Shepherds Hills Recreation Park – June 11, 2010

Link to this Trail in Map My Hike

Details

Location:  Ayliffes Road, St. Marys, Adelaide.
Tracks:  Viaduct Creek Walking Track, Viaduct Track, Ridge Track.
Grade:  Easy
Time:   45 Minutes
Length: 3.5 km
Map:     Shepherds Hill Recreation Park Park Management Plan - Page 9.

Description

This is bushland plonked in the middle of suburbia!  As well as the sound of birds, in the background there is always the sound of traffic.  A sound I would prefer not to have (!), however to have this park available in the suburbs is a real treat.  It is used by walkers, dogs on leads, push bikes and horse riders. 

Our Story

This is a dream come true for trail hunters!  There are so many little tracks coming off the main tracks, the temptations are really strong.  I think it will take me many many trips to explore the whole park.  I am really looking forward to going back.  And next time, Dave will come with me!

 
So many wonderful choices!

One of the most exciting things was being able to take Max.  I have only been able to take Max bushwalking on one other track (Wetlands Walk - Onkaparinga Conservation Park), so to discover that dogs are allowed was great.  He had a ball!  

Bushwalking Max!

 

I began on the Viaduct Track taking the larger path straight ahead, rather than the more tempting narrow path to the right and up the hill.  I wanted to get the layout of the place first!  The track wound it’s way past the Pony Club and then onto the Archery Club.  This looked like a great club, one that Dave would love to try out I’m sure!  There were open targets as well as targets tucked away in the hillside.  Signposting was very clear, so there is no way you would have any problems with stray arrows.

 

You then had a choice between continuing to follow Viaduct Track or taking the Ridge Track.  The Viaduct stays relatively easy, while the Ridge takes you on a little climb.  I took the Ridge and saw a few off the beaten tracks that will involve some heavier climbing.  Can’t wait till next time!  After the little climb, you can continue to the right along Ridge Track, which also leads to Walkers Creek Track or you can turn left and finally take a tiny little track through the trees to meet up with the Viaduct once again.  At the top of Ridge Track the views are tremendous!!

The view across the suburbs to the beach

 
Back on Viaduct Track

You then come to the corner of the recreation park.  Turn left for Viaduct or turn right and head into the Waitparinga Reserve which is Heritage Agreement reserve and part of the National Trust of South Australia.  I turned left and started the trek back to the car park. 

This is when Max got to have some real fun!  All of a sudden four unleashed labradors came bounding along the track towards us.  Max was great.  He dropped to his stomach and stayed that way until they had their first sniff.  He was just fine with them, so I let him off the lead and they had a great time playing together while their owner and I chatted away.  What a treat for Max!  He would not have come off the lead otherwise, so he got real lucky.

 
Max and Friends

At this point, there was an intersection – go left and back over the track to continue on the path you originally came along or take the little track to the right which becomes the Viaduct Creek Walking Track.  You guessed it – I chose the right!

This leads back to the Archery Club.  You can take the bridge over the creek back to the original path or walk through the Archery Club to continue the same path.  You can do this only if the red flag is NOT up.  The flying red flag indicates that the arrows are also flying!  The little bridge running over the creek at this intersection was just gorgeous!  A lovely spot. 

Archery Club

Along the way there have been placed wooden seats to have a rest or to simply soak in the surroundings.  While there is apparently not a great deal of animal life, the birdlife was prolific. Dave is going to have a ball taking photos of them as well as taking macro photos of the multitude of little flowers and other plant life.  And if you are lucky you might even catch the boys on the bikes doing their incredible and daring tricks along the bike tracks. 

There is much more to explore in this park – caves, railways, an old train tunnel and railway relics - and I will post about it next time!  Till then…

 

Slideshow of other photos from this walk.

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