A new car and passenger ferry service from Yorke Peninsula to Eyre Peninsula has begun, cutting 350 kilometres or four hours of driving between Adelaide and Port Lincoln.

Offering six services daily seven times a week, the ferry service heralds a new era for the Spencer Gulf, making some of South Australia�s most spectacular holiday getaways more accessible than ever to tourists.

Sea Way features full-length viewing windows, a caf�, kids� play zone, a TV lounge area and an observation deck offering 360 degree uninterrupted views of the Spencer Gulf.

From March 2007, the vessel will be replaced by a purpose-built, luxury vessel Sea Scape, a 49-metre catamaran designed by Sea Transport Solutions in Queensland. With more capacity, the new vessel will save travellers even more time taking just 100 minutes to complete the crossing.

Sea SA spokeswoman Stephanie Dawson said Sea SA would offer a range of holiday packages in the new year including accommodation, adventure tours, cruise/drive and fly/cruise/drive tours incorporating products from towns and regions, including businesses in and around Port Augusta.

�We believe this new service will benefit all businesses and give people from Adelaide and further afield the chance to experience locations they once perceived as being too far away,� she said.

�Eyre Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula offer some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Australia and remain largely pristine and untouched. Combine this with fresh seafood, abundant wildlife and historic coastal towns and you have an authentic holiday experience to remember.�

The ferry departs the Yorke Peninsula town of Wallaroo daily at 6am, 10.30am and 3pm and the Eyre Peninsula town of Lucky Bay, just north of Cowell, at 8.15am, 12.45pm and 5.15pm. Wallaroo is less than a two hour drive north of Adelaide while Lucky Bay is around one-and-a-half hours north of Port Lincoln.

Ticket prices range from $10 for children aged four to 15 and $25 for adults. Children under three travel free. Vehicles up to 5.5 metres cost between $85 and $95. Bookings are essential. To book phone 08 8823 0777 or visit www.seasa.com.au

Media Contact: Melissa Humphrey Email: humphrey.melissa@saugov.sa.gov.au Ph: 0414 317 913