48-hour adventure Toyota Rav4
THERE’S MORE TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA than deserts, churches and Coopers. This edition we load up the Toyota RAV4 for a largely coastal fix. You don’t have to venture into the wilds of interior Australia for a multi-sport, adventure-packed 48 hours. Everything your adrenaline addiction desires is within two hours of Adelaide. BY Chelsea Eaw
6.08am RISE AND SHINE. Time to hit up the surf. Have a dip in West Beach and soak in the sun’s first rays. Catch a few waves and watch out for sharks. You’ll need your legs for the rest of this adventure.
7.49am WORM YOUR WAY through Adelaide’s eastern ’burbs. Destination? Morialta Conservation Park: home of Adelaide’s climbing crag, just a stone’s throw from the CBD. Far from a concrete jungle, this park’s a rugged pocket of narrow gorges defined by three seasonal waterfalls. Check into this neck of the woods in spring or winter for your best shot at catching the ‘falls at their grandest.
8.32am KICK OFF with a route while you’re fresh. There isn’t much fixed protection at Morialta apart from the odd bolt near an unprotected crux, so you’ll need to know how to place natural gear. Make sure you know what you’re doing; independent rockclimbing ain’t for amateurs.
11.39am REV UP THE RAV4 and head south. Chug past Norton Summit, Ashton, Summertown, Piccadilly and Crafers to access Princes Hwy. Next stop? Eagle Mountain Bike Park. No matter what your thing is – cross-country, downhill, jumps or trials – this park has it all. Grab a bite to eat before giving your bike a fresh muddy coat.
3.57pm TIME TO HIT THE ROAD. Get onto Main South Rd, following it down the Fleurieu Peninsula ‘til it almost hits the ocean. Hang a left onto Bedlam Flat Rd, and left again when you hit Range Rd. It’s a right onto Backhouse Road, which should take you into Deep Creek Conservation Park: our last stop for the day. When you get to Tapanappa Rd, turn left and wiggle your way to Tapanappa Campground.
6.03pm WHIP DOWN THE 4WD TRACK to Blowhole Creek Beach and cast a line in. Keep your heels close to shore; bigger fish than what you’ll catch patrol these waters. Reel in your tommy ruff, mullet, salmon or mulloway and slap it onto your barbie back at camp.
7.59pm THE CAMPSITE’S SHELTERED RIDGE is the perfect spot to pitch your tent, kick up your heels and settle down for a hearty bush meal and a cold stubby of pale. Don’t forget to admire the epic coastal view (if it isn’t dark yet) of Kangaroo Island and the Pages islands at your feet.
6.01am THERE’S NO REST FOR THE WICKED. Wake up to haunting wails of yellow-tailed black cockatoos and plunge down the steep coastal track to Deep Creek Cove. Only give this walk a go if you know what you’re doing. It’s vertical, rugged and walled-in with dense vegetation, but the views of The Deep Creek are phenomenal and your turnaround point is a secluded cove overlooking Backstairs Passage.
10.04am PACK UP AND GO NORTH. At Adelaide’s far southern outskirts, take a left onto River Rd with the RAV4’s nose aimed at Port Noarlunga. Once a haven for sailing ships, these days the mouth of the Onkaparinga River reels-in snorkellers and SCUBA divers to its underwater trail – with buckets full of marine plant and fish species, it’s no surprise this was the first declared reef reserve in SA.
11.42am SCOFF DOWN AN EARLY LUNCH and have a breather before unloading the boats for an exploratory paddle up the meandering Onkaparinga. Check out the scenic beauty where this river meets the sea. It’s tidal, so check tides before you grab your paddle. The Onkaparinga Canoe Club, at the end of Wearing St, is your source of local knowledge.
2.27pm THE WEEKEND’S LAST SUNSET is approaching. Before it does, squeeze-in a stop at Sundews Lookout. Follow River Rd out and hang a left at Piggott Range Rd to follow the Onkaparinga River National Park’s boundary until you reach Gate 6 (just past Upper Penneys Hill Rd). Here, the river is a different beast. It carves a narrow gorge below. The cliffs are up to 50 metres high and are scattered with permanent rock pools. It’s a reflective spot to end the weekend…
2.48pm …BUT BUGGER ENDING THE WEEKEND. Don your headtorches and dive down the Sundews River trail. From the rocky outcrop, it’s a hard descent to the river. Follow the water for a short stint before pumping your way back to the ridge top.
6.47pm YOU’VE EARNED IT. For a country meal that’ll make even the fullest salivate, aim for Birdwood’s Blumberg Hotel. Turn the RAV4’s nose towards Bridgewater, then pass through Inverbrackie, Charleston and Mt Torrens before rolling into Birdwood for that well-deserved meal and Coopers of your choice. Bottoms up!
