On Australia Day, members of the Uncool Cycling Club met at Dead Man’s Pass Reserve for an easy ride on the more level parts of the Gawler Rivers trail.
Three Rivers
The trail features three rivers – the North Para, South Para and Gawler Rivers. The Gawler River begins at the junction of the North Para and South Para Rivers.
We headed north up the South Para River towards the Australia Day celebrations being held in Apex park. There were some short steep sections as the trail went under the main road and around the edge of the park.
Gawler River
At the junction of the North and South Para rivers we took the trail to the left which followed the Gawler River. We went under two railway bridges – the first for the line that goes on to Gawler Central and the second for the former line to Roseworthy and Kapunda.
The Gawler River floodplain was sunny and open.
We followed the trail as far as it went and then on our way back took a short detour to pass three of these:
We stopped to have a look and discuss what they might be. Tanya later did some research and confirmed that they are munitions bunkers left over from World War Two. Before the Gawler bypass and the Northern Expressway were built they were just a short walk from the Gawler Airfield which was used during the war.
North Para River
We returned to the junction of the rivers and this time took the trail along the North Para River. We pedalled through a lovely forest of sugar gums
and then crossed this very narrow footbridge.
We followed the trail to Clonlea Reserve and then turned back. There was plenty of room for us at Cibo’s coffee shop in the main street of Gawler. All together we rode for sixteen kilometres.
Extending your ride to Hewett
For those interested in exploring the hillier parts of the Gawler Rivers Trail, keep going past Clonlea Reserve towards Hewett to see these cliffs
and views across Gawler from the loop around Hewett.
You can use the Stuart O’Grady Bikeway to ride to Gawler from Munno Para and beyond.
If you are interested in joining relaxed social rides like this check out our Facebook Group page.
* Featured image at top of article by Des Brown
