Lake walk at Mawson

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Introduction

The Lake walk is adjacent to the Mawson Lakes campus of the University of South Australia and is one that we regularly do. It only takes 30 minutes to do the 3km walk and you can see considerable numbers of birds as you go around.

How to get there ...

Mawson lakes is 17 km North of Adelaide along Main North Road.

The walk starts at the bus stop at UniSA, Mawson Lakes. Head South back along University Boulevard and across Mawson Lakes Boulevard. Go over the low foot bridge to cross the lake in front of Technology Park and then go around the lake in a clockwise direction.

What happened ...

It was a bright and sunny morning - with a temperature in the low 30s. Many light planes were over head practising landings and take-offs at the near-by Parafield Airport. We pretty much had the path to ourselves however there was a group of people with remote-operated model boats on the Southern side of the lake. There were many tiny fish in the shallows and at one point we heard a splash and saw some enormous carp!

There were plenty of birds swooping and resting in the lake. My camera doesn't zoom very close but I have linked in some online images of the birds to their names.

Spotted were flocks of Little terns and whiskered terns. On the banks were Australian white ibis, White-faced herons, Australian wood ducks, Magpie Larks, Pacific black ducks, Silver gulls, Crested pigeons, Masked lapwings (large plover), Swamp hens, Eurasian coots and Willy wagtails.


In the trees we saw Galahs, Australian Magpies, and 3 types of Cormorants - Little pied, Little black and Pied. The familiar Welcome swallow and House sparrow were also there.

If you do see a bird in Adelaide, and you want to try and identify it - try this web site.

So all in all a very enjoyable short walk - although it can get a bit windy sometimes.

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Photos

Bus stop
Get off the bus at the UniSA-Mawson Lakes bus stop. To see the images as a slide show click on the image and then use the controls at the top of the window to move through the slides.

University Boulevard
Start the walk by heading back down University Boulevard, past Endeavor College and the Signal Processing Unit Building

Mawson Boulevard
Cross Mawson Boulevard

Technology Park
Go past Technology Park and use the small bridge to head around the lake in a clockwise direction

Grand tree
A magnificent example of a gum tree that was on the original water course

Pied cormorant
Sitting on a light post

Sailing lake-side
A group of people are sailing remote controlled boats on the lake.

Watch out below
Cormorants in a tree - the walk way is quite white in this area

Half way around the big part
Looking East towards the Adelaide Hills - Have walked down the right hand side and now heading to the left hand side

Solar lights
Path illuminated at night by the sun

Bird and fish hide-aways
The edges of the lake have rocks and reeds to provide protection for birds and small fish

Past the footbridge
Final part - go past the little footbridge and continue in a clockwise direction

Back to Technology Park path
Take the walkway back around the small part of the lake. You can follow this around to get back to where you started. The Shopping centre, restaurants, library and University buildings are to the North.

Comments

[Graham & Jackie Halfyard]

Our recent stay at Mawson Lakes...
...My wife & I have recently returned to our home here in North Yorkshire U.K. having spent a wonderful five weeks staying at Mawson Lakes just outside Adelaide City...We were there for our younger son's wedding actually, which was held at the Botanic Gardens in the City...The weather was perfect, the ceremony was very nice & the reception was absolutely fantastic too & we would like to return there next year & catch up with the many friends we have over in Australia...Such a wonderful country with so many friendly people there.

[SA hiker]

Great to hear your enjoyed your stay and the sunshine.