Mallee Park: Ron experiences the thrill of nature on a quad bike in the Murraylands reion of South Australia
The prospect of clearing tough, uncompromising mallee country filled many new arrivals to this country with dread - but clear it they did, replacing thousands of acres of this low rainfall scrub country with cereal crops. As the wheat and barley crops took hold and dryland farming techniques improved and South Australia became the "Granary of the South". We owe a lot to the mallee country which made way for this State's massive transformation into an agricultural powerhouse.
But head off the bitumen between Murray Bridge and Tailem Bend about an hour's drive from Adelaide and you'll find a little oasis which the bulldozers missed. The Mallee Park Gallery tells you something about its owner, David Hancock, a photographer who loves this country so much he purchased four hundred acres. The gallery includes a photographic record of his travels across the State working as a film producer. Many of David's images were shot for South Australian Tourism Commission promotions and they're proof that he has a great eye for a great State.
In recent years the promotional work has taken a back seat as he indulges his passion for the mallee. He's set up Mallee Park - a quad bike part where you can take the road less travelled. And more than likely you'll be doing that with David's daughter, Mallee Park guide, April Hancock.
April Hancock, Mallee Park: "The track covers thirty acres but we've got plans for more tracks."
The first track we tried out was the Echidna Circuit. It says a lot about speed that novices get up to as they get used to their quad bikes.
April Hancock, Mallee Park: "This is the first adventure loop. It's more for beginners and as we go through the track there's more hard core lumps and bumps. It's a bit like skiing - you get to the kamikaze runs later on."
The bikes are very easy to master and are available to anyone eight years and older. All you need is a quick warm up session on the Echidna Circuit and a sense of adventure.
The Echidna Circuit makes its way through low lying scrub grown in sand and harder limestone… while other tracks make the most of undulating terrain and the taller stringy bark mallee.
With thirty acres of track in a vast expanse of four hundred acres there's still plenty of room to expand. But the plan is to keep much of it intact as a scenic route linking one circuit to another.
If you'd like some great family fun then head to Mallee Park. It's about 10 kms east of Murray Bridge on the Dukes Highway. For details call 8531 2492 If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Mallee Park
10 kms east of Murray Bridge
Off Dukes Highway
Contact 8531 2492Published 8th August 2010
