Lincoln National Park: On the West Coast in the Eyre Peninsula region of South Australia

The bottom of Eyre Peninsula is a favourite haunt of local tour guide Steve Pocock whose Great Australian Bight Safaris allow you to experience the raw power of the sea.

This area offers so much - like Lincoln National Park located on a small peninsula, southeast of Port Lincoln. The place names hark back to a major battle of discovery more than two centuries ago. The Jussieu Peninsula was named by Louis Frecyinet, a member of Nicholas Baudin's French expedition. But the English navigator, Matthew Flinders had been here before them and his charts are dotted with memories of Lincolnshire and home. In the heart of this spectacular National Park stands a monument on Stamford Hill dedicated to the man who put South Australia on the map. Steve Pocock explains:

“Stamford Hill is very important in terms of South Australia’s history. I guess this was the ‘make or break’ point for Matthew Flinders. He climbed up here and actually saw Sleaford Mere - the lake at the head of the bay. Of course, he was desperately looking for water. If he hadn't seen anything encouraging here, even though it was a fine harbour area, I think he would have cut out for Sydney knowing that he had water, provisions and all the help that he needed there. But because he found fresh water he was able to continue.

“So he was able to beat the French in a sense in terms of naming this part of the unknown coast by picking up water and keeping the mission going. I think it's one of those turning points in history. Otherwise South Australia could well have been a French colony.”

From here Flinders could take in much of the surrounding coastline. He would later name this Port Lincoln. It was near here that he replenished his supplies and thought long and hard about the men under his command who'd so recently drowned in the search for much needed water.

“While all of this took his eye this was not a happy time for Matthew Flinders. Just three days earlier he'd lost eight men at nearby Memory Cove and by now he'd been away from Anne Chappelle for nearly eight months, the woman he'd married just days before setting sail. So while he was here there’s little doubt that he was thinking of home.”

Perhaps that's why so many place names here hark back to his boyhood days in Lincolnshire. The landmark in the distance, now with its distinctive lighthouse, he would call Cape Donington after the town of his birth. In the lee of the lighthouse stands the lighthouse keeper’s cottage built by William Argent, a local who knew plenty about hard work.

“He used to actually go up and light the lighthouse. And then he used to tend to it, watch over it all night and then go and farm during the day. He’d have a few hours sleep later in the afternoon and head back up to the lighthouse again. He was a hard worker.

“This is a stunning spot from which to enjoy Lincoln National Park. People who come to the park have many things they can do. They can go camping, there's some four wheel drive tracks as well and we've got over eighty kilometres of walking trail which is a fantastic way to discover the park.”

Come sunset you can do what William Argent probably did at the end of another long day - take in the view. To book Cape Donington Lighthouse Cottage contact 8683 3544. You'll need to bring you're own linen and food. For tours of the park contact Steve Pocock on 1800 352 750. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards.sa.com.au