Murphy’s Haystacks South Australia Explained

Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
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AT rock hound Kerry van der Jagt steps back in geological time to investigate this extraordinary South Australian cluster.

Short answer:

Near Streaky Bay, 700km northwest of Adelaide, a group of rock stars take centre stage in the middle of a wheat field.

Long Answer:

Murphy’s Haystacks are ancient wind-worn pink granite boulders that formed 1500 million years ago. Around 40km south of the popular fishing and tourist town of Streaky Bay on SA’s Eyre Peninsular, they stand like a crooked set of giant’s molars on a hilltop just 2km off the Flinders Hwy.

Murphy’s haystacks in all their glory

Folklore has them named after a Scottish agricultural expert who spotted the crop of remarkable rocks from the local mail coach. The Scotsman obviously had a fertile imagination. “That man must harrow," he commented to his fellow travellers. “Look at all the hay he has saved."

 

The owner of the land was Denis Murphy, and faster than you could shout “mine’s a Guinness!" the Murphy’s Haystacks nickname had stuck. Of course they’ve nothing to do with haymaking and are in fact great examples of weathered granite inselberg formations (German for “island-mountain"). They’re part of a larger mass called the Hiltaba Granite, named for the Hiltaba Station in the southwest Gawler Ranges, under which much of the mass lies.

 

The granite was originally hidden deep in the Earth’s crust, probably some 7-10 km below the surface, but over eons the overlying rocks have worn to be transported and deposited on the surrounding continental shelf and inland basins.

Next time you’re crossing the Nullabor, think about a detour

The granite hills of the district, including the haystacks, were buried by calcareous dune sand about 30,000 years ago. Gradual weathering has shaped the granite to reveal the weird and wonky pillars and boulders we see today.

 

So, if you’re crossing the Nullarbor or visiting the Eyre Peninsular, hop off the highway, skip down a side street and jump around among an ancient rock garden as old as time itself.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Fun fact:

French Impressionist painter Claude Monet had a thing for haystacks. Haystacks, Midday 1890 is part of the collection held by the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.

Did you know:

The name Murphy is a modern form of the ancient Irish name O’ Murchadha, which means “descendant of sea warrior" in Gaelic
And did you also know: The popular TV series MythBusters attempted to find “a needle in a haystack" by means of fire, water and a magnet (they managed it, but it was unbelievably difficult).

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From fresh seafood to native flavours: discover the best hotel restaurants around Australia

(Credit: Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences)

    Dilvin Yasa Dilvin Yasa
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    Feeling peckish? These hotel restaurants prove the best weekend escapes are ones planned around noshing in-house.

    Forget club sandwiches and lobby house wine; the folks at Hilton clearly missed the memo that stated that the dining experience should be a business trip afterthought.

    Instead, they’re leading with their core belief that incredible dining should be the cornerstone of every travel experience: the long breakfasts with usually good flat whites, the golden hour cocktails, and the local flavours you’ll talk about long after you’ve returned home.

    The result? We’ll let the following Hilton hotel restaurants do the talking.

    1. Together & Co, Busselton

    Together & Co, Hilton Garden Inn Busselton’s on-site restaurant.
    Sit down to the family-friendly Together & Co.

    Nothing pairs better with the iconic Busselton Jetty and the beaches of Geographe Bay (both mere moments away) than the relaxed coastal charm of Together & Co, Hilton Garden Inn Busselton’s on-site restaurant.

    Offering a relaxed, light-filled and family-friendly atmosphere with an open kitchen, Together & Co somehow appears unfussy on the surface, yet maintains a myopic focus on showcasing the best of local ingredients (regulars swear by the flame-grilled octopus, as well as their perfectly cooked steaks).

    Keen to stay put for a drink? Together & Co Bar offers an extensive wine list, cold beer on tap, a crafted cocktail selection and a bar bites menu.

    2. Cafe Sunrise, Cairns

    Hilton Cairns Cafe Sunrise
    Start the day with breakfast favourites.

    At Hilton Cairns, dining and drinking options are plentiful – even without the Executive Lounge (open to Executive Room and Executive Spa Room guests who can enjoy continental breakfast, light refreshments and a nightly drinks and canape experience).

    Cafe Sunrise starts the day with breakfast favourites, from fluffy pancakes to an omelette station, while Edge Terrace is made for a wind-down cocktail. At Gin Social, shared plates and succulent mains showcase fresh produce, and poolside dining comes with a playful bonus: call the ‘Popsicle Hotline’ for a complimentary fruit ice-block.

    3. The Vine Room, Cairns

    DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns, the vine room
    Enjoy Mediterranean-inspired eats by the pool.

    In DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns, Atrium Restaurant’s breakfast buffet offers more than 100 options, but don’t check out before dining at The Vine Room, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and bar pairing Tropical North Queensland produce with southern European flavours. A herby prawn risotto overlooking the Coral Sea? Yes please. Just be sure to leave room for Le Petit Chef, an immersive 3D dinner theatre experience where a tiny animated chef leads a culinary adventure to remember.

    4. PepperBerry Restaurant, Darwin

    Hilton Darwin Pepperberry
    Taste an award-winning menu, shaped by First Nations culture and residents.

    Shaped by First Nations culture and residents from over 100 nationalities, Darwin’s dining scene has more character than most. It’s something to keep in mind as you consider Hilton’s trio of perfectly located properties (and its onsite restaurants).

    At Hilton Darwin, PepperBerry Restaurant is the flagship, an award-winning upscale establishment where modern Australian cuisine is sharpened with native bush spices and superfresh NT produce. The multi-sensory dining experience that is Le Petit Chef is available here too, as is the option to enjoy lighter meals and cocktails at Palm Court Bar & Lounge, a premier spot favoured by locals.

    5. Catch Restaurant, Surfers Paradise

    Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences Catch restaurant table spread
    Lean into the Gold Coast lifestyle at Catch Restaurant.

    When you’re staying in a property located in the heart of Surfers Paradise, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got stamina for all the nearby attractions and happily, Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences has you covered with some stellar options.

    Start the day with breakfast at Catch Restaurant, the hotel’s signature eatery, which is inspired by the vibrant Gold Coast lifestyle. Make a reservation for dinner (Wednesday to Saturday nights only), where the focus is on sustainably sourced seafood, steaks and pasta.

    Elsewhere, Ms Margot’s Bar & Eats, a coastal-inspired restaurant facing the buzzing Orchid Avenue strip, remains a crowd favourite thanks to its tapas menu (think coconut king prawns and fried honey haloumi bites), flatbreads and signature cocktails, but why not also treat yourself to its High Tea offering?

    6. Saltbush, Alice Springs

    saltbush restaurant alice springs

    Taste native bush flavours at Saltbush.

    Set against a red desert backdrop, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs feels like a palm-fringed oasis, but it’s the property’s dining offerings which anchor you firmly in the outback.

    Saltbush, where buffet breakfasts roll into contemporary Australian lunches and dinners incorporating native bush flavours, remains a popular choice. The restaurant’s signature dishes include outback tenderloin koftas, lemon myrtle pannacotta and a classic outback pie made with kangaroo meat.

    7. Hanuman Restaurant, Alice Springs

    Experience a foodie weekend with a flatlay of food from Hanuman.
    Experience award-winning pan-Asian cuisine. (Image: Tourism NT)

    For an upscale dining experience, award-winning Hanuman Restaurant isn’t to be missed.

    Also part of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs and located on the banks of the Todd River, expect a pan-Asian menu combining Thai, Indian and Nonya (Straits Chinese) cuisines. And why not finish up with a post-meal drink or snack at The Deck Bar & Eatery, a relaxed outdoor space where cocktails are served under a canopy of stars?

    Start planning a foodie escape at hilton.com.