Red Banks Conservation Park: What can I see near Burra, South Australia?

Visit the Red Banks Conservation Park near Burra, South Australia to see echidnas, wombats, kangaroos and the red cliffs of Baldina Creek. Also, if you walk the 5km Landscapes of Change Hike, you can learn about diprotodons – giant wombats that lived in South Australia 65,000 years ago.

If you’re driving from Adelaide to Sydney via Broken Hill, there are precious few major attractions to see on the way. Therefore, you might as well just plump for the quite nice in order to break the journey.

Just outside the small South Australia town of Burra at the eastern edge of the Clare Valley lies the Red Banks Conservation Park. It’s hardly huge by the standards of Australian national parks and reserves, but it’s attractive. It is also a good spot for seeing wildlife.

Southern hairy-nosed wombats, western grey kangaroos, red kangaroos and short-beaked echidnas are among the marsupials regularly spotted in the Red Banks Conservation Park. They come down to the park’s permanent waterholes at dawn and dusk.

Red Banks Conservation Park: The red cliffs of Baldina Creek

The best time to visit the Red Banks Conservation Park near Burra, South Australia, however, is in the late afternoon. This is when the striking red cliffs that give the park its name appear in the best light. You can get a great photo of them from Baldina Creek.

The Red Banks Conservation Park near Burra in South Australia. — The Red Banks Conservation Park near Burra in South Australia was once home to giant wombats. Photo by Isaac Forman, Serio.

Should a photo stop at Baldina Creek not quite scratch the itch, try the Landscapes of Change Hike. This walking trail is a 5km loop, and should take about two-and-a-half hours. Crucially, however, the Landscapes of Change Hike has interpretive signposting along the route

The trail starts in the day visitor area, passing several waterholes and gorges. The most fascinating information is on what you can no longer see, however. The Red Banks Conservation Park near Burra is one of Australia’s richest megafauna sites, and the Landscapes of Change walk focuses on the diprotodons that have been found here.

Giant wombats in the Red Banks Conservation Park

These giant marsupials are often referred to as giant wombats, and wombats are their closest living relatives. The key difference is the diprotodon was the size of a hippo. When it lived in South Australia until around 65,000 years ago, it was the largest marsupial that has ever lived.

It’s also possible to go camping in the Red Banks Conservation Park near Burra, but don’t expect any luxuries. It’s just ten unpowered sites with pit toilets, but at least there’s no camping fee.

Burra accommodation picks

The best Burra accommodation options are:

For plenty of space and homeliness: Paxton Square Cottages.
For heritage and charm: Burra Railway Station Bed and Breakfast.
For decent rooms and relatively cheap rates: Burra Motor Inn.

The Red Banks Conservation Park is approximately 170km north of South Australian capital Adelaide. If you take the marginally longer route through the Barossa Valley, you can buy some wine on the way. Also in the region are the Barossa Trail cycle route, the Barossa chocolate factory and Barossa Valley hot air balloon tours.