The Copper Coast in a Day
A loop through the three towns of Little Cornwall
The plan
The Copper Triangle is the historic heart of the northern Yorke Peninsula, three towns built by Cornish miners on one of the colony's richest copper fields. This loop links them in a single, comfortable day, mixing engine-house ruins and museums with a swim and a seaside lunch.
Start inland at Kadina, the commercial centre, then work out to Wallaroo's smelting port before finishing among the great mines at Moonta. Leave room for a Cornish pasty along the way, the dish the miners brought with them and the region still does best.
Day 1
7 stops-
1Kadina
Kadina Wallaroo Moonta Heritage Trail
Begin with an overview of the Copper Triangle story before exploring the towns.
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2Kadina
Kadina Farm Shed Museum
Step into rural and mining history at Kadina's sprawling museum.
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3Wallaroo
Wallaroo Heritage & Nautical Museum
Trace Wallaroo's days as a smelting and shipping port.
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4
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5Moonta
Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
Wander the mullock heaps and ruins of Australia's Little Cornwall.
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6Moonta Mines
Cornish Mine Engine Houses
Stand beneath the stone engine houses that powered the boom.
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7
On the map
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Image credits
- Hughes Enginehouse, Moonta Mines, North view 20230210 1.jpg by DXR , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons