Wildlife & Nature
Conservation parks & native bush
The best wildlife & nature in Clare
Beyond the vineyards the Clare Valley keeps pockets of native bushland alive in its conservation parks, where kangaroos, echidnas and a chorus of birdlife move through stringybark and grass-tree country. Spring brings wildflowers; autumn turns the vines gold.
Beyond the vineyards, the Clare Valley protects pockets of native bush that reward anyone willing to leave the cellar doors behind for a few hours. Spring Gully Conservation Park, west of Clare, shelters South Australia's westernmost stand of red stringybark forest and puts on a spectacular wildflower display in spring, with orchids and seasonal waterfalls along its gully tracks.
Out towards Burra, the granite landscape of Burra Creek Gorge is a quiet spot for picnicking, birdwatching and spotting kangaroos at dusk among the river red gums. Across the region, lookouts like Neagles Rock frame the rolling farmland that turns gold in summer and green after winter rain.
Spring is the standout season for nature here, when wildflowers carpet the reserves and the walking trails are at their best. Pack water, watch for wildlife at dawn and dusk, and tread lightly — much of this country is fragile remnant bush surrounded by farmland and vineyards.