Wine tasting, bird watching, boardwalks through swamps, and floodplain walking – Banrock Station has something for nearly everyone. The walking trail is one of the 40 Great South Australian Short Walks.
Bird watchers will enjoy the number one bird diversity site in South Australia. With the lagoon filling, you are likely to see lots of species including the Australian Shelduck, Pacific Black Duck, Black Swan, spoonbills, several species of herons and cormorants, and even some rare species like the Musk Duck or the Blue-billed Duck. The rare Regent Parrot can be seen flying above the vineyard and Black Box woodlands that fringes the walking trail.
The walk is on access tracks, paths, and boardwalks with mostly easy gradients and is fairly flat. Surfaces are dirt, sand and wooden boardwalks. The walk can be completed in two hours, but allow three to spend time in the hides and enjoy the scenery.
Banrock Station is 212 kilometres from Adelaide. Drive north and east along the Sturt Highway (State route 20) towards the Riverland. Cross the Murray River at Blanchetown, and pass the
turnoffs to central Waikerie. Drive another 29 kilometres. There’s a sign to Banrock Station on the way, and one on the left turn onto Holmes Road.
If approaching from Renmark/Berri/Bamera, there’s a large sign just before Cobdogla showing time and distance. From where the Loxton Road meets the Sturt Highway outside Kingston-On-Murray, drive 5.4 kilometres north-west to the sign-posted right turn at Holmes Road.
Drive along Holmes Road for 150 metres before turning left into Banrock Road. Enter the property (marked with two rammed earth pillars) and continue 1.5 kilometres to the carpark. Go into the Wine and Wetland Centre where you can get a meal and some bottles of the local drop. There are fine views over some of the vineyards and the lagoon.
You need to sign in to walk on the estate, and indicate if you intend to go on a short walk to some of the hides or a long one around the lagoon, described below. Walks are not allowed on days above 35°C and/or CFS classified extreme fire danger days. There is a gold coin donation box.
The lagoon sights will vary depending on the water level, which is artificially controlled. The level varies from empty to full to simulate
{{title}}
Bushwalk,_and_poached-egg_daisies_(white).jpg)
