Pullen Island
A small offshore granite island just off Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot - a defining feature of the bay's view, accessible to experienced swimmers in calm conditions.
The island in Horseshoe Bay
Pullen Island is the small granite outcrop that sits a couple of hundred metres off the eastern end of Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot. The bay's signature shape - the curving sand backed by sandstone headlands - is framed at the eastern end by Pullen Island, which makes the island one of the most photographed natural features on the Encounter Coast.
Wildlife and access
The island is a known seal haul-out and a roosting site for cormorants and other sea birds. Strong swimmers and snorkellers can swim out from Horseshoe Bay on calm days, but the swim is exposed and the island is rocky - check conditions and treat it as a serious open-water swim.
The view
The best view is from the foreshore at Horseshoe Bay, especially at sunset when the island silhouettes against the western light, or from Freeman Lookout above the bay.
Find it on the map
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Pullen Island — frequently asked questions
What is Pullen Island?
Pullen Island is a small granite island of about one hectare lying roughly half a kilometre offshore from Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot. Around 300 m long and made up of weathered granite boulders, it is protected as Pullen Island Conservation Park.
Can you get to Pullen Island?
There is no boat service or causeway to the island. Strong, experienced swimmers and snorkellers sometimes swim out from Horseshoe Bay on calm days, but the water is exposed and the island is rocky, so most people enjoy it from the Port Elliot shore. As a conservation park and seabird breeding site, it should be treated with care.
What wildlife lives on Pullen Island?
The island is an important refuge for seabirds, with breeding little penguins and silver gulls, a roost for cormorants, and a regular haul-out spot for seals.
Image credits
- Horseshoe Bay Panorama, Pullen Island by AMEB2003 , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons