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MT GEORGE : MILL Return trip : 1 hour + 25 minutes, 5 + 2 km |
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MILL
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We drive up past Uraidla, turning off to the right on Range View Road, and then left down a lovely valley road to the Mount George Conservation Park picnic ground. Our walk starts from here.
•1 The picnic ground is right by a beautiful lake, where Cox's Creek is dammed up.
•2 A pair of lorikeets has made their home in a hollow here.
•3 We turn towards the freeway, and quickly find ourselves leaving the Mount George Park. (This photo was taken on the return trip!)
•4 The trail passes under the freeway. This is one way of leaving your mark on the world, I suppose.
•5 On the southern side, the trail follows alongside the Freeway for a little way.
•6 As we follow alongside Cox's Creek, we see Arbury Park on the far side. This property is now a residential boarding school.
•7 Cox's Creek was originally named Cock's Creek after pioneer Robert Cock. It was a good flow of water this spring. We follow along beside the Creek, following the red and white Heysen Trail signs.  •8 These interesting waterlily-like plants catch our attention.
•9 Water rats! We don't see any, but these are native water rats, so have the seal of approval.
•10 The Heysen Trail now passes through this tunnel under the rail embankment, as does the Creek.
•11 There is a well-made concrete path (but no railing!).
•12 This would be a good viewing place when the Creek is in flood!
•13 This is a fun place.
•14 Looking back ... . There are a couple of strange structures of unknown purpose here.
•15 Across the stream there is a field of golden buttercups.
•16 The path now follows below the railway line towards the Bridgewater Mill. I suspect that the channel to the left of the path once conveyed water from the stream to turn the Mill wheel.
•17 A kangaroo paw blooms by the side of the track.
•18 We descend some steps to reach the stream, and here is the Mill with its large turning wheel. All looking fairly original, except that the water is now recycled
•19 And the old flour mill itself, with a restaurant and wine tasting for those who wish.
•20 Instead, we opt for coffee on the balcony of the nearby historic Bridgewater Inn.
•21 Suitably refreshed, we now retrace our steps to the Mount George picnic ground. Distance 5 km and 1 hour interesting and easy walking.
•22 At a sharp bend in the track, I take the Cascade Trail to the left. This track is steeper and not so well defined.
•23 This track joins up near the Freeway with the Leah Fire Track. I turn right and follow this up above the Freeway. The stringy bark gum trees here show signs of a past fire.
•24 Not so many wild flowers up here, but this purple variety is quite common.
•25 A short distance up the Leah Fire Track, the Timber cutters Trail branches off to the right, and I follow this.
This brings me back to the Heysen Trail where I turn right and return to our starting point. It takes me 25 minutes to complete this 2 kilometre loop: pleasant, but not as interesting as the earlier part of the walk. |
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SUMMIT
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