Paddling near Port Pirie, South Australia

Port Pirie sits at the top of Spencer Gulf in South Australia's mid-north, where the Port Pirie River meets tidal flats and mangrove-lined channels. The area is best known for sea kayaking on the northern reaches of Spencer Gulf, with the paddle out past the harbour channel to Cockle Spit — a shell-bar that dries at low tide — being the marquee local trip. A public boat ramp adjacent to the Royal Port Pirie Yacht Club and a put-in on the east side of the river give paddlers straightforward access to these tidal waters.