SECTION 11: Gate 20 ORNP to Edwards & Hamilton URR
15 km, Moderate Hike, Grade 3
MAP SECTION 11
FROM: entrance to Hardy’s Scrub, Gate 19, Onkaparinga River National Park, junction of Chapel Hill Road & Wine Dam Track, Blewitt Springs, SA 5171
TO: Edwards & Hamilton URRs, McLaren Vale, 5171 (car parking is 400m away from the end of this Section at the southern end of Brightview Brae, McLaren Flat, SA 5171)
Start at Gate 19 ORNP and follow Wine Dam Track then Hardys Scrub Hike (western loop) back to Wine Dam Track to exit park at Gate 18. Turn right onto Whitings Rd and follow to the intersection with Kays Rd.
Here it is possible to walk a 2 km loop through Manning Reserve, owned by The Field Naturalists Society of South Australia (no dogs in Manning Reserve)
To continue on the trail, turn left onto a sand track, gated with a step through at both ends, which becomes a gravel road, Beltunga Close. At the intersection of Beltunga Close and Blewitt Springs Rd turn sharp right and walk along the wide verge on the NW side to the intersection with Coopers Lane.
Cross Blewitt Springs Rd and walk along Cooper Lane to Ingoldby Rd. Cross the road and follow the path through Trott unmade road reserve where there are lovely views. The road reserve intersects with Bagshaw Rd and Trotts road become a formed road.
Take this road until it turns sharp right and becomes Elliot Rd which you follow until the entrance to the driveway to Gemtree Wetlands and Ecotrail. (No dogs in Gemtree private property but dog owners may omit this part by continuing on Elliot Rd to cross Kangarilla Rd, taking care crossing on this bend)
Turn right into the driveway and then left to walk through the Wetlands carpark. (It takes half an hour to do the Ecotrail if you wish to add that to your walk.) Continue southwards to exit the property by a stile next to a gate.
Cross McLaren Flat Rd with care and turn left to walk east behind the crash barrier towards the hills. Turn right into Elliot Rd an unsealed road, cross a seasonal creek and then follow the road as it turns right (west).
Sandalwood Lookout: a stile and signpost on the left of Elliot Rd indicate the start of a signed trail on private property. It is about 1.5km, there and back, and well worth the moderate climb to lovely look out.
Continue walking on Elliot Rd until it intersects with Truscott Rd, Thomas Hill Rd and Brightview Brae. Follow Brightview Brae to the end where it becomes Edwards URR. Climb the stile and continue for 400m crossing another stile to reach the end of Section 11 and the intersection with Sections 10 and 9.
Notes
Car parking:
- limited car parking on roadside at entrance to Hardys Scrub
- parking available at the end of Brightview Brae, 400m from the section end
Dogs:
- no dogs in Onkaparinga River National Park including Hardys Scrub
- no dogs in Manning Scrub Flora and Fauna Reserve. (Spur loop on the Trail)
- no dogs in Gemtree Wetlands & Eco Trail (extra loop adjacent to the Trail)
- no dogs on Sandalwood Lookout Track (Spur Track on private property)
- dogs on leads on Cooper Lane
- dogs on leads for 400m between Bright View Brae and Section 9/10/11 post
Links
Onkaparinga River National Park
Field Naturalists Society of SA