Looking over the south eastern end of Jollys Beach from one of the camping spots.

Jollys Beach sits just inside the Innes National Park, at the foot of the Yorke Peninsula, about 300 k's from Adelaide.  It's only 3 k's from Stenhouse Bay.

As you enter the Park, just after you have stopped at the self registration station and paid your $8.50 entry fee and $6 a night camping fee (per car), follow the sign post by turning sharp left and following a dirt road back towards Marion Bay, past the Stenhouse Bay camping area.

The road ends at Jollys Beach, so you can't get lost.  It is a small area, with two recognisable spots to camp.  The first is at the end of a dirt track that leads from the road to a very low cliff overlooking the south eastern end of the beach.

The camping spot mentioned above

As you may be able to tell from the photo, it's a rough bit of ground.  It would be OK for a small camper trailer and maybe a tent, if you could manage to hammer the pegs into that rocky ground.  If contemplating taking a trailer of any kind in there, keep in mind that it is not a very large area and the track in is quite narrow.  The beauty of this spot is you will have it all to yourself.  There are no neighbouring sites.  The other plus is its right on the beach and sheltered from winds from the westerly quarter.  South easterlies are the only winds that will be onshore proper, but they can be a bonus in the Summer, cooling you down in the hot afternoons. 

The other campsite, and the only other clear campsite as far as I can tell, is right next to the road in, alongside another dirt track leading to the beach.

This campsite, although next to the road, provides much better ground.

As mentioned in the photo caption, this site has much kinder ground.  The area is also a bit larger, so a caravan, camper trailer or large tent would be OK here.  The road will not cause to many issues, as it is one way only and ends just a few metres on from this site.  You may have to contend with a few vehicles as visitors drive to Jollys Beach to have a look.

There are no facilites at all at Jollys Beach, the attractions being solitude, fishing, swimming and, more than likely, having the beach to yourself.  it is probably a little difficult to see in the top photo, but the water near the south eastern headland is shallow, very clear with a sandy bottom.  Perfect for swimming, even for kids.  Although some surrounding beaches have nasty rips and largish waves, this beach is very sheltered.

There is no shelter in the form of shade here, so you will have to bring your own.  It is essential to have some sort of shade in the warmer months.  All drinking and washing water will have to be brought in, along with firewood if camping outside of fire danger season.

The good thing is, Stenhouse Bay with basic supplies, is only 3 k's up the road.  You could even head back into Marion Bay, only 5 k's from Stenhouse Bay, if you felt like takeaway or a beer or three.   

Snorkelling around the many reefs in the area is spectacular.  There are heaps of low, rocky ledges, some exposed at low tide, all along this section of coast.  The amount of marine life is incredible and check out the size of some of the Strongfish (Dusky Morwong).

Fishing along this shallow beach will yield Mullet during the Autumn run, along with the odd Whiting and Flathead.  I enjoy wading along this beach, and others in the area, casting soft plastics into the holes and sand patches.  It is surprising the number of species that can be caught.  Another successful method is to wade and cast floats out over the weed beds and reefs using gents for bait.  A nice berley stream will have some nice size Garfish hanging around, especially in the Summer months.  Squid can also be caught adopting this method (using squid jags of course, not gents).

Jollys Beach is often overlooked as a camping destination by Innes National Park visitors heading to other, more established, camping grounds.  But, being only a short trip out of the way, it is well worth a look.  After all, you may end with an entire beach to yourself for a day or two.

The rest of Jollys Beach, looking back towards Marion Bay.