Fairview Conservation Park

Posted on 7 October 2016 Written by Leave a Comment
Fairvew Conservation Park

Fairview Conservation Park entrance, showing typical scrub type in the park.

Our eldest son and I visited Fairview Conservation Park in July 2016; for me it was my second visit to this park. It is situated approximately 45km north west of Naracoorte off the Woolumbool Road. If travelling in the vicinity of this park one needs to keep a keen eye out for wild deer as there are a few in the area. I almost hit one in a work vehicle some years back when driving past.

 

Little Gums Road

On Little Gums Road.

The park consists of nearly 1,400 hectares of virgin scrub, typical of the sandier soils of the South East of South Australia. The track marked on some maps as Little Gums Road enters near the north west corner of the park and runs through the park to roughly half way up the eastern boundary. Nearly half-way along this track is an off-chute to a nice little picnic spot on some higher ground, a good spot to go for a wander from. At some stage I would like to re-visit the park and do the drive right the way through and along another side boundary.

 

Eucalypt in the park

Typical bigger gums (eucalypts) in the park.

Intriguing slab

Intriguing slab in Fairview Conservation Park

The park also contains some wetlands with the largest area of water  being Kangoora Lagoon. I am yet to see it with water in it but it would be quite a large area when it does fill up. As I write this blog we have just had a good wet September in the region. It would be interesting to get back out there and see if and how much water is there now. On the ridge just up from the eastern side of Kangoora Lagoon is a concrete slab that I found rather intriguing. My enquiries would suggest that it was once a shed with a wash down bay in front of it. It would be rather interesting to know its history and purpose.

 

Not being too sure just where we would end up we re-traced the track back to the original entry point to the park. I  have since checked out the park on Google Maps and it would appear that during a dry period might be best time to do a drive right through the area.

 

Written and produced by,

David


 

Filed Under: Conservation Parks, Photo included Posts, Photo Shoots Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Geegeela Conservation Park

Posted on 21 June 2016 Written by Leave a Comment
Geegeela Conservation Park.

Geegeela Conservation Park.

A conservation park that I have visited a number of times is Geegeela Conservation Park. The southern entrance to this park is at the North East corner of the property that we once owned at Frances, South Australia for eight and a half years. In those days though, it wasn’t sign posted as a Conservation Park. This area containing some 850 hectares was declared a Conservation Park in July 2005.

 

Typical light country of the South East of South Australia.

Typical light country of the South East of South Australia.

I have driven through the park a few times back when we were living out that way. I had helped the folk who leased Geegeela North station on the North side of the park with some crutching. It was at this shearing shed that I saw the tallest Lucerne plant that I’ve ever seen. A couple of stems of the plant had grown up between two loose sheets of iron and, well, they were taller than I am!

 

Typical Eucalypt species in Geegeela Conservation Park.

Typical Eucalypt species in Geegeela Conservation Park.

The park contains mainly a mix of various Gums (Eucalypt sp.), Stringy Bark and Banksia with some Bottle Brush in a few lower areas. Amongst it, other small native plants, including some orchids can be found. For the birdwatchers, the park is said to be inhabited by up to 90 bird species including the endangered Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.

 

'Quirks' of nature

‘Quirks’ of nature

The park is also home to various native animals and even some little creatures and one needs to be alert so as not to walk into this sort of thing along the way!

 

Written and produced by,

David

 


Filed Under: Conservation Parks, Photo included Posts, Photo Shoots Tagged: , , , ,