5 THINGS TO SEE AND DO
TALISKER SILVER LEAD MINE HIKE
There are three hiking options to explore the 19th century silver-lead mining and ore-processing operation. Learn about the ingenuity of the Cornish miners and their families as you walk through this revegetated area of the Talisker Conservation Park. Other buildings such as a miner’s cottage, the manager’s office, the stone flue and the round Cornish boiler next to the engineering shed can all be viewed on the interpretive walk around the hill. Allow a good two hours to wander around the 1.5km loop
02 WHALE WATCHING
During winter and spring, whales pass by Deep Creek NP on their migration north from the cool Antarctic waters to the warmer East Coast waters to give birth. There are plenty of vantage points throughout the park to view this spectacle, as well as other marine life.
03 FOUR-WHEELING
On a calm day, head to stunning Blowhole Beach via the 2km hiking track from the Cobbler Hill car park or get there by 4WD on the steep drive down to the eponymous car park. The beach itself is only some 200m in length, but rests between two rugged headlands and is a great place to spot dolphins and other marine life, plus kangaroos and other nearby terrestrial wildlife.
04 CAPE JERVIS
West of Deep Creek NP is the small town of Cape Jervis on the headland of the Fleurieu Peninsula. Standing sentinel here is the uniquely shaped Cape Jervis Lighthouse that was built in 1972, replacing the original and much shorter light built in 1871. Cape Jervis is the jump-off point to Kangaroo Island, with a regular daily passenger and vehicle ferry service that operates on the hour during summer, but extends to three hours in winter.
05 WHEN TO VISIT
Early spring or late Autumn would be ideal the time to explore Deep Creek NP’S 15 walking trails when the nights are cool and the days are warm. During summer the temperatures can hit anywhere up to 35C, making the area and the hiking trails very uncomfortable.