Hillocks Drive – A Remarkable Patch of Coastline on the Yorke Peninsula
I’ve been coming to the Yorke Peninsula for as long as I can remember. I thought I’d seen it all – the long stretch of white sand and turquoise water at Flaherty’s Beach, the campsites where you wake up feeling like the only person in the world, with ocean as far as you can see.
But Hillocks Drive? This is something else entirely.
Just ten minutes from Marion Bay, this seven-kilometre stretch of rugged coastline takes in Butler’s Beach, crystal-clear rock pools and jaw-dropping views around every corner. If it were anywhere else in the world, Butler’s Beach would be teeming with tourists. But it’s not — it’s here on the Yorke Peninsula, and it’s blissfully wild.
Hillocks Drive is privately owned and managed by Pam Bennett, whose family has cared for this remarkable patch of coastline for generations. Pam shares this slice of coastal heaven with visitors while preserving every inch of its natural beauty.
Exploring Yorke Peninsula’s hidden gem
Access is through the Hillocks shop, where you’ll pay a small fee for a day visit, overnight camping or walking trails. You’ll get a property map and a few local tips on the best rock pools to visit – and when. The tracks are neatly signposted, and you’ll even find eco-friendly bush toilets (which are, I might add, far better than any porta-loo I’ve ever used).
If you want to level up your Hillocks stay, two eco-friendly ocean pods overlook Butler’s Beach and Hillocks Point. You’ll fall asleep to the sound of the surf and wake to a view you honestly can’t imagine until you’ve seen it with your own eyes.
Each pod sleeps four, with space to pull up a camper or caravan alongside. With a minimal environmental footprint, they’ve got showers and eco-toilets, solar power, gas heating for winter, and wide windows that let in the sea breeze through summer.
Some of the beaches and rock pools need a bit of fitness to reach – there are stairs down to Treasure Cove and wooden steps to Butler’s Beach – but once you’re there, you’ll never want to leave. Snorkel, scuba dive, swim, hike, explore… or, like us, cast a line and reel in a few salmon straight off the beach.
Hillocks Drive is raw, beautiful, and completely unforgettable – a place that reminds you just how lucky we are to call South Australia home.
Find out more about Hillocks Drive here.
Still dreaming of turquoise water and coastal road trips? Dive into more Yorke Peninsula stories here.
