3 minute read
Gone with the wetlands
Gone with the wetlands – explore our favourites
With world class wetlands on our doorstep – home to over 160 different species of birds, frogs, fish or fauna – there’s a maze of natural wonders just waiting to be discovered.
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The largest of these is the Greenfield Wetlands – the City of Salisbury’s premier wetlands, covering more than 114 hectares, making it one of the first large, constructed urban wetlands in Australia. It’s a perfect green escape from the surrounding busy city infrastructure and the sea of traffic on the Salisbury Highway.
As the sunny weather looks to stay it’s tempting to get out for a walk, so why not skip the bitumen footpaths and streetways for a stroll along the wetlands and boardwalks instead?
We’ve highlighted a few of our favourite picks for you to explore and enjoy next time.
Greenfields Wetlands
The wetlands cover two key sections that are divided by the Salisbury Highway. Enter the northern side from the turn-off to The Watershed Café on Salisbury Highway at Mawson Lakes. Alternatively, enter the Southern side from Magazine Road on Salisbury Highway at Dry Creek.
The wetlands are always open; however, the gated sections are only open between 8am and 4pm.
There’s plenty for everyone to find on the 1.3km walking trail through the wetland bushes. Springbank Boulevard Reserve
Greenfields Wetlands
Greenfields Wetlands
A self-guided tour will take about 40 minutes and there are interpretive signs along the way to introduce the wildlife in the area. The avid bird watcher can also get closer in the bird hutches to spy on more exotic species that are tricky to spot.
After some time on the wetlands, you can unwind before making tracks at the Watershed Café with a coffee and a bite to eat. We recommend sitting back on the Café deck so you can overlook the lagoon and surrounding landscape.
Kaurna Park Wetlands
This wetland is located across from the Springbank Plaza Shopping Centre in Burton.
Once degenerated farmland is now a hidden bushland oasis. The 48-hectare space has a variety of gentle water channels and native flora and wildlife that can be explored on a short and easy-level circuit past shallow billabongs and native trees.
A short 1km walk will take around 15 minutes. It is a mostly wheel-friendly trail meaning it can easily accommodate prams or wheelchairs.
If you’re after a bit of a run, you also have the option of the Kaurna Wetlands Loop, which is a 2.85km clay and gravel track around the wetlands that fitter folk can complete in about 20 minutes.
Springbank Boulevard Reserve Wetlands
There are two areas in this peaceful nook of Burton, a northern and southern side.
On the southern side is a recreational area featuring an undercover playground of ropes, bars and mini rock-climb, whilst an exercise station with a cross trainer, monkey bars, and rings will keep the more fitness inclined busy.
Together, the northern and southern trail is 3.1kms or a 45-minute stroll, but it can be broken up into a slightly smaller 2.3km (30 minutes) of just the northern side, or an even shorter 1.6kms (20 minutes) around the southern side.
Unity Park
Unity Park on South Terrace, Pooraka combines the best bits for everyone: a skate park, BMX facility, playground, walking and bike trails, a dog-friendly park and a beautiful lake and wetlands.
There is also a fitness station offering a great place to warm up or work out before taking a walk along the walking and bike trail that encircles the park. Kaurna Park Wetlands
Kaurna Park Wetlands
Unity Park
