Have you explored the award-winning Breakout Creek / Purruna Pari precinct yet? Here are our tips for making the most of the revitalised river in Adelaide’s west.
Need some fresh ideas to get outdoors in Adelaide this summer? Look no further than the western end of the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari.
Breakout Creek / Purruna Pari is the last 3 km of River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari, from Lockleys/Fulham to Henley Beach South/West Beach where the river meets the sea.
Over 30 years, it’s been transformed into a more natural-looking and natural-functioning river. And over the past 3 years the final instalment of the river’s transformation, between Tapleys Hill Road and Seaview Road, has been completed.
More than 245,000 new native plants and trees – including species not seen in this area for decades – have created a beautiful and biodiverse setting, and new habitat for our native birds, fish and animals.
New wetlands help improve water quality and support native water plants and animals, and new habitat pools in the river provide new habitat for our native fish.
And it’s not just nature that has benefited. Visitors can enjoy upgraded paths and trails, picnic areas, Kaurna artworks and better access and connectivity into and across this special part of the river.
Breakout Creek / Purruna Pari’s transformation certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed. The recent redevelopment, and the team behind the transformation, have won a number of excellence awards, in landscape architecture, civil construction, metropolitan water infrastructure, and integrated stormwater design.
Breakout Creek / Purruna Pari has something for everyone. Here are 4 ways to explore this special area:
(Hint: Pick one, or spend the day and enjoy them all!)
1. Get active
Whether you’re keen for a walk, run, ride or scoot, there are plenty of paths and trails to take you around the precinct – about 6.5 km of them to be a little more precise.
The asphalt shared-use paths on each side of the river are accessible for everyone, including wheelchair users and people pushing a pram. Dogs are welcome too, but please keep them under effective control.
The shared-use paths are well-lit, perfect for early-morning or evening exercise. Make your own circuit by crossing the river at the new footbridge, which is also accessible, and exploring the other side before you make your way back to your starting point via the footpaths on the Tapleys Hill Road or Seaview Road bridges.
The gravel tracks at the wetlands were designed for maintenance vehicles, but they can still be used by visitors wanting to take a more scenic look around the area.
Wander down the gravel tracks towards the riverbank and you’ll end up with the river on one side of you and wetlands on the other.
Also off the shared-use paths, the gravel walking trails will take you right amongst the thriving native garden beds so you can check them out up close.
If you’re a cyclist, you’ll be interested to know that on the northern side of the river you can get all the way to the city without having to leave the riverbank. It’s about an 11 km ride, one-way, and it’s a great way to really experience not just Breakout Creek but the whole western run of the Torrens.
2. Relax and unwind
Across the precinct you’ll find 5 picnic shelters with tables and seating – all you need to do is pack some lunch and enjoy the downtime.
You can also sit back and enjoy the scenery at one of the 6 park benches dotted around the area, or at one of the 4 viewing platforms that are located at some of the most picturesque sections of the landscape.
On the northern side of the river, just city-side of the footbridge, you can also take the path or stairs down to a lovely grassed area that’s perfect for relaxing on a picnic rug, or playtime for the kids.
3. Connect with nature
We’re lucky in Adelaide to have access to such beautiful nature havens in the metropolitan area, so if visiting Breakout Creek / Purruna Pari is just to soak up some nature, it’s as good a reason as any.
Walk along the riverbanks and see how the new native plantings are establishing. They’re really thriving, like the 2 boobiallas with their delicate white flowers (Myoporum parvifolium, creeping boobialla, and Myporum petiolatum, sticky boobialla), and the 2 pigfaces with their bright, purple flowers (Carpobrotus rossii, karkalla / native pigface, and Disphyma crassifolium, round-leaf pigface).
If you venture closer to the river you might see Pacific black ducks, black swans and purple swamp hens paddling around, and very quickly you’ll hear the sounds of frogs in the wetlands – most likely the eastern banjo frog.
Bring the binoculars for a spot of birdwatching if that’s your thing – keep your eye out for great egrets and little pied cormorants that are known to frequent the area!
Or look a little more closely to see some of the native bugs that are loving the landscape, like dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies and ants.
4. Enjoy the artworks
The serene riverside setting at Breakout Creek / Purruna Pari is the backdrop to 9 stunning Kaurna artworks, created by the talented Allan Sumner and his team.
The sculptures each represent significant elements of Kaurna culture, many that are specific to the local area.
Among them is the Ngudlitidli Nuinpi Sculpture (Lamprey Sculpture), which stretches 6.6 metres long, the Winaityinaityi Story Poles that feature a yellow-tailed black cockatoo, wedge-tailed eagle, magpie, pelican and a kookaburra, and the impressive Kaurna Kuntuli Wardli Bone Shelter.
Find out more about the significance of these artworks from the artist himself, or check out our story with a suggested route.
The recently redeveloped stretch of Breakout Creek / Purruna Pari can be accessed via Apex Park on Burbridge Road, West Beach, via the accessible boardwalk or the stairs, or from the surrounding sidestreets between Seaview Road and Tapleys Hill Road at West Beach/Henley Beach South/Fulham.
Check it out for yourself!