Holiday houses in Cowell

There are plenty of fish in the sea in Cowell — literally. This tiny town perched on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia is renowned for its fertile waters brimming with salmon, snapper, mullet, silver whiting, tommy ruff, squid, crabs, and oysters. As you may expect, this is the perfect place for a seafood dinner. Local fishing boats bob along on the horizon and fishermen haul in their catches of the day. Here, you can order heaping platters of steamed blue swimmer crab, swill briny seawater from fresh-harvested oysters, and tuck into crispy, golden fish and chips, all without taking your eyes off the ocean or your feet off the sand.

Seafood isn’t the only thing that’s plentiful around here — Cowell is home to the world’s largest deposits of nephrite jade. You can meander along the boardwalk and peruse stalls showcasing local artisan jewellery and sculptures featuring this precious stone. Visitors also come here to take in some local history and enjoy the soft sandy beaches.

Cowell’s climate is fairly warm and dry year round. The most popular times to visit are from January until May — when the weather is all but guaranteed to be hot and sunny — and September through December to catch the last of the summer rays and enjoy some refreshing breezes. Crabbing season is from October to April, so be sure to plan your trip during this timeframe if you want to sample fresh-caught blue crabs at their most delicious. The peak season for Pacific oysters is from March to December and from April to August for rarer Angasi oysters. There are oysters available in every season around here, but if you want to sample the best of the best, pay attention to the seasonality and plan your trip accordingly.

Shopping for Jade Jewellery

From local artists selling their sculptures to jewellers showing off unique pieces, the shops lining the Cowell boardwalk are the place to go to pick up a souvenir made with the inky black jade stone that this town is famous for. Head to the Cowell Jade Motel to see a collection of striking pieces made by locals and to the Franklin Harbour History Museum to learn about the place of nephrite jade in the town’s history.

Freshly-caught Seafood

Cowell is world-renowned for its fish and seafood, and especially its oysters. From catch-of-the-day fish and chips at a seaside shack to towers of blue crab and oysters on sea-view terraces, everything you’ll eat here is freshly caught and top quality.

Spotting Sea Lions at the Beach

With soft, sugary sands, rolling dunes, and lush reefs, nearby Gibbon Bay is one of the most scenic beaches in the local area. It also happens to be a favourite spot for colonies of sea lions to hang out. Look for them lounging on the rocks and taking in the sun, but be sure to keep your distance.