Guide to Denial Bay South Australia Australia

Denial Bay is a settlement of about 150 people on the western shore of Murat Bay, a sealed drive of about 12 kilometres from Ceduna. It is older than Ceduna, and was the first European settlement in the district.

Today it is a quiet place of oyster sheds, a jetty and a shallow beach, visited on a short trip from Ceduna.

Known For

• Oyster farms on Murat Bay
• Blue swimmer crabs from the jetty
• McKenzie’s Landing and the first settlement

Things To Do in Denial Bay

Jetty

The jetty, built in 1909, is a popular place to catch blue swimmer crabs between November and March, and King George whiting. There is a sheltered barbecue, a toilet and a playground beside it.

McKenzie’s Landing

On the drive in, look for a low timber platform in the bay. In the late 1800s, ships unloaded onto it and carts drove out at low tide to collect the cargo.

Oysters

Oyster farming began here in 1985, and the leases of Denial Bay and Smoky Bay now grow about a fifth of South Australia’s oysters.

McKenzie Ruins and Davenport Creek

About 15 kilometres further west are the stone ruins of the farm that William McKenzie founded in 1889. Beyond, an unsealed road leads to Davenport Creek, a tidal inlet among white sandhills with good fishing. The last stretch over the dunes needs a four-wheel drive.

Where To Stay

There is no caravan park or campground at Denial Bay.

Ceduna has five caravan parks and a dump point. Basic camping is possible at Davenport Creek, which is on church land; check the signs there for fees.

Eat & Drink

Do not count on a shop being open. Ceduna has everything.

History

Matthew Flinders named the bay in 1802. A town was proclaimed in 1910 as McKenzie and renamed Denial Bay in 1940. The district is within the Far West Coast native title area.

Getting to Denial Bay

From Ceduna, follow the Eyre Highway west for a few kilometres and turn south on the sealed Denial Bay road.