up accordingly.

You’ll find a flushing toilet at Tommy Ruff Shoal, and we found this to be in good condition. We did find, though, that it got a workout as everyone from the other campground drove down to use it (there’s no toilet up on Tommy Ruff Shoal campground).

There is also a cold water shower, however it’s in the open and more the kind to rinse yourself off after surfing than an actual wash-yourself shower. We had been expecting an actual shower (though we knew it was cold water only) so I think this is important to note.

All sites are unpowered, so you’ll need to pack accordingly in terms of batteries, gas, lighting etc. You will also need to bring all cooking facilities as there are no barbecues. Campfires are allowed as long as you follow all signposted guidelines (and NEVER light a fire on a fire ban day).

NOTE: Many parts of Sheringa Beach (including all of Tommy Ruff Shoal) have no mobile phone reception. There are a couple of signs up on the cliff around Trevally Shoal indicating where you’ll get the best network coverage.

Wildlife

Sheringa Beach is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, and emus. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a pod of dolphins or a seal in the ocean. Do note though that this is weather dependent- dolphins in particular tend to be spotted when the waters are calmer.

We were not super lucky on land – we mostly found mice running around our campsite! So with that in mind, make sure you have a plan to keep your rubbish tidy and away from any critters that might get into it.

However, we did explore some rock pools and find several species of crab, sea stars, and some really beautiful fish. This was an absolute highlight for the kids.

Fishing

Fishing is one of the most popular activities at Sheringa Beach, and it’s easy to see why. The beach is known for its excellent surf fishing, and you can catch a range of species, including salmon, whiting, and snapper (although there is currently a Snapper ban to allow stocks to replenish). Catch and size limits are clearly signed by the entrances to the beach, so make sure you’re familiar with these.

Sheringa Beach has no jetty or boat ramp.

The Final Verdict

We love Sheringa for all that it is – visually stunning, secluded, and surrounded by nature – as well as all that it isn’t – too busy, noisy, or built up. That being said, you’ll need to be prepared for your time here. That means having the right gear to be self-sufficient. But if you can manage that, Sheringa Beach will reward you with a wonderful coastal getaway.

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