Coffin Bay on the West Coast

Its crooked, protected bays and inlets cut deep into the look of Eyre Peninsula. Coffin Bay was chartered by Matthew Flinders, surrounded by pioneer pastoralists and scraped by oyster dredgers, and discovered by West Coast Farmers as an idyllic holiday spot. Twins, Matilda and George and their Dad are from Cummins. They're 3rd of 4th generation "shackies". Ann Fuss well remembers her paddling days as a cockies daughter. Now, after many years away in the wide world , she's carved out a job for herself just above the beach. "Annies" is a board-walk cafe in a converted shack. The croissants and coffees come easily when you're looking out on your own version of the Riviera. "Well the view from the kitchen is just glorious especially watching the crayfish boats." A young family from Germany shared Annie's converted front veranda, and they planned a stroll along Coffin Bay's extended Oyster Walk to the Oyster Farm. There's one right in town and plenty more in the nearby bays. Last century the native oysters were dredged out to extinction by dozens of permanent labourers. Today's cultivated oysters are in season from March to November.

They're just one of Coffin Bay's charms that lured Ann Fuss back to stay. There's a congenial yacht club and a 9 hole golf course with emus and roos as natural hazards. After all, she is living in a town surrounded by National Park and then there's the protected bay. "Yes, I love getting out in or on the water, it's a great way to relax." These days Coffin Bay also hosts a fleet of lobster boats and pilchard boats, charter boats and yachts for hire. And some of the locals might pull your leg about how this haven less than half an hour west of Port Lincoln got its name. Don't believe the one about the ship wreck and all that undertakers' cargo floating in the bay. Annie will tell you the less romantic and true story. Coffin Bay was named by Matthew Flinders after a Naval Commissioner who helped him get his ship "The Investigator" ready - Sir Issac Coffin. His bay has turned into a little patch of paradise, and at an attractive price. The days drive from Adelaide is both why Coffin Bay is so quiet and unspoiled. And why it's so much worth the trip. For more information email: info@postcards.sa.com.au