As the oyster capital of Australia, Ceduna is well known for its Oysterfest, an annual event dating back to 1991 that attracts a lot of visitors. As one of the nation's largest oyster-themed festivals, Oysterfest is celebrated yearly on South Australian Labour Day weekend. Set on the heavenly shores of Murat Bay, this event won Australia Day's 2023 Community Award of the Year.
Ceduna is a small, thriving, tight-knit community steeped in history and culture. Visitors can experience Indigenous crafts and artefacts at the Ceduna Arts and Culture Centre, an Aboriginal-owned institution, and buy their hand-made, high-quality artwork at the centre for the benefit of local artists.
For thrill-seekers, there's no shortage of air tours, boat charters, and off-road private tours on the Eyre Peninsula. There's surfing at Cactus Beach, anglers can drop a line in the Nuyts Archipelago, or golfers can enjoy the 19th hole beside the 1,350-kilometre-long Nullarbor Links Golf Course. At the end of a long day, there's more adventure to be had at the award-winning Oyster Barn, where they've got fish and chips down to an art.
History buffs and those curious about the town's heritage are welcome at the Ceduna National Trust Museum, formerly the town's first school. Precious historical items await here, including antiques, restored farm machinery, and treasured trinkets belonging to pioneering families. Also worth experiencing are exhibits relating to Maralinga nuclear tests and medical facilities available to settlers. Then, there's the cast of a huge basking shark of Fowlers Bay, which was found in 1914.
Walkers, cyclists, and bird watchers are well provided for in Ceduna, where a coastal walking trail spanning 3.5 kilometres offers marvellous scenic views. Enhanced by two easily accessible lookout platforms, the purpose-built trail features hand-painted tiles courtesy of local artists and children. Car parks are available at either end of this walking trail, which takes about an hour to complete on foot. Families with young children can rest, have fun and regroup, thanks to beachside playgrounds like Don Urquhart and Ceduna Foreshore Playground, which are scattered along the way.
Pinky Point Lookout, located at the Thevenard end of the walking trail, is a car and caravan-friendly place where visitors can take in the bright sunset views of the wharf in all their splendour. Denial Bay and the channel unfurl before the viewers every day as mosaics on the lighthouse tell the story of this small fishing community.
Families with young ones feel right at home on Shelly Beach, a quiet and clean stretch of sand with shallow and crystal-clear water. This child-friendly swimming nook is also a much-loved kite surfing spot. Families can reach it by bike or car within minutes of the city, as is the case with Laura Bay and Ceduna Waters, just a few steps further south.
Car rental in Ceduna comes with an amazing perk: the chance to drive straight onto the beach at Ceduna Waters and enjoy the trail. Bikers can venture onwards to Cape Vivonne, while swimmers and fishing enthusiasts can while away hours and hours in the sun.
