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MORIALTA BARNS LOOP
Return trip : 1 hour 10 minutes, 5 km |
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We begin this interesting walk by parking the car on the (New) Norton Summit Road, 900 metres downhill from the Teringie Drive exit. There is adequate roadside parking.
This track is known as the ‘Third Fall Track’, or the ‘Climbers Track’. The first name is given because there is easy access to Third Fall from here. The second comes from several nearby rock climbing / abseiling sites. These sites are close to the track and are well worth visiting in spite of the danger ...
... as they give good views of the rocky cliffs and the surrounding scenery.
We return to the main trail. It seems a pity to walk along this beautifully decorated stretch!  We pass a turn off to the left which leads to Third Fall and a track down the Valley, and come to this meeting of the trails. Today we continue along the Gully (Colonial) Track.
This path follows along the park boundary, and there are pleasant rural views out of the park.
These are enjoyed by a fellow walker (or grass hopper?).
The vines behind Youth with a Mission are beautiful in the morning light.
Leaving the vineyards we turn right off the Heysen Trail and follow the clear track across a paddock and two stiles to reach Colonial Drive.
Turning right alongside the road we reach this pleasant dam – pretty, but probably a reason no water is coming over the Falls.
We the come in sight of the Morialta Barns, erected by pastoralist John Baker in 1847. We walk up the sign posted Barns track for a closer view.
Next to the Barns the track turns back on itself, heading for Norton Summit. We reach the Norton Summit intersection, where a stop at the Scenic Hotel may well add to out time! Across the road is an interesting sculpture of former State premier and local identity Tom Playford.
From here we walk back along the (New) Norton Summit Road. This road is not at all pedestrian friendly, but there are some great views. In the view below, the pylon at upper left sits right next to the Giles Ridge Track, and the pylon (in fact) just visible on the horizon at right sits close to the summit of Rockdale Hill. These pylons are very useful for navigation!
Closer to the car we pass this old structure by the road. My old friend Harold Golder once told me that this property used to belong to the Golder family, and he and his father sold fruit and vegetables from this stall.
The cyclist is an indicator that the Tour Down Under is taking place! |
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