We've been making a habit of going for a walk at the weekends - just me and Howard, a real luxury now the kids are old enough to look after themselves. We have been exploring a different park or reserve each time, and finding some fantastic places. These autumn days are perfect for walking. Not really cold, and when the sun comes out in the middle of the day (as it almost always does), it can get quite warm - up into the low 20's degrees.

Brownhill Creek - if you haven't been here, it's truly beautiful. This is a linear park beside the creek, with a road and walking path alongside. We didn't drive all the way to the end but I have been recommended to do this next time, apparently most people stop near the entrance and it's more isolated the further you go - not that we saw too many people on our walk anyway. There is also a campsite at the entrance to the park, that would be a lovely place to go for a 'tryout' camping trip without even having to leave Adelaide. As we left the park we drove over the road at the end and found a bustling pub where we had a leisurely coffee before driving home. The menus looked good too - can't remember the name but well worth seeking out.

Shepherd's Hill Recreation Park - now this is an absolute delight, ENORMOUS!! We could have walked there for hours. Again there is a creek. There's an archery club based in the park with targets set up, also cyclists and horse riders are welcomed. Amazing bird life and even found frogs croaking in the creek (or creaking in the croke?). Quite a maze of walking paths, I think you'd have to walk there quite a bit before you were forced to take the same track a second time.

Sturt Gorge - What views over the gorge! I understand there are places you can get in to walk but we failed at the first attempt. Will have to find where the entrances are and try again one of these days when we feel up to a bit of serious hill-climbing.

Morphett Vale Reserve - again plenty of places to walk, but a lot more open space for family cricket games, plus picnic places and a kids playground. Also, a miniature railway of the ride-on type, which if I remember correctly operates on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. Shame my kids are getting a little old for this kind of thing.... :)


Anyone else got a favourite place they can tell us about, or something that they enjoy doing in and around Adelaide?

You have to try Morialta and Waterfall Gully Elaine - specially in the 'wet' season!
D

It's on my 'one of these days' list Diane :lol:

You'll have to explore Shepherd's Hill on your bikes one of these days, if you haven't already.

This site could be quite useful for some: South Australian Walking Trails

Also the OZexplore website is great plus there are several groups for 4x4 off roading or bush camping you could join.

Sasha :)

Let it never be said there is nothing to do in Adelaide, here is an events calendar that is always being updated.

Great things to see and do for the whole family, not to mention it also has a sub category of free to enter events.

http://www.purpleblob.com.au/cgi-bin/suite...ar/calendar.cgi

There is also a work in progress in the Links forum of this site titled Entertainment which also has a number of great ideas to get you out and about and enjoying our fair state.

Bit of a beach man myself.Been down to Seacliff beach the last couple of evenings with the kids.They are moving the sand from one end to the other by lorry and dumping it in big piles .Weve been running and jumping over top of the piles of sand......great fun.It must look a bit of a sight though..........a large grown man doing a swallow dive over yhe sand :lol: .
Sand gets everywhere though..................has anybody been to the park.Sandy Balls!!!!! :D

get down there before they smooth them over!!!


On another note..Christies beach and Noarlunga are nice beaches

love snorkelling/diving from the end of Noarlunga jetty
though need a wet or dry suit in the winter.....

Got any pics Ian? (Been to Sandy Balls a few times myself!)

I love walking along the beaches too. Port Noarlunga to Southport is a favourite.

Anyone been to the Coorong? I'm thinking of having a trip down there and don't know where to start. I don't have a 4WD so that's out. Jet??? Any ideas?

Shaz

Thanks for all the info.

We too have been enjoying looking for walks in the cooler weather.

Ended up at Onkaparinga Reserve last week there's a gentle wetlands walk (can also cycle it) along the river or more strenuous ones if you so wish. Saw some lovely wildlife and the frogs/toads, not sure which as only heard them, we're in fine voice.

Would be interested to hear of any places like this that people have found where you can take the dog along too. We seem to have found lots where you can't and only a few where you can.

Also any recommendations for places to take two little shall we say novice cyclists, they are ok in a straight line but still working on steering if you catch my drift!

Thanks everyone

Terri.xxx

Okaparinga river national park is one of my favourites, it big and wild.
lots of roos, reptiles, and bizzare looking insects.

better in spring/ summer though as depending on your route there a few river crossings, and there are no bridges.

it fairly remote though, and i've hardly ever seen anyone there, so take the usual precautions


another recommendations are, mt magnificent and the conservation park near there, but i cant remember its name.

where's the best place to park up and gain access, Sean?....have wandered in a little way from old Noarlunga, but really want to "do" it properly someday

I can just see you now Shaz standing on 90 mile beach, I Pod in hand doing the cockle dance, for those of you that don't know what the cockle dance is, it's a way of moving about in the sand to dig up cockles, quite amusing to watch :lol:

The Coorong National Park is accessible on its Northern side to conventional vehicles and some wonderful views over the lagoon to the sandhills that protect the lagoon from the southern ocean gales. The Lakes nature trail just off the highway from Salt Creek is worth a look for the history of the area , the scenery and birdlfie. There is plenty of Camping areas with facilities too.

I would not suggest anyone without a 4WD and some knowledge taking any crossing over to the beach. The tracks are only that and are subject to flooding and erosion. If you must see the beach and are in a conventional vehicle I would suggest driving down to 42 mile crossing taking the road to the campsite and then doing the next 1.3km on foot to the beach. Another point if you do want to take a 4WD down to the beach do remember the access roads are closed 24th October - 24th November to protect the breeding of the plover.

Okay another thought and a much easier way to access the Coorong would be to drive down to Goolwa and hop onboard the Coorong Explorer for a day trip to Godfreys landing or do one of their overnight trips.

Here is a link with more information

http://www.parks.sa.gov.au/coorong/visit/i...tm#publications

Jet :)

And for those wanting to get the adrenalin moving, think someone mentioned on another thread they wanted something to get the heart pumping. Well there may not be a theme park here to do it but you could try a ride on Hel-a-va Jet Boats out of Glenelg if you can cope with a 5G spin sat in the back seat, now that I'm sure will get your adrenalin pumping!

http://www.helava.com.au/

Jet :)

I have only accessed from chapel hill road that runs from the south east of the park. there are a few access point there
took me a few attempts to get in there properly, as paths start to become 'ambiguous' the deeper you get in.
most paths either cross a river which will be a continuum between dry in summer to raging torrent in winter :unsure:
others just terminate into bush.
others are too long and i give up when i'm too hot and running low on water.

This one could be useful for you Terri.

http://www.4legs.com.au/walkabout.php

Just enter the postcode of a general area you're interested in looking at.

If you have a bit of spare money to throw away . Then try " Puzzle Park", we did, it's a hoot. :doh: :doh: :doh:

Thanks for that Marco will have a browse through.

Terri.xxx

G'day

For those of you who want to do something a bit different why not try the Ghost tour of Adelaide Gaol. A group of us went and although we never saw any ghosts (surprise surprise) we still had a good laugh if only for the entertaining tour guide who kept on saying 'Interesting' whenever there was a noise. :lol:

Not one for the kids though!

Cheers

Si :)

The other half tried this a few years ago, not for the faint hearted

http://www.adrenalin.com.au/abseiling_forw...14_details.aspx

or how about this for an adrenalin rush if your not short on finances

http://www.warbirdflights.net/index2.htm

ever fancied jumping out of a plane? I did it years ago and it was a blast!

http://www.skydiving.com.au/

what about something a little more sedate but just as breathe taking

http://www.balloonadventures.com.au/

Enjoy the 'state' your in ;) :lol:

Just think for another $100 or so, you can do the same in Sydney Harbour.

Stevo.

The V8 Jetsprint boat races held at Currency Creek just outside Goolwa around this time each year are well worth the entrance fees, is very noisy but loads of fun for the day out. No dates have yet been released so keep your eyes open, usually advertised a week or so prior to the event date on TV, radio and print media.

http://www.jetsprint.org/