Onkaparinga River National Park
If you are interested in fishing, canoeing, rock climbing or photography, this spectacular park is a must visit for you. South Australia’s second longest river, the Onkaparinga enters the park in a steep sided valley and flows into a magnificent gorge with cliffs up to 50 metres high and large permanent rock pools. The park, which incorporates the Onkaparinga River Recreation Park, follows the river to the sea, discovering an entirely different environment in its estuary and wetlands.
The park is located on the Main South Road, Old Noarlunga, 35 kilometres south of Adelaide city centre. Access to the estuary area is from River Road (turn right off Main South Road at Hackham), Commercial Road, Port Noarlunga South and Sauerbiers Road, Port Noarlunga South. The park’s main walking area is on the northern side of the gorge from Piggott Range Road where there are a variety of easy accessible trails. Southern gates along Chapel Hill Road provide access to the gorge area. Admission is free.
Onkaparinga Gorge’s spectacular rugged scenery make it particularly attractive to bushwalkers, but the steep trails in this section of the park are suitable only for the experienced and fit. However, a number of less demanding trails provide an opportunity to enjoy the gorge without having to descend to river level.
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.
The estuary section of the park, on the other side of Main South Road, offers a contrasting wetlands environment which provides breeding habitats for numerous fish and bird species. The areas of samphire flats and mudbanks are important feeding grounds for wading birds, swans and pelicans. A 5 km interpretive trail around the wetlands can be accessed from River Road.
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