Introduction This bushwalk was in Onkaparinga Conservation Park on the southern side of Adelaide. It is a tough walking park as the river, over millions of years, has caused the valley to have very steep sides. There is often water here, even in the height of summer, which makes for good animal and bird spotting. So this park is one to visit with older children and only with appropriate footwear. We have visited this park a few times and it ranks high on Peter's favourite parks, but this particular walk was new to us. How to get there... From South road, [View Full Entry]

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Introduction Sometimes when I talk to people about this "blogging" thing, they do ask, "So what is your favourite bush walk?" and I reply, that "All walks are great, and they change every time you visit, but if I had to choose one, it would be Hale." Hale is a small Conservation Park located near Williamstown (the "southern gateway to the Barossa"). It is probably the hardest park to find - we have had 5 visits that I recall and we drive past the turn off every time! To get there go up Main North Road through Salisbury and then take [View Full Entry]

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This is another local walk that Dan and I did alone as Peter went off celebrating his birthday (again) by playing golf with visiting friends from the West Coast. The walk was around West Lakes and over Delfin Island, a man-made housing development (circa 1975) constructed from the swamps of the Barker inlet. It is an easy walk, about 5.5 km, originally shown to us by Willy, and it would take about 1 1/2 to 2 hours depending on the age of any children accompanying you. Most of the walk is around the lake, however private property means that you need [View Full Entry]

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Introduction ... Instead of a Sunday walk this week to get our dose of 'serenity' we did a very pleasant 20 km bike ride from Semaphore to North Haven. The path was very simple, we headed from our place down Hart street to the bike track on the Esplanade foreshore and headed North towards Outer Harbour. If you have bikes, you can catch the train from Adelaide to Glanville station (Outer Harbour line) and head down Semaphore Road and down to the jetty. From here you can join the bike path. A map of the bike path (number 5 in the [View Full Entry]

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Since our last visit to Mount Bryan things have certainly become more golden as the crops ripen and become ready for reaping. On Tuesday evening an enormous header appeared and stripped the grain in ‘number 1’ paddock. By about midnight the paddock was finished and the workers retired until tomorrow. Dan says … I had a ride in the harvester. Matt was driving. It was like I was a little man helping an evil villain to drive his evil instrument of torture (for wheat). Inside the harvester it was like being in a computer room. There were lots of buttons a [View Full Entry]

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During our visit to Mt Bryan we were treated to a historical tour of the area by Jim Quinn (Dan's Grandfather). This entry shares what we found out. The Quinn family migrated to Australia from Ireland in 1853 and have resided in South Australia ever since. The family homes have been around Mt Bryan, progressively moving in a clockwise direction around the mountain. Dan’s Great Grandfather on the Quinn side of the family spent the first 8 years of his life in a little house 8 miles north from Mount Bryan (section 662). His name was Thomas James Quinn (born 20/9/1892 [View Full Entry]

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Introduction To start the new year we returned to Parachilna, staying at the Prairie Hotel for 2 nights. The trip was precipitated by 2 things - our planned Ceduna trip was proving too difficult to accommodate; and our friend, Regan, wished to provide an ‘outback experience’ for 3 visiting friends (Mosa, Brett and Brooke), but had not actually been to the Flinders Ranges before. What happenned After a string of 40 degree days in Adelaide we were greeted with solid rain on New Years Day. We packed the two cars and the seven of us were on the road after lunc [View Full Entry]

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One of the rituals when visiting KI is to feed the local pelicans with the leftovers after filletting the day's catch of fish. In these images, Opa shows Dan how it is done. It takes surprisingly little to get the attention of the pelicans. The squawk of a seagull is usually enough. They then start to fly in, usually quite low over the water and often in formation and from several kilometres away. It is am impressive sight seeing such big birds in the air. As they get close to the feeding site they often do a water landing. Their legs [View Full Entry]

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Introduction This walk is one we have enjoyed many times during our visits to American River on Kangaroo Island. American River is not a river, but a deep cove which is protected from the open waters of ‘Backstairs passage’ by a narrow entrance to the north. To the south are lagoons which are important fish breeding grounds. This walk follows the coast on the western side of the cove, but high on the side of a hill, crossing several gullies and passing through many sheoak forests (food for the impressive glossy black cockatoos that inhabit this part of the world). The [View Full Entry]

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So if you have international visitors who are interested in the South Australian wineries, and curious about bushwalking, particularly the Heysen trail, then this is the park for you! Kyeema Conservation Park is near Mount Magnificent and Willunga - and nearby some of the McLaren Vale wineries. The Heysen trail also crosses it. I can imagine some very successful days with wine tasting, some walking and picnicking along the way. Some links for you ... a description of the park [url=http://www.kesab.asn.au/tidytowns/repo [View Full Entry]

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