Onkaparinga River National Park
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Onkaparinga River National Park South Australia | |
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Nearest town or city | Adelaide city centre |
Coordinates | 35°09′38″S 138°33′14″E / 35.16056°S 138.55389°E |
Established | 5 August 1993[2] |
Area | 15.42 km2 (6.0 sq mi)[1] |
Managing authorities | Department for Environment and Water |
Website | Onkaparinga River National Park |
See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
Onkaparinga River National Park is a
History
Most of the land now dedicated to the national park was purchased in the period 1973 to 1977 by a former
Prior use of land
The lower reaches of the
Flora and fauna
The vegetation of the park has been greatly perturbed by human activity, but remnant patches remain. The most intact area is the Hardy's Scrub section of the reserve. 160 years of livestock grazing, timber harvesting and cropping has cleared most of the reserve of native understorey species and in many areas invasive grasses are the main vegetation type. Remnant eucalypts are the most noticeable native species in the reserve.
Trails
Hardys Scrub Hike
2 hr loop, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) loop (Gate 11).
This patch of native vegetation is a very important conservation area, despite a history of timber cutting, quarrying and grazing.
Nature Hike
2 hr loop, 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) loop (Gate 6).
The Nature Hike includes good views of the gorge, while trails provide an opportunity to view many species of birds and the occasional lizard.
Echidna Hike
2.5 hr loop, 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) loop (Gate 7).
The Echidna Trail winds its way amongst some of the best remnant vegetation and visits six heritage sites, including huts and houses built in the 1880s. The dominant overstorey species is peppermint box, with river red gum in the gullies and pink gum on the higher slopes. Other plant species include sheoak, golden wattle, a small stand of native pine and various herbaceous ground covers. Twenty-seven native orchid species have been recorded in the area.
Sundews Ridge Hike
2 hr loop, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) loop (Gate 6).
A relatively short hike to view the rocky outcrops and meandering Onkaparinga River from the Sundews Lookout.
Gorge Track
4 hr return, 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) return (Gate 18).
This hard trail takes you to gorge vantage points before descending steeply to the river.
Sundews River Hike
4 hr loop, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) loop (Gate 6).
This rocky trail descends steeply from the Sundews Lookout to the bottom of the gorge, and then follows the river downstream for a short distance before returning up the steep slopes of the gorge to the ridge and then the car park.
Rock climbing
Climbing is permitted on the designated cliff area near Gate 10. Specific skills and equipment are required. Climbers are required to contact the Belair District Office first.
See also
References
- ^ a b "Terrestrial Protected Areas of South Australia (refer 'DETAIL' tab )". CAPAD 2016. Australian Government, Department of the Environment (DoE). 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ a b "NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE ACT 1972 SECTIONS 34(2) AND 28(1): CONSTITUTION OF ONKAPARINGA RIVER NATIONAL PARK" (PDF). The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. 5 August 1993. p. 747. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
alter the boundaries of the Onkaparinga River Recreation Park by excising the land to die east of Main South Road from the park;
- ^ "Management Plan - Onkaparinga River Reserve" (PDF). Department of Environment and Heritage. 2004. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 March 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
External links
- Onkaparinga River National Park and Recreation Park official webpage
- Onkaparinga River National Park webpage on protected planet
- Friends of Onkaparinga Park Inc
- Postcards Feature with Keith Conlon
- A blog of a bush walk in the Onkaparinga River National Park by SA-hiker
Further information
- Whitaker, Michael L (2013), Twelve more walks in the Onkaparinga River National and Recreation Parks, Friends of Onkaparinga Park, S.Aust.