Following the activation at the Poonthie Ruwe CP, I drove a few kms away to the Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park.  The park is situated about 100 kms east of Adelaide, and about 5 kms south west of Tailem Bend.  Access is via Placid Estate Road, which runs off the Princes Highway.  This park is much better signposted that Poonthie Ruwe.  Although, there are no signs on the Princes Highway to indicate its existence.

The park was proclaimed under its current name in June, 2005 and conserves about 143 hectares of Southern Cypress Pine forest, that includes two nationally threatened orchid species…the Sandhill Greenhood Orchid, and the Metallic Sun Orchid.  It is one of just nine areas left in South Australia where the Sandhill Greenhood Orchid can be found.  The park was originally constituted as the Tailem Bend Forest Reserve back in 1950.

The nearby Princes Highway originally cut through the park, but was rerouted in the 19990’s to bypass the park.

The name of the park is aboriginal in the native Ngarrindjeri language.  ‘Mowantjie’ is the name for the native pine found in the park, while ‘Willauwar’ is a plural word meaning ‘forest of species’.  Therefore ‘Mowantjie Willauwar’ means ‘Native Pine Forest’.

Over 40 different varieties of birds have been documented in the park.

Again I set up the dipole on the 7m squid pole and used the 817nd.  There are obviously plenty of trees here to string up the ends of the dipole.  This time, there was a bit more activity on 40m which was good.

My first QSO was with Glen VK3YY who was on top of Mount Dandenong VK3/ VC-025.  I had 2 other SOTA contacts during the afternoon.  The next was with Kevin VK3KAB on VK3/ VT-040, and then Peter VK3ZPF who was on top of VK3/ VT-026.

I also spoke with Andy VK5LA/p, who was operating portable as part of the VK5 Parks Award, up in the River Murray National Park.  I think this was Andy’s first parks activation, so congratulations Andy, and thanks for supporting the program/award.

I made a total of 14 QSO’s, all on 40m.

The following stations were worked:- Glen VK3YY/p (SOTA), Andy VK5LA/p (Murray River NP), Ron VK3AFW, John VK5BJE, Rod VK2ZRD, Col VK5HCF, Andrew VK2UH, Bernard VK3AMB, Brian VK5FMID, Kevin VK3KAB/p (SOTA), Peter VK3ZPF/p (SOTA), David VK5KC, Allen VK3HRA, and Peter VK2NEO.

On Sunday morning, 2nd June 2013, I activated the Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park, which is located about 100 kms east of Adelaide.  It is situated about 5 kms south east of the town of Tailem Bend, near the Murray River.  The park was originally called Poonthie Ruwi-Riverdale CP and was proclaimed back in 2003, but the name was changed in May, 2008.  The park’s name means ‘Hopping Mouse Country’ in the traditional Ngarrindjeri aboriginal language.  Unfortunately, there is no Hopping Mouse population in the area today, due to European settlement.

Poonthie Ruwe consists of mallee and Scented Irongrass tussock grassland and covers an area of about 241 hectares.  It is the largest area of this type of vegetation in South Australia, and the temperate grasslands that are found in the park are classified as critically endangered.  This type of vegetation has been poorly conserved due to clearing for farming.

Access to the park is via Blackets Road, which runs off the Princes Highway, just out of Tailem Bend.  There are no signs indicating the park is there, so before leaving home make sure you know exactly where it is located.

The area is quite sandy, and there is a resident ant population as I found out.  Their nests almost looked like the lunar landscape.

I set up my gear and called CQ on 7.100 on 40m, but things were incredibly slow.  First cab off the rank was Bob VK2OD.  This was followed by a few of the regular Hunters in Andy VK5LA, Brian VK5FMID, and Allen VK3HRA.

Because things were s slow, I decided to pack up the gear and i headed ‘around the corner’ to the Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park.

I made a total of just 6 QSO’s, all on 40m.

The following stations were worked:- Bob VK2OD, Andy VK5LA, Brian VK5FMID, Allen VK3HRA, Roy VK5NRG, and Ian VK3FIAN.

Friday was a really wet day here at my qth…over 90 mm of rain.  And the forecast for the weekend did not look any better, so unfortunately I had to put on hold any plans to do any SOTA activations this weekend.  But after the morning coffee, the weather seemed to be clearing to a degree, and the ‘portable bug’ bit.  My wife Marija, headed off to the gym and to do her Saturday morning shopping, so I jumped in the car and drove up the South Eastern Freeway to Monarto, and activated the Monarto Conservation Park.

Monarto Conservation Park is situated about 60 kms east of Adelaide, and about 30 kms east from my home at Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills.  Access to the park is via Ferries McDonald Road.  Simply take the Monarto turn off on the South Eastern Freeway and then turn right onto Ferries McDonald Road.  The park is situated about 6 kms south from here.  The road soon becomes dirt after turning off the Freeway.

There are plenty of signs around to warn you regarding wildlife.  There are plenty of roos in the area.  But also the highly endangered Mallee fowl, which live in both Monarto CP and the nearby much larger Ferries McDonald Conservation Park.

The park is well signposted and is located on the western side of Ferries McDonald Road.  There is a large carpark, and from here you can follow a short 2 km loop trail which takes you through the park.

The nearby ‘town’ of Monarto was once earmarked as a satellite city to Adelaide, by the then Premier, Don Dunstan, back in the 1970’s.  However for a variety of reaons this never eventuated.  Today Monarto is a farming district, and it is adjacent to the main Adelaide-Melbourne railway line.

Monarto CP consists of thick mallee woodland and dry heathland.  The park contains one of the few pieces of remnant Mallee vegetation close to Adelaide.  No camping is allowed within the park, and there are no facilities.  The park comprises sand ridges forming part of the Murray Plains.  As previously mentioned the park is home to the endangered Mallee fowl, along with a variety of other wildlife including the Western Grey Kangaroo, and at least two species of Marsupial Mouse.  There are also numerous bat species.  More than 80 species of birs have been documented in the park.

I set up the normal equipment, the 817nd and the dipole using the 7m squid pole.  I attached the squid pole to a post & rail permapine fence using an occie strap.  The weather was a bit ordinary, but the rain held off right until the end, which was good.  Unfortunately for the most part there was annoying light drizzle.  And then the rain came in from the west and it was time to head to the car and home for lunch and a hot coffee.

Conditions seemed quite good, but there didn’t appear to be the same number of operators on 40m this morning, as there has been on previous Saturday mornings.

I ended up working a total 16 stations on 40m, in VK1, VK3, & VK5.

A few interesting QSO’s though during the morning/early afternoon.  I spoke with Mark VK3DEE/p on VK3/VC-018 (SOTA) who was a good 5/8 signal.  And I had a few good QRP contacts.  One was with Grant VK3HP.  I wound down the power on the 817nd and spoke with Grant on just .5 watt and received a 5/7 signal report from him (down from 5/9 when using 5 watts).  And also Duncan VK3LZ, who was also QRP running just 2.5 watts.  Duncan was a good strong signal 5/8.  Again I only used .5 watt and received a 5/7 signal report from Duncan.  And I also spoke with Ian VK5CZ who gave me 5/5 up in Clare on just .5 watt.

Another interesting QSO was with Peter VK3YE who was using his home brew tx.

The following stations were worked:- Ernie VK3DET; Nick VK3ANL; Ron VK3MJR; Brian VK5FMID; Allen VK3HRA; Shaun VK5FAKV; Mark VK3DEE/p (SOTA); Rod VK5FTTC; Grant VK3HP; Brenton VK3CM; Duncan VK3LZ; Matt VK1MA; Ian VK5CZ; Geoff VK3AHT; & Peter VK3YE.

Other than the weather, an enjoyable activation.