DESTINATION: Wallaroo

The principal port of the Yorke Peninsula; the main commodities Wallaroo handles are fertiliser imports and seed and grain exports. The town is also a popular tourist resort, attracting visitors to its safe beaches and excellent fishing. Wallaroo is around 155km NW of Adelaide. It was the discovery of copper in the late 1880s that led to the settlement; it is one of the 3 towns in the Copper Triangle. Declining copper prices saw the demise of the mines in the early 1920s.

Main Attractions

There are many National Trust-listed buildings and 44 of these sites are featured on the town's 90min Heritage Walk that starts at the museum and ends at the Smelting Works Offices. Hughes Chimney Stack (1861) contains more than 300 000 bricks and is the only one of the smelter's many chimneys to survive. The National Trust Wallaroo Heritage and Nautical Museum is located on Jetty Rd and is worth a look to gain an understanding of the town's maritime history. Jubilee Square on John Tce is a perfect picnic spot with electric BBQ facilities and a children's playground.

Nearby attractions

The other Copper Triangle towns of Moonta and Kadina are both within easy reach. Dotted about the Triangle are Cornish-style cottages, built by hard-rock miners from Cornwall who flocked to this area in the 19th century. About 10km south is Bird Island, its shallow waters renowned for an abundance of tasty blue-swimmer crabs.

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Region: Yorke Peninsula

Yorke Peninsula, South Australia with more than 600 kilometres of coastline and a host of sunny seaside towns, "Yorkes" is much loved by local South Australians.The stunning Yorke Peninsula region has a good selection of accommodation, hotels, tours and attractions for your SA holiday. SA Tourist information can be found at busier tourist towns such as Maitland and the Copper Triangle towns of Kadina and Moonta. more

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Tourist info

Moonta Station, Kadina Rd, Moonta, Ph: (08) 8825 1891

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