Discover Tumby Bay

Tumby Bay combines public art with activities on the water and opportunities to learn about the coastal environment. If you’re looking for a hotel for a stay in Tumby Bay, a good starting point is to consider which interests you’d like to focus on during your trip. Street art, activities at the jetty, mangroves and other things to do appeal to different interests. You can explore the coastal town through its culture, its water activities or its opportunities for outdoor exercise.

Outdoor street art

The street art murals form a free outdoor gallery that visitors can explore at their leisure. Tumby Bay has several artworks by Smug and Matt Adnate. This gallery is a cultural highlight in its own right, alongside the activities on the water: you can set aside time for the artworks when planning your trip, rather than treating art only as an accompaniment to another outing. The works give the outdoor gallery a direct connection to the named artists. If you’re interested in art, it adds a cultural dimension to your experience of Tumby Bay.

Swimming and other water activities

Tumby Bay jetty has a spot for snorkelling and diving, and swimming is also popular there. The foreshore beach is another popular place to swim. Tumby Bay is also a popular fishing spot, while paddleboarding is possible along the waterfront. Weather conditions affect paddleboarding conditions. The jetty therefore combines swimming with opportunities to snorkel and dive; the beach is another place to swim. Fishing and paddleboarding add other ways to spend time on the water. If you’re choosing between these activities, their different locations and options can help with your planning.

The Sir Joseph Banks Group Marine Park is also part of the surrounding coastal area. It lies offshore in Spencer Gulf, borders Tumby Bay and is accessible from the town. If you’re planning a visit to the park, check current official information about sea conditions and access before you travel.

Mangroves and the coastal environment

Tumby Bay’s Interpretive Mangrove Boardwalk offers the opportunity to learn more about the coastal environment. South of the town, on Trinity Haven Road, Second Creek is a tidal estuary within a coastal mangrove ecosystem. Both places are of interest to those interested in mangroves, but they differ in their specific settings: the boardwalk is in Tumby Bay and is associated with learning about the coastal environment; Second Creek is south of the town on the road named above. This helps you decide whether you’d like to visit the boardwalk as a learning experience or focus on the estuary within the mangrove ecosystem.

Walks and bike rides

In addition to water activities, Tumby Bay offers scenic walks and bike rides. These are other options to consider when planning your trip, whether on foot or by bike. They offer a different focus from snorkelling, swimming or paddleboarding, centring instead on getting around on land. If you don’t want to focus your stay solely on water activities, walks and bike rides add two more ways to get active.

For a broader travel overview: District Council of Tumby Bay.