- Carpenter Rocks
Popular camping styles for Carpenter Rocks
Camping near Carpenter Rocks with surfing guide
Overview
If you’re looking for one of the smallest towns along South Australia’s Limestone Coast, Carpenter Rocks might be it—less than 100 people call this fishing village home. Of course, size isn’t everything. What Carpenter Rocks lacks in population, it makes up for in unique photo opportunities, from its ghostly beachside shipwreck to its landmark Cape Banks Lighthouse. For campers, the real draw is the chance to park your campervan or pitch a tent right by the shore. Bring your fishing tackle and your scuba gear—the rocky coastline is known for its fishing and diving spots.
Where to go
Canunda National Park
Carpenter Rocks is the southern gateway to Canunda National Park, where golden sandy beaches, rocky coves, and swaths of coastal bushlands make up the wild landscapes. Take your pick from six campgrounds, some affording magnificent ocean views, then take to the coast to hike, swim, surf, and snorkel.
Southern Ocean Drive
The region’s most rewarding road trip runs all the way from nearby Mount Gambier, past Carpenter Rocks, and north along the Limestone Coast. Check into one of the beachside campgrounds at Beachport Conservation Park, camp by the lakes around Robe, or continue north all the way to the beaches and wetlands of Coorong National Park.
Coonawarra wine country
An hour’s drive inland from Carpenter Rocks and the scenery changes from sandy shores to vine-clad hills. Coonawarra sits at the heart of the Limestone Coast wine country, where you can hike or cycle between cellar-door wineries, camp with a view of the vineyards, or go glamping in a luxury bell tent.
When to go
Summer (December through February) is the best time to enjoy the Limestone Coast beaches, and the coastal roads and resorts fill up quickly over the summer holidays. Alternatively, winter is the prime season for bird-watching along the coast, and the coastal wetlands are even more impressive thanks to the seasonal rainfall.
