One of the first things you’ll likely notice when visiting the district of Cleve in South Australia, is the rich agricultural surrounds. This regional South Australian town, on the Eastern Eyre Peninsula, is an agricultural heartland. Arriving via Birdseye Highway onto the Cleve District Scenic Drive, the panoramic views of the Spencer Gulf and the surrounding plains give way to emu, kangaroo, and mallee fowl, often spotted in the surrounding bush. You’ll be surrounded by fields of wheat, barley, and canola in every direction with a likely pasture of sheep grazing the day away. Less a natural attraction, but equally spectacular, is the impressive wind farm you’ll pass at Mt Millar.
While it might be regional, this RV Friendly country town is anything but sleepy. And if you’re a foodie, particularly a sea-foodie, you’ll be in your element with its proximity to Arno Bay. The location, incredibly popular with anglers all year round, is home to Australian snapper, king fish, flathead, and squid, all freshly caught on one of the many available fishing charters. If you’re not much of a fisherman, you can always appreciate the fresh seafood while strolling the beaches or the Arno Bay boardwalk.
Carappee Hill Conservation Park, Darke Peak
The Cleve District’s diverse landscape, from the coastline of Arno Bay and its pristine beaches, to the ranges in and around Darke Peak, offer plenty of activities for those keen to get out and enjoy the outdoors. The ranges are perfect for hiking, four-wheel driving, wildlife and bird watching, while surfers and beach goers can soak up some sun no matter what the season.
Darke Range, Darke Peak
District Council of Cleve tourism and community development officer, Bridget Johnstone, says it’s that variety that is seeing Cleve becoming increasingly popular with visitors.
“Travellers to the Cleve District and the Eyre Peninsula are always pleasantly surprised about the beauty this region has.
“As you drive into our district there is a change of landscape, ultimately you are surrounded by beautiful rolling hills. The Eyre Peninsula is very clean and we are complimented on this and our natural beauty often,” she says.
Scenery aside, Johnstone says it’s the locals that make it a memorable place.
“The community is welcoming, with warm and friendly people. No matter if you are a local or a visitor walking down the street – you are sure to get a hello or two,” she says, adding that locals are always happy to provide information on some of the hot spots.
Redbanks Beach, Arno Bay is perfect for taking your travelling pooch for a stroll
Finding festivals
As you might expect, the spring and summer months see the area surge with festivities including the bi-annual Eyre Peninsula Field Days in August, Cleve Show in September, Christmas Pageant and Arno Bay New Year’s Day, as well as many other events put on by local community groups and clubs. But Johnstone says the ideal time of year to visit really depends on the interests of the travellers, as the cooler months offer plenty of wildlife spotting along the hiking trails, such as the Yeldulknie Conservation Park hiking trail, the Darke Ranges, Carappee Hill hiking trail and Federation Lookout.
It’s worth also checking out the local Red Banks Beach which is not just scenic (think 10 metre high bluffs), but accessible by a road ending just above the beach at a large carpark. From here, walk straight down to the beach for a bit of fishing or to dip your toes into the tidal pools amongst the red rocks.
Beauty aside, it’s a practical choice for travellers as well.
“Cleve is a historical service town to the surrounding area with many eateries and shops to discover,” says Johnstone.
“Visitors can explore Cleve’s history on the Heritage Trail and in the local National Trust Museum, while Ticklebelly Hill, the Yeldulknie Weir, and the Yeldulknie Conservation Park hiking trail are also very popular among visitors. Cleve is also a great place to stock up on your essentials such as fuel, food, and any maintenance.”
A step back in time
History buffs will also enjoy the rich agricultural history of the town dating back to the 1850s, when Scottish brothers Donald, James, and Peter McKechnie established Wangaraleednie station, meaning ‘hill of the west wind’. A few years later, in 1897, Governor Jervois gave it the name Cleve to honour his cousin’s county seat in Devon, England.
Observation Hill, or the adorably locally named ‘Ticklebelly Hill’, offers views over Cleve and its farmlands. Here, history enthusiasts can also access the towering seven-metre ‘Big Cross’, erected in 2000 and dedicated to the forefathers of the district. Pioneers, local families, and community groups are also commemorated in the heritage pavers. At Arno Bay, the locally known ‘Super Shed’ in Turnbull Park offers insight into the town’s busy seaport days. Today it offers plenty of historical information and a venue for community events year-round.
In town, you’ll find nods to the region’s abundant farming heritage everywhere, from large wall murals to outdoor artworks. You’ll even spot a memorial for much-loved children’s author May Gibbs, known for her classic characters inspired by the Australian bushland, ‘Snugglepot & Cuddlepie’. The memorial commemorates her youth, spent growing up in Cleve.
There are historic homesteads such as Sims Farm, as well as the modern Mt Millar Wind Farm with its 35 turbines which are incredibly serene to watch, drink in hand, as the sun sets.
Johnstone says the district has taken particular care making the region attractive for the RV market with a good range of shops and sporting facilities, including an18-hole golf course running along a creek bed in the town centre.
It’s an area best explored by RV to maximise on the views you simply won’t get from a hotel window. With a simple donation to the local Cleve Lions Club, you can pull into Yeldulknie Weir reservoir, five kilometres from town. Here you’re surrounded by abundant wildlife, plenty of photo worthy scenery, lush vegetation, and the heritage-listed wheelhouse, built in 1912, to supply water to the Arno Bay and Cowell districts. There’s also picnic facilities, a barbecue, gazebo, and toilets nearby.
The Cleve District has three RV friendly sites, two caravan parks, and RV dumpsites.
“The convenience of these facilities in multiple places within the district, allows visitors and travellers to stay and explore the area thoroughly,” Johnstone says.
Cleve, SA: Journey Planner
Rich in agricultural heritage and renowned for its output of wheat, barley, and canola crops, the farming hub of Cleve is situated right in the heart of the Eastern Eyre Peninsula. The historic township dates back to the 1850s and the district has a current population of 1771. Easily accessible from many of South Australia’s regional centres, it is 226km south-west of Port Augusta, 143km north of Port Lincoln, and a 527km journey north-west from Adelaide. Cleve is an RV Friendly Town, with sites available at the Cleve Showgrounds.
