Natural Attractions

Landform and Geology

The southern Mount Lofty Ranges form a spine to the Fleurieu Peninsula and ridges extending from the range to the south coast make up the landform of Deep Creek Conservation Park. In the northern part of the park, elevations on the range reach 300 metres and numerous streams are fed by springs and soaks.

Flowing south, these creeks carve deep valleys to expose some spectacular rock outcrops before emptying into the Southern Ocean at small, predominantly rocky coves. These coves provide the only breaks in an otherwise imposing line of rugged cliffs that form the coastline. Blowhole Creek, Deep Creek and Boat Harbor Creek Beaches are the most attractive and accessible coves within the park.

The present landform in Deep Creek Conservation Park is the result of a geological history of sedimentation, uplifting, folding, faulting, glaciation and erosion.

The Kanmantoo trough was formed by the collapse along fault lines of the southern and eastern sides of a large undersea basin called the Adelaide Geosyncline. This trough collected a great depth of sediment before uplifting and folding, due to tectonic activity, occurred. The rock outcrop pattern found on the Fleurieu Peninsula today is largely a result of this folding process.

Glaciation followed, which flattened much of the mountain range and gouged valleys including Backstairs Passage. When the glaciers retreated the area was subject to a period of gradual weathering and erosion, leaving a plain of low relief. The remnants of this plain form the laterite hilltops of the Peninsula today.

A period of faulting then uplifted the Fleurieu Peninsula and left it surrounded by the St Vincent and Murray basins. Several fluctuations in sea level occurred before present-day shores developed. Active stream erosion stripped much of the old land surface and exposed the underlying rock which is seen in the landscape today.

Flora

Many vegetation associations are represented in Deep Creek Conservation Park ranging from open forests and woodlands to shrub and heathlands. Also of note are some specialised microhabitats within the park that provide a rich diversity of fern and other shade plants and a fungal flora otherwise poorly represented in South Australia.

406 indigenous plant species have been recorded in the park and of these 129 have been given specific conservation ratings. Several plant species found in the park are endemic to the southern Mount Lofty Ranges and a few are only otherwise known to exist on Kangaroo Island. Over 170 species of fungi have been recorded in the Stringybark forests in the park.

See the flora species lists for Deep Creek Conservation Park:

• Alphabetical (150Kb PDF)
• By Family (150Kb PDF)

On the more elevated parts of the Park old growth Messmate Stringybark Eucalyptus obliqua open forest with an understorey dominated by Yaccas Xanthorrhoea semiplana. The upper valleys are also covered by open forests but species of smooth barked gums particularly Pink Gum Eucalyptus fasciculosa dominate. Stands of Drooping Sheoak Allocasuarina verticillata form low woodlands on some steep rocky slopes in the park. Low woodlands of Cup Gums Eucalyptus cosmophylla also exist on some of the ridges.

Between the upper valleys and coastal cliffs many of the slopes in the park are covered by open scrub and tall shrublands. Together with several eucalypts the main species in these belts include Golden Wattles Acacia pycnantha, Kangaroo Thorn A. paradoxa, Sticky Hop-bush Dodonea viscosa and Silver Banksia Banksia marginata. This vegetation grades through to more heathy areas until the low heath of the coastal cliffs is reached. Common species found in the heath country include Slaty Sheoak Allocasuarina muelleriana, Totem Poles Melaleuca decussata, Beaked Hakea Hakea rostrata, Common Fringe-myrtle Calytrix tetragona, Large-leaved Bush Pea Pultenaea daphnoides with the more hardy species such as Coastal Bearded-heath Leucopogen parviflorus, Heath Riceflower Pimelia phylicoides and Clasping Goodenia Goodenia amplexans dominating the cliff zone.

As mentioned, specialised habitats occur particularly in creeks and swamps of the park. Species of note found in these wetter areas include Swamp Gums E ovata, Native Fuschias Correa reflexa, Swamp Wattles A retinoides, Swamp Tea-tree Leptispernam lanigerum, together with several species of water plants and ferns.

Fauna

Western Grey Kangaroos, Short-beaked Echidnas, Ring-tailed Possums and Yellow-footed Antechinus are the most commonly seen animals in Deep Creek Conservation Park. Other mammals which are rarely seen but are of greater conservation significance include the Southern Brown Bandicoot and several bat species.

Mammals of Deep Creek Conservation Park (50Kb PDF)

Over 100 species of birds have been recorded in the area and many are easily spotted when walking in the Park. Species of high conservation importance recorded in the park include Southern Emu Wren, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Peregrine Falcon, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Painted Button-quail, Chestnut-rumped Hylocola, White's Thrush, Elegant Parrot, Lewin's Rail, Latham's Snipe and the Beautiful Firetail.

Deep Creek Conservation Park Bird Species List (50Kb PDF)

Several species of skink make up the most abundant reptiles found in Deep Creek Conservation Park. Other species often seen are Sleepy Lizards, Red-bellied Black Snakes, Marbled Geckoes and Tawny Dragons. Healthy and diverse populations of amphibians and native fish also occur in the Park.

Reptiles of Deep Creek Conservation Park (50Kb PDF)