CLELAND CONSERVATION PARK
Perimeter Loop with Spurs : 2 hours 10 minutes, 7 km |
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CLELAND >
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PERIMETER
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We leave the car park by this gate. The perimeter track follows around outside the electrified fence surrounding the wildlife park. I found a rather perverse delight in communing with the enclosed wildlife in the solitude and from outside the fence. First there was a friendly dingo ... ... and then a couple of inquisitive Cape Barren geese. Three kangaroos joined me along the track, and in fact I saw a dozen on this walk.
The Perimeter Track is easy walking around to where the Pengana Track branches off, and this track is also easy down to the Retort Spur turn off. After this there is a steep descent to Zigzag Hill. A nice view of Sugarloaf Hill on the way.
The top is a grassy mound with grazing kangaroos and a panorama from the city and across to Sugarloaf Hill and Long Ridge at right. Woolshed Gully is immediately in front. Note the roo! The locals were quite friendly. Looking out the other side, the Mount Osmond track comes into view. The Retort Spur was a complete disappointment: about ten minutes with two steep descents down the spur into Waterfall Gully, and ten minutes out, but any views are obscured by trees, and even the partial views show no landmarks of interest. The walk out along the ETSA spur (a power pylon service track) is easy and more rewarding. This view of the Summit shows the Waterfall Gully Summit track in the foreground The general view is quite breathtaking, and goes from Mount Bonython at left, past the Summit, and then St Michael's Spur and Ballet Spur at right. Back to the Perimeter Track which from this point becomes rather more rugged with steep slopes. The only plus I found along here was a nice duck pond where Bilba Track branches off. Finally back to the Park Entrance.
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CLELAND >
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PERIMETER
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