The Cape Bauer Loop is a 39 kilometre coastal scenic ride from Streaky Bay, on the western side of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. It is intended to be a scenic car drive. However, with the good quality dirt road, very little traffic, lovely coastal scenery and easy access from Streaky Bay, it’s a fabulous country road cycling loop.Cape Bauer is a limestone headland that marks the northernmost point of Corvisart Bay. The eastern side falls away to the sheltered waters of the Gibson Peninsula coastal wetlands, while beautiful beaches stretch southwards.
Streaky Bay to Cape Bauer via the coastal road (21 km)
I began the Cape Bauer Loop by following the bitumen Streaky Bay Cycling Path. It begins at the Streaky Bay Caravan Park and meanders north for five kilometres to Moore’s Boat Ramp. While it is much more undulating than the Cape Bauer Road that it runs beside, it is well worth taking in the morning, as the road is busy with cars towing boats to the boat ramp.
For the next six kilometres, until the turnoff to the Gibson Peninsula wetlands, there were mangrove swamps on my right and scattered houses on the rise to the left.As the road turned more easterly, I was climbing gradually and the coastal edge became more sandy. Looking back towards the Gibson Peninsula, the shallow waters shone with the stunning turquoise colour that is so typical of the western Eyre Peninsula coastal scenery.
I was catching glimpses of the headland of Cape Bauer as the road continued to climb.
At last I came to a sign that indicated a short detour off Cape Bauer Road to see the actual cape. This is the view looking eastward:
Cape Bauer to Whistling Rocks and the Blowholes (2 km)
After the cape detour, there was some more climbing to do. I liked this view looking back to the cape.
Now I came to the Whistling Rocks and Blowholes carpark. This attraction boasts a 360 metre boardwalk and staircase descending over fifty metres to a viewing platform.I locked my bike to a post, grabbed my morning tea and tramped through a sand dune which was doing its best to swallow up the boardwalk. On the other side of the sand dune I could see the blue waters of Covisart Bay.
The blowholes weren’t blowing, but I could hear the rocks “whistling”. The sound was like the breathy lower tones of a pan flute.Throughout the Eyre Peninsula there are naturally occurring vertical pipes in the limestone. The “whistling” sound is caused by waves breaking at the base of these pipes and forcing air and seawater upwards.This is the outlook south from the main viewing platform.
I ate my morning tea on the steps enjoying the view, and then began the climb back to my bike. With a drop-box toilet in the carpark, this is a useful stopping point even if you don’t go down to the Whistling Rocks!
Whistling Rocks to Hally’s Beach (2 km)
Only two kilometres on from Whistling Rocks is the turnoff to Hally’s Beach. This is well worth taking as it is only a short way to the carpark and another spectacular viewing platform.Unlike Whistling Rocks, it is feasible to take your bike all the way to the platform, where there is a built in seat. From there, if you have the energy, you can descend to the beach via a staircase of more than 100 steps. By now, I was happy to stay at the platform.
Hally’s Beach to Streaky Bay via the inland road (14 km)
After Hally’s Beach, the Cape Bauer Road turned inland to cross the peninsula back to Streaky Bay. There was some more climbing, but eventually I was rewarded by views across the wheat fields to the waters of Streaky Bay.
The last five kilometres provided a lovely roll down to the town.
I had cycled 39 kilometres and climbed 264 metres. It had felt like a lot more climbing than that. The gradients, ranging up to five percent, were a little more than I had been used to in recent times.In summary, I would definitely recommend the Cape Bauer Loop to any cyclist who doesn’t mind a few hills and enjoys varied scenery, little traffic and good quality dirt roads. I will certainly be doing it again if I have another opportunity to visit Streaky Bay.As with all country road cycling, the mobile coverage was intermittent for the ride. When cycling solo, I always take our satellite phone with me. I am also fortunate to have my husband Derek on standby in case I need assistance.Another enjoyable ride in the area is the Westall Way Loop. Further north on the Eyre Peninsula, a short bike path for all the family is the Ceduna Cycling Path. To the south, there is an excellent ride between North Shields and Port Lincoln.
