National Parks & Wildlife
Fleurieu Peninsula & Kangaroo Island
SA
Deep
Creek Conservation
Park
4,030
hectares Deep Creek
Conservation Park
is on the southern
coast of Fleurieu
Peninsula, not far
from Cape Jervis.
It consists of rugged
hills, from which
flow streams that
water the valleys
where native orchids
and ferns luxuriate.
Vegetation varies
from tall forest
to wind-blown heath
and the park is
rich in birdlife
and native animals.
Where Deep Creek
meets the coast,
high cliffs Provide
stunning vistas
across Backstairs
Passage to Kangaroo
Island. Only occasionally
are the cliffs broken
by small coves.
The Heysen Trail
and other walking
paths wind through
the park and simple
camping grounds
have been set aside.
The famous Heysen
Trail, at 1,500
kilometres the world's
longest walking
trail, begins near
Cape Jervis on its
path north to the
Flinders Ranges.
The Fleurieu Peninsula
section of the trail
is excellent for
both day treks and
longer walks and
takes you through
some superbly varied
terrain. From Cape
Jervis, the trail
follows the coast
to Newland Head,
where it pushes
inland up Newland
Hill and on to Myponga
Conservation Park,
It then turns north-east
for Mount Compass
and northwards through
the Mount Lofty
Ranges. The trail
is marked with orange
triangles, wherever
possible, in the
tops of pine posts.
While close to Adelaide,
access to the trail
from public transport
is generally not
available . Some
sections of the
trail, require bushwalking
experience, and,
advice should be
sought from the
Recreation Institute.
Maps are available
from the State Information
Centre, Plaza level,
25 Grenfell Street,
Adelaide.
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.
Newland
Head Conservation
Park
945
hectares This 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.
Kangaroo
Island
Flinders Chase Visitor Centre phone: 8559 7220
D'Etsrees Bay should be D'Estrees Bay Murray Lagoon phone: 8553 8233
At the park's headquarters at the Seagers Road entrance displays provide information about plant identification and the birdlife.
Kelly Hill Caves phone: 8559 7231
Seal Bay Conservation Park
Telephone (08) 8559 4207.
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
Telephone
(08) 8559 3257 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.
Firing of the signal
cannon is carried
out daily. 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.
Guided tours are
conducted daily.
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.
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. Many hours
can be spent exploring
its length of beach.
Murray
Lagoon
Telephone
(08) 85532 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
2180
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.
The Hanson Bay Hike
winds through the
park to the coast
from Kelly Hill
Caves , while at
Kelly Hill Caves,
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 manoeuvring
through the cave
system.
Seal
Bay Conservation
Park
750
hectares Telephone
(08) 8554207. 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.
The full length
of Seal Bay Conservation
Park has been declared
an Aquatic Reserve
swimming and fishing
are prohibited.
For further travel information on: Kangaroo Island | Fleurieu Peninsula
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