Bird sites
The letters correspond to the locations on the map below.
Click on the appropriate letter to obtain the site's location, directions and information.
Directions to the sites are also included in the brochure Birdwatching on the Southern Fleurieu available from visitor information centres or by contacting us.
A Goolwa Effluent Ponds, Kessel Road
35°29'52"S 138°46'02"E
From Cadell Street turn into Kessel Road at the Ibis Siding Nursery. Drive 1 km along Kessel Road and turn right into the ponds at the ETSA sub-station. A variety of water birds visit here including Pink-eared and Blue-billed Ducks, Australasian Shoveller, Black-tailed Native-hen and Red-kneed Dotterel. Look for crake and rail in the surrounding swampy areas, and Superb Fairy-wren, White-fronted Chat, honeyeaters and birds of prey in surrounding bush and flying overhead.
B Signal Point bird hide, Goolwa Barrage and Beacon 19 on Barrage Road
35°31'42"S 138°48'20"E (Barrage car park)
35°31'52"S 138°49'36"E (No 19)
From the Port Elliot Road turn south into Oliver Street at the Mobil Service Station. Cross over the train line and turn left at the T-junction into Barrage Road. Follow around the water's edge to the bird hide on the left. Pelican, Black Swan, egret, Purple Swamp-hen, Dusky Moorhen and Black-winged Stilt are often seen here. At times of low water, crake, rail and snipe have been seen. Continue along Barrage Road to the Goolwa Barrage car park. Take a short walk on to the barrage walkway where pelican, cormorant, tern and Silver Gull often fish on the downstream side of the barrage gates.
Just before the Barrage car park is a signed turn to No 19 Beacon boat ramp which is 2.3 km on the saltwater side of the barrage. Along this stretch during the summer months, many migratory birds such as sandpiper, Greenshank and Red-necked Stint feed on the mud flats at low tide. Resident water birds include stilt, tern and Red-necked Avocet. Singing Honeyeater are prevalent in the coastal vegetation and watch for Swamp Harrier overhead. Out in the main river channel you may see Great-crested Grebe and Musk Duck. An extended walk to the Murray Mouth and the ocean beach begins at the Beacon 19 car park where you will find a map and details on an information board.
C Hindmarsh Island, Murray Mouth and Mundoo Channel
35°32'58"S 138°52'59"E (Murray Mouth)
Cross from Goolwa to the island and follow the road signs to the Murray Mouth and Mundoo Channel Drive. Along the way watch in the paddocks for Cape Barren Geese, Banded and Masked Lapwing, and raptors overhead. Opposite the mouth are Sugar's Beach and Bird Island. Here you may spot migratory waders and resident pelican, oystercatcher, tern and the occasional Pacific Gull. Waders also frequent the mudflats of Mundoo Channel in summer months. At the end of Mundoo Channel Drive take a short walk through the samphire flat to Scab Creek. Eastern Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit and Red Knot have been recorded here. All five species of cormorant are resident in the area.
D Nangawooka Flora Reserve, Adelaide Road, Victor Harbor
35°31'07"S 138°38'03"E
This plantation of Australian native flora attracts many bush birds. It is on the Adelaide Road 4.5 km from the Victor Harbor CBD, and opposite Urimbirra Wildlife Park. Superb Fairy-wren, New Holland Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Black-chinned Honeyeater and many more are recorded here.
E Hindmarsh Falls
35°26'25"S 138°34'57"E
8 km north of Victor Harbor on the Adelaide Road take the Myponga turnoff and travel 9 km through the Hindmarsh Valley to the signed turnoff to the fall. About 1 km of gravel road will bring you to a car park and picnic area. The falls viewing area is a 300 m walk from here. This is open forest of stringbark with closed shrubland understorey in the upper reaches of the Hindmarsh River. Look for Bassian Thrush, White-browed Scrubwren, Eastern Spinebill, White-throated Treecreeper and Laughing Kookaburra.
F Newland Head Conservation Park and Waitpinga Beach
35°37'40"S 138°30'00"E
In Victor Harbor cross the Newland Bridge over the Inman River and take the Waitpinga Road to the left of the roundabout. Turn left at the T-junction 5.2 km out. A further 6.6 km on, there is a signed turnoff to Waitpinga Beach/Newland Head Conservation Park. On the left at 2.7 km is the campground. Look here for Superb Fairy-wren, pardalote, White-browed Babbler, Golden Whistler, Beautiful and Red-browed Firetail. A walk along the Heysen Trail to the clifftop, about 30 minutes, may reward you with sightings of the White-bellied Sea-eagle and Australasian Gannet. The road continues to Waitpinga Beach car park. On the beach, walk along to the creek estuary. Crested Tern may be seen performing their courting dance and the endangered Hooded Plover breeds here. Several duck species frequent the estuary and swampy areas.
G Inman River Estuary, Victor Harbor
35°33'46"S 138°36'43"E
Visit Kent Reserve on the western side of the Inman River. A stroll along the beach or inland along the river bank can be worthwhile. Hooded Plover breed on the beach here. Black-fronted Dotterel, and Red-capped and Double-banded Plover may be seen, and many bush and water birds frequent the upstream habitat.
H Hindmarsh River estuary and riverside walking trail, Victor Harbor
35°32'43"S 138°37'45"E
The Hindmarsh River enters the sea 1 km northeast of the Post Office. To explore the western side, parking is available close to the mouth on the esplanade (Bridge Terrace). On the eastern side there is a parking bay on Hindmarsh Road. Cross the railway line and follow the boardwalk through the backwaters to the beach. Migratory waders, egret, cormorant and duck species may be seen here. On the upstream side of Hindmarsh Road a walk meanders by the river through teatree and melaleuca to an area of large eucalypts. The path leads to the Greenhills Adventure Park. Lorikeet, rosella, fantail, honeyeater and Red-browed Finch are among the many species recorded.
I Mt Compass Boardwalk, Arthur Road
35°21'04"S 138°37'09"E
In Mt Compass turn into Arthur Road on the southern edge of the township. The entrance gate is 150 m along on the left. This wetland boardwalk has been developed by students of the Mt Compass Area School with community support. Allow at least an hour to meander quietly along the boardwalk through the marshy undergrowth. The prized sighting of this area is the endangered Southern Emu-wren but many other species can be seen including Superb Fairy-wren, Brown Thornbill, Golden-headed Cisticola and Little Grassbird.
J Granite Island, Victor Harbor
35°33'51"S 138°37'47"E
An organised Penguin Walk at dusk is most rewarding. See the penguins returning to their nests and hear experienced guides tell the story of a day in the life of a Little Penguin. Bookings are essential. Contact the Visitor Information Centre for details.
K Scott Conservation Park, Deep Creek Road, Ashbourne
35°24'17"S 138°44'13"E
Take Deep Creek Road north from the Mount Compass/Goolwa road. Travel approximately 4 km along the unsealed road to the signed access track on the right. The park ranges from open forest in the north, which is rich in nesting hollows, to closed scrubland of decreasing height towards the southern boundary. A walking trail starts from the car park 1 km from Deep Creek Road. Steps and a narrow path lead over the creek which may have a little water in it during the wetter times of the years. Well in excess of 100 species have been recorded for this park. Of note are lorikeet, rosella and Wood Duck making use of the hollows. You may also see the endangered Black-chinned Honeyeater, White-throated and Brown Treecreeeper, five varieties of thornbill, Hooded and Scarlet Robin, Sacred Kingfisher, Crested Shrike-tit, and Golden and Rufous Whistler.
L Lion's Park, Strathalbyn Road, Currency Creek
35°27'15"S 138°46'35"E
The entrance to this park is approximately 6 km north of Goolwa Post Office, and just past the Mount Compass turnoff. A walking trail from the picnic area follows Currency Creek under the railway viaduct, and ends at a delightful small waterfall. Tall River Red Gums line the creek with farmland adjoining both sides. Possible sightings include Grey Shrike-thrush, Superb Fairy-wren, Clamorous Reed-warbler and Little Grassbird.
M Winery Road, Currency Creek
35°25'56"S 138°46'53"E
Winery Road turns off the Strathalbyn Road near the Old Canoe Tree, 8.7 km north of the Goolwa Post Office. A corridor of dense scrubland with many tall gums follows the old railway line. Park safely off the edge of Winery road, 500 m from the Strathalbyn Road junction and wander along the road verge for 1–1.5 km. Musk, Purple-crowned and Rainbow Lorikeet, Adelaide Rosella, Mistletoebird, Red-browed Firetail, Zebra Finch, Dusky Woodswallow Common, Bronzewing, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike and Fan-tailed Cuckoo have all been recorded here. Watch for raptors soaring overhead and waterbirds in surrounding farmland.
N Nurragi Conservation Reserve
35°22'23"S 138°54'41"E or 35°23'26"S 138°56'18"E
Turn from the Strathalbyn Road, 19 km north of Goolwa at the Milang/Clayton road sign and follow the signs to Milang. Turn left into Nurragi Road approximately 9.5 km from the Strathalbyn Road. There is a small roadway triangle 1.8 km from the Milang road where this narrow corridor of mallee scrub crosses Nurragi Road. Stiles provide easy access on both sides of the road to a well-defined walking track along the old railway embankment of the former Milang spurline. An alternative access with adequate parking is on the Milang road approximately 12.3 km from the Strathalbyn Road. Sightings recorded here include White-browed Babbler, Diamond Firetail, Striated and Spotted Pardalote, Weebill, Yellow Thornbill, and New Holland, White-plumed and Brown-headed Honeyeater.