Northern Spencer Gulf has a very different character to the southern part. The long white beaches give way to mangrove flats, and shore access is not always possible. Some of the anchorages are well off-shore on the leeward side of long sand spits, which can be disconcerting. For those cruisers who enjoy long beach walks on a regular basis (or have a dog on board), this is probably not the best choice of cruising ground.
As the gulf narrows in the upper reaches, the scenery becomes quite dramatic with the Middleback Ranges close by on the western side and the Flinders Ranges to the east.
The major towns of Whyalla, Port Pirie and Port Augusta are very much a part of South Australia’s maritime history, and are well worth visiting by sea.