Fitzgerald bay camping

Fitzgerald Bay Camping, known locally as the Shingles Beach stretch, is a rugged, low-frills camping area on the upper Spencer Gulf coast about 30 to 40km from Whyalla on the Eyre Peninsula. It is dog-friendly camping right at the water's edge, in a landscape of shingle beaches, calm gulf water and wide-open coastal country.

Dogs at Fitzgerald Bay Camping

Dogs are welcome to camp overnight here provided they are well behaved and kept under effective control, which is the standard across these coastal reserves. Some sources list fenced pet sites at this campground, but other descriptions of the bay treat the camping pockets as open, unpowered and semi-remote, so do not assume a built fence is waiting for you: ask at booking, and bring a portable pen or leads if a secure off-lead space matters to your dog. Whether dogs may join you inside any on-site cabins is not clearly published either, so confirm that directly before booking a cabin rather than a campsite. There are no stated size limits or fees. Standard camp sense applies otherwise, including a leash around wildlife and nesting shorebirds.

The place

The shoreline here is shingle and shell grit rather than fine sand, which is what gives the Shingles Beach stretch its name and its look. Camping pockets such as Shoal Beach and the Native Myrtil camp sit close to the water, with swimming, fishing and shoreline walks as the pastimes. Facilities are basic to minimal, some spots have simple toilets and bins, and you should plan to be fully self-contained on water and power. Access is by unsealed gravel roads off the Point Lowly road, generally fine for 2WD and caravans in dry conditions but worth checking after rain.

Getting there and out with the dogs

Fitzgerald Bay runs along the coast north-east of Whyalla, reached via the Point Lowly road. Whyalla, back down the road, has the full town service layer, and Eyre Pantry is a good coffee stop on the way through. Nearby alternatives include Fitzgerald Bay North free camping, Mariners Retreat on the same bay, and Discovery Parks Whyalla Foreshore if you want a powered park. More options are on the Fitzgerald Bay destination page and the SA stays index.

Pepsi: Shingle underfoot, gulf water to paddle, and nobody else for kilometres. Just confirm the fence situation before you promise me a zoom.