The Western Hills of the
southern Mount Lofty Ranges roll down to meet a coast of sheltered  beaches,
cliffs and rocky headlands, while in the east they flatten to meet Lake
Alexandrina and the River Murray where they enter the sea. Although
the area has been developed for a variety of purposes the inaccessibility
of ridges and the difficulties of working rugged gullies has left areas
of natural bushland. Parks of the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia
offer many varied and challenging
walks. Major parks to visit are Deep Creek and
Newland
Head Conservation Parks, with the historic mine at Talisker
providing contrast.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service aims to
conserve examples of the original natural landscape of Fleurieu Peninsula
capable of sustaining all of their wildlife species. Our selection
is below, see
the map
.
Coorong
National Park
on the Fleurieu stretches for 145 kilometres from the  Murray
mouth to Kingston in the south-east of splendid isolation, amid millions
of birds that fish in the Southern Ocean and the islet-studded, thin lagoon
separated from it by the long sand-duned strip of Younghusband
Peninsula. Pelicans, cormorants, terns and waterfowl are among
the species. Mainland dunes are occasionally bound by coastal mallee, wattle
and boobialla. By boat, the upper Coorong is accessible from Goolwa.
Fishing, surfing and walking by the ocean are popular. The lagoon is fine
for boating and fishing. Camping permits are obtained from the National
Parks and Wildlife Officer at Victor
Harbor or Salt Creek which have camp facilities as has Policeman's
Point.
.
Cox Scrub
Conservation Park
One of the many remnant scrub lands that offer the bushwalker, photographer,
birdwatcher, botanist or anyone who simply appreciates raw nature, many
hours of enjoyment, whatever the time of year. There are several walking
trails through the park and camping is permitted at Coles Creek.
Newland
Head Conservation Park
This 945 hectares coastal conservation park twelve kilometres
west of Victor Harbor includes Waitpinga and Parsons beaches, both noted
for their fishing,
hard-breaking surf
and beachcombing. A series of signposted walking
trails is set off from both beaches. There are camping ground facilities,
free gas barbecues, rainwater fit for drinking, public conveniences and
shelter.
Deep Creek
Conservation Park
from Cape Jervis to Waitpinga Beach, is 4000 hectares of cliffs, trees,
heath, stunted eucalypts, wild orchids and ferns growing by gully creeks.
Honeyeaters, rare southern brown bandicoots and western pygmy possums live
here. Kangaroos feed in open grasslands. Bushwalking is strenuous and water
should be carried. Bushcamps at Trig, Cobbler Hill, Tapanappa and Eagle
Waterfall have no facilities nor water. Permits are issued at Victor Harbor's
National Parks and Wildlife Service office or by the patrolling ranger.
The Fleurieu Peninsula has twenty-one Parks and Reserves.
Urimbirra
Wildlife Park
Near Victor
Harbor, gives you the opportunity to see Australian night and day land
and water fauna in their natural surroundings.
Onkaparinga
River National Park
 The
'Onka' has carved a deep gorge through the hills adjacent to the
coast at Port Noarlunga. The marked trail along the gorge will reward walkers
with a ramble of up to six hours with magnificent views and a peaceful
retreat.
An interpreted boardwalk crosses the wetland at the estuary, birdwatchers
can see coots, yellow billed spoonbills, herons, ibis and little egrets.
Note: Onkaparinga National Park. The trail
along the bottom is poorly marked for large parts of its length and unless
you are an extremely fit walker you will not do it in six hours. There
are however other walks which if you are interested in I can provide information.
NPWS should be able to do the same if not better. Friends of parks groups.
There are a number in the Fleurieu one of which is the Friends of Onkaparinga.
They could do with some web exposure the NPWS has a pretty poor policy
re their 7500 volunteers statewide (worth about $3.5mill / year) working
in parks although there are some rangers who will not have a bad word said
about us. I can give you some info on that as well having been the President
of the Incorporated body in 1998. Bill
Heaven
Aldinga
Scrub Conservation Park
Situated between the township of Aldinga Beach and Sellicks Beach,
46 km south of Adelaide and contains the last remnant of native coastal
vegetation in the greater Adelaide area. The park has long been recognised
as a significant area for nature conservation and protects many rare plants.
Covering an area of 300 ha, its natural features include sand blows, sand
dunes, mallee scrub, lacy coral lichen, remnant red gum forests and closed
heath.
.
In such a fragile sand environment people can easily disturb the natural
balance, causing erosion and damage to vegetation. Please tread carefully
on the formed walking tracks.
Talisker
Conservation Park
134 hectares Talisker Conservation Park has as its focus the historic
Talisker silver and lead mine. The old Cornish miners' diggings, surrounded
by steep wooded hills, are listed on the state's register of heritage items.
An interpretive display and walking trail explore the mine, its history
, natural features and vegetation.
Admiral's
Arch
Admiral's Arch is a magnificent natural arch sculpted by the elements.
At Cape du Couedic , it is the playground for groups of New Zealand Fur
Seals, which laze on the rocks nearby.
Cape
Borda Lighthouse
Opened in 1858, this lighthouse stands on a cliff 155 metres above
the sea on the far western end of the island. Nearby stands a small cannon,
once used to warn ships of danger. The cemetery close by has thirteen headstones,
a stark reminder of the hardships faced by the early settlers. The Cape
Borda Heritage Museum displays a collection of relics which depicts the
daily life of the settlement and explains the operation of the lighthouse.
Telephone (08) 8559 3257
Cape
Du Couedic Lighthouse
This automatic lighthouse was built in 1906. The remains of a jetty,
water tank and storeroom are nearby at Weirs Cove. From here, building
materials and other supplies were sent by flying fox to the top of the
cliffs. In 1835 the island's largest shipwreck occurred nearby.
Remarkable
Rocks
The name says it all, sculpted by the force of wind and sea, Remarkable
Rocks at Cape du Couedic stand on a massive granite dome.
Rocky
River
A small cleared area in the heart of a forest of the national park,
known for large numbers of Kangaroo Island kangaroos and Cape Barren geese
that go there to  feed.
The kangaroos are mostly docile and visitors can hand-feed them. Other
animals in the area include emus and koalas. Park Headquarters are at Rocky
River. Phone (08) 8553 7235
Cape
Gantheaume Conservation Park
21,254 hectares Covering the expanse of exposed southern coast from
Bales Beach to Cape Linois, Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park extends inland
to Murray Lagoon. Thousands of years of elemental action have carved high
cliffs and caves along its coasts. Here the vegetation consists of hardy
heath. Further inland, mallee provides shelter for kangaroos, bandicoots,
pigmy possums and marsupial mice. Only bushwalkers can gain access to this
park.
D'Etsrees
Bay
This is an attractive, long sweep of beach on the south-eastern side
of the island, once the site of a whaling station. Subject to the might
of the Southern Ocean, its shores have been the location of several shipwrecks.
Today, D'Estrees Bay is popular with anglers and shell collectors after
the elusive nautilus shell. Many hours can be spent exploring its length
of beach.
Murray
Lagoon
Telephone (08) 8552 8233 An important wildlife haven in Cape Gantheaume
Conservation Park, Murray Lagoon covers as much as 2,000 hectares after
winter rains. It is a food and breeding area for more than two hundred
bird species. Walking trails around the lagoon allow visitors to see many
of them. At the park's headquarters at the Seagers Road entrance. Displays
provide information about plant identification and the birdlife.
Kelly
Hill Conservation Park
6.306 hectares Stunted coastal heath and hardy mallee thrive in this
park, a large section of undulating limestone ridges on the western edge
of the island before Flinders Chase National Park. Walking trails wind
through the park to the coast and to the historic village of Grassdale,
while at Kelly Hill, an extensive area of caves, caverns and sinkholes
is the park's most popular attraction .
Kelly
Hill Caves
Telephone (08) 8553 7231 This popular area features sink holes and
caverns which lead to caves of ornate calcite formations. The Kelly Hill
Caves contain weird and wonderfully shaped straws, stalactites, stalagmites
and strangely contorted helectites. Guided tours are conducted daily and
visitors will hear about the history of the caves. Cement paths allow for
easy maneuvering through the cave system.
Seal
Bay Conservation Park
750 hectares Telephone (08) 8552 8233. Seal Bay is famous for its large
colony of rare Australian Sea Lions, estimated to comprise ten percent
of the world population of the species. The inhabitants are relatively
tame, and do tolerate human incursion into their midst. Nonetheless, they
can be dangerous and entrance into the area is restricted to minimise disturbance
to both the mammals and their breeding. Guided tours take visitors closer
to the large mammals. A Ranger's hut above the beach provides information
on the sea lions' living habits. The full length of Seal Bay Conservation
Park has been declared an Aquatic Reserve swimming and fishing are prohibited.
Little
Sahara
The Little Sahara is an area, not far off the road to Seal Bay, of
spectacular white sand dunes completely surrounded by bushland. Surmount
the first ridge and you're confronted by a second, larger one with more
to follow for as far as the eye can see.
 Warrawong
Sanctuary Located in
the hills adjacent to the Fleurieu with guided dawn, day and dusk walks,
restaurant and shop.
In 1969 Dr. John
Wamsley purchased 14 hectares of degraded farmland in the near
the Mylor township. Then commenced what many consider to be the
most important conservation project ever carried out in Australia.
Over 100,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted.
Over a kilometer of creeks and pools have been constructed. All of the
land is surrounded by Australia's first successful fox and cat proof fence.
Animals which once lived in the Adelaide Hills have been re-introduced.In
1985 Warrawong Sanctuary opened
to the public. For the first time for generations, ordinary Australians
and overseas visitors were able to see Australian wildlife as it was 200
years ago. The project was acclaimed to be an instant success.
Breeding Platypus
Probably the most remarkable achievements of Warrawong
Sanctuary is the breeding of platypus. The
Sanctuary claims that until Warrawong
cracked the code, no-one could breed platypus. This results in the disastrous
situation in Australia's Zoos where platypus are taken from the wild to
live a few days in a glass tank before they either die or go mad to satisfy
the curiosity of the public.
Note: At least TWO private sanctuaries
in NSW were successfully breeding platypii over thirty years ago!
- Kai Richmond
Improvements now include native plant retail nursery,
licensed restaurant, craft shop, 30m x 12m shed, offices for the Earth
Sanctuaries group of companies, 4 houses, 50 megalitre dam, platypusery,
rain forest, dry forest, scrub, wetlands, open grasslands, etc. The tenting
complex includes 15 luxury tents for overnight accommodation and was completed
in 1994. This complex has approval to accommodate up to 50 persons per
night. Warrawong Sanctuary now employs six
full-time employees as well as a number of part time contractors who take
the guided dawn, day and dusk tours of the Sanctuary
Bookings are essential 61
8 8370 9422 fax 61 8 8370 8332
 .
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