Elliston on the Wild West Coast: In the Eyre Peninsula region of South Australia

The Flinders Highway along the wild west coast of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula is a treat at anytime of the year. Keen salmon fishermen head to stunning locations like Lochs Well. Others pull off the road at various breaks to experience the adrenaline rush of big-time surf.

On a recent trip the Postcards team took along the Flinders Highway we found opening season rains had brought a real tinge of green to the sheep pastures particularly near Lake Newland Conservation Park.

But by the time we'd arrived at Elliston the winter chill had well and truly set in and the pangs of hunger could be silenced no more. So we headed straight to the Elliston Bakery for one of their famous pies. The bakery has been in business for 20 years and it has a very strong connection with one of the town’s other famous past times - surfing.

Many surfers have spent a summer or two working the midnight to dawn shift baking the delicious country pies and preparing the vanilla slices that Lee-Anne Sires was preparing for the morning school run.

As Lee-Anne explained it was a convenient arrangement. “It's good hours for surfers - they can work during the night and they're the first ones out to the waves first thing in the morning.”

The morning we arrived a howling westerly ended any notion we had of surfing. But winter brings this rugged coastline a charm all of it's own. As the morning sun battled the winter squawls, the sleepy farming community awoke to a sound that every cockie loves - constant rain.

We'd found comfortable digs in a magnificent location overlooking Waterloo Bay. Our accommodation was a 1950's rail maintenance van, which once traveled along railway lines throughout SA. Today - The Caboose as it's known is the latest addition to Elliston's range of accommodation.

Owner, Julie Allchurch told us it was an old rail Fettler’s Cabin. “As a Fettler’s cabin I think it housed two maybe three men at any one time.”

Now it provides basic, affordable and comfortable accommodation for anyone in search of something unique. With it’s old railway gaslights, railway shutters and stunning scenery, Julie reckons it’s great at any time year.

“With the views of the cliffs, the beaches and the general lifestyle, it's just incredibly beautiful. You can go from high cliffs to rugged beaches. There’s also fantastic fishing out from Anxious Bay.”

And, of course, there's the bakery and the surf. Elliston is on the Flinders Highway about midway between Coffin Bay and Streaky Bay. The Discovaus Caboose is just out of town. For bookings call Julie Allchurch on 8687 9290. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au