Port Pirie

Located on the Spencer Gulf, Port Pirie is tagged the ‘City of Friendly People’ and took its name from John Pirie, who arrived by boat in 1845 to load sheep from the surrounding pastoral districts.

The Port Pirie Regional Tourism and Arts Centre houses the Visitor Information Centre, Regional Art Gallery, and Shakka the Shark – a model of the longest great white ever landed in South Australian waters. The Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery features a diverse program with a focus on regional South Australian artists. After an extra adventure? Virtual reality shark cage diving is an interactive experience simulating a shark cage dive and is not for the faint-hearted!

With its fascinating history and impressive architecture, Port Pirie is great to explore on foot. The rich history of the town awaits with the Heritage Walk brochure, plus the CBD has recently been reinvigorated with a new streetscape and mural artwork.

Spectacular walks also await in Napperby Gorge, as do wetlands and wildlife at the Nelshaby Reserve. These attractions are located near the twin towns of Napperby and Nelshaby, just 12km from Port Pirie, and are famous for their tomatoes grown since World War II.

The Pirie Rail Express miniature railway operates a diesel and steam engine on the first and third Sunday of the month, or go and see models of iconic trains including The Ghan and Indian Pacific run on more than 1000 feet of track in an amazing 360-degree viewing layout at the Pirie Model Railway.

Huey the Helicopter is one of only six Huey Iroquois helicopters in Australia. The Port Pirie RSL is the home of this new attraction. There is a good range of accommodation, including motels and caravan parks, and plenty of parks and playgrounds. Families will also enjoy the foreshore with a fully enclosed playground and barbecue facilities.