About the
park
Morialta Conservation Park covers an area of 533 hectares, and
adjoins the Woodforde/Black Hill Conservation Parks to the north.
The Park is a wildlife habitat, providing sanctuary for many native
species and unfortunately, some undesirable ones such as foxes and
rabbits.
Origins and early
history
The Mount Lofty ranges began to form around half a billion years
ago when this area was covered by sea, and sediments started
uplifting and folding along geological fault lines. Around 50
million years ago, the rock formations forming the ranges today
were pushed up by movements in the earth's crust, and the landscape
evolved continually until about 2 million years ago, when another
period of massive upheaval again occurred and accelerated the
development of the Ranges.
Water flows down the newly-created mountains have continued to
erode their way through the rock since then, creating Fourth Creek
and the three major waterfalls that now wind their down through
Morialta Gorge.
Morialta is derived from the Kaurna word "moriatta"
(ever-flowing creek), and has special meaning to the Kaurna people,
who believe that the watercourses were created by the great
ancestor spirit, and that the surrounding rock formations represent
part of the body of a huge Dreaming Ancestor.
Modern
history
The Morialta Gorge was proclaimed a public reserve in 1915 after
the land was donated by its owner, John Smith Reid. In the 1920s
and 30s, a massive amount of work went into infrastructure works in
the Park, and it was further expanded in the 1960s following the
purchase of adjoining land to the east.
Bushfires and floods have taken their toll over the years, so
infrastructure development is an ongoing concern.
To log a find on this Earthcache, you must
complete the following tasks:
1. At the given coordinates, you'll find a set of information
boards. Referring to the board "Geological History", what has the
creek weathered away to create the Second and Third Falls, and what
has it worn down to create the First Falls?
2. Make your way to the Lookout, located at the child
waypoint. The way up is across the bridge you see near the given
coordinates. Referring to the board at that location: what was the
name of the great depression that once existed here, and exactly
how many million years ago did the sediments uplift and fold along
the fault lines, to lay down the foundations for the Mt Lofty
Ranges?
3. Optional: admire the views from the lookout over the
valleys, and post a photo of yourself with GPSr with your
log.
Email your answers to questions 1 and 2 to the owners, don't post
them in your logs. You may log immediately provided the email has
been sent; however, incorrect answers or failure to email will
result in your log being deleted.
The Morialta tracks may
present difficulty for some finders. Make sure you take plenty of
drinking water, especially in the warmer months, and take rest
stops along the way.
You can park inside the main gate for free on Tuesdays and
Wednesdays; other days will attract parking fees. Free parking is
available on all days at the carpark just outside the main
gate.
Please note: the Morialta C.P. is closed after sunset.
Make sure you allow plenty of time for your visit so you don't get
locked in.