Walk of the month: Kinchina Conservation Park, Rocky Gully

Graham Hallandal guides you along the Jailhouse Rocks and Getaway Car loop trails at this park on Murray Bridge’s western outskirts.

Graham Hallandal

Jul 10, 2023 — 5 min read

Perhaps you can guess why this trail, not far from Mobilong Prison, is called the Getaway Car Loop Trail. Photo: Graham Hallandal.

Last year, in August, our walk of the month was at Kinchina Conservation Park, using three of the five trails south of Maurice Road.

Two options were of 2.2 and 5.4 kilometres.

All trails, nine in total, within Kinchina CP are multi-use walking and mountain biking; however, be aware of the varying skill levels required on individual trails if you are riding a mountain bike.

This month we are back at Kinchina CP, using part of the Jailhouse Rocks Loop Trail, south of Maurice Road, and the Getaway Car Loop Trail, north of Maurice Road.

The total length of this walk is 2.5km.

The route is marked with red dots on the map below.

The line of red dots marks the route we’ll take this month. Image: Graham Hallandal/National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Kinchina Conservation Park map523KB ∙ PDF fileDownload Download

A suggested optional add-on is a there-and-back walk along the Rocky Gully Link Trail, which adds 1.2km.

This section is marked with a solid red line on the map.

All trails at Kinchina are marked at regular intervals with signage and at trail intersections.

Signs are colour-coded coinciding with those shown on the map.

Trails are well defined and easy to follow.

Some trails have some rocky areas, but this walk – except for the optional Rocky Gully Link Trail – is on easily walked surfaces.

Always wear suitable footwear – not thongs or sandals.

Welcome to Kinchina. Photo: Graham Hallandal.

First, some information about Kinchina Conservation Park, located on the western outskirts of Murray Bridge.

At 414 hectares, Kinchina is the largest area of native vegetation in the Monarto Crown Lands region.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service website states:

“In the later parts of the year the area is blossoming with orchids, lilies and beautiful spring wildflowers. It is definitely worth a visit at this time. Patience might reward you with a sighting of several rare birds, including the diamond firetail, restless flycatcher or a hooded robin. The protection of these species, which are in decline in the Mount Lofty Ranges, are amongst the reasons the park was proclaimed. The park also protects grassy woodland communities, a declining habitat across the Mount Lofty Ranges. There are populations of threatened plant species, such as Monarto Mintbush and Menzel’s Wattle in the park. In fact, this park is the only area where Menzel’s Wattle is formally protected, with over 4000 plants in the park.”

The area was declared a conservation park in November 2016, together with Monarto Woodlands Conservation Park, which follows the northern side of the South Eastern Freeway through Monarto.

Locals are fortunate in having not only two conservation parks but also many other publicly accessible tracts of Department of Environment-controlled land in the area.

Many previous walk and ride of the month features in past editions of Murray Bridge News have utilised these areas.

You'll spot some rather nice wildflowers along the way. Photos: Graham Hallandal.

The start point for this month’s walk is the car park – P on the map – on the northern side of Maurice Road at the top of the rise a kilometre west of Netley Road.

There is ample parking for more than 12 cars.

Cross Maurice Road to the Jailhouse Rocks Spur Trail.

Take care – Maurice Road at this location has a 100km/h limit with many quarry trucks using the road.

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A short walk takes you to the Jailhouse Rocks Loop Trail, green on the map.

Turn left and follow the trail to the turn-off leading back to Maurice Road.

Cross Maurice Road to the start of the Getaway Car Loop Trail, yellow on the map.

The trail has a gentle climb into vegetation and is joined by a connecting leg of the loop trail from the left that leads back to the car park.

Views over Murray Bridge and Mobilong Prison can be seen as the walk curves around several gullies.

Cyclists pause to look at the view over Murray Bridge on the Getaway Car Loop Trail. Photo: Graham Hallandal.

It soon becomes apparent how the Getaway Car Loop Trail got its name, as a dumped wrecked car from many years ago is passed.

Remnants of a watering system are then seen before the intersection with the Rocky Gully Loop Trail is reached.

This trail is well worth the additional 1.2km there and back distance, with great views into Rocky Gully.

Sections are rocky underfoot, so only experienced mountain bike riders should tackle this trail.

Continuing, turn left on the final leg back to the start of the walk passing a ruined house with the unusual feature of a circular fireplace.

I have been unable to find out anything about the history of the building in documents or books of the Monarto area.

Do you know anything about this ruin? Photo: Graham Hallandal.

It is highly recommended you print off and take with you a copy of the Kinchina CP map, available to download near the top of this post or at the links below.

The Jailhouse Rocks Spur Trail is marked and easily followed but does not yet appear on official maps.

The trails within Kinchina were constructed and are maintained by a team of volunteer walkers and mountain bikers.

Please respect and appreciate the effort by these volunteers and take the time to appreciate the great asset created for the community.