Day Paddock Park

Behind Macclesfield Primary School, Day Paddock Park hides a patch of old Adelaide Hills bush with a dirt track through it. In spring the understorey fills with wildflowers and native orchids, and dogs walk it on lead.

Lead rules

Mount Barker District Council manages the park as a Bush for Life regeneration site. Dogs must be on lead at all times to protect the native understorey and wildlife.

The walk

The track is natural earth, winding through open forest of stringybark, manna gum, red gum and blue gum. The canopy is thick, so most of the walk is in shade.

This is a bush stroll through remnant vegetation, not a manicured park.

Getting there

Park on the street near Vernon and Lutterworth Streets, around the school. There are no taps on the track and bins are scarce, so bring water and carry bags until you are back in town.

Max: Keep to the track and the lead short. Volunteers work hard on the regrowth here, and spring flowers get trampled fast.

Make a day of it

Add a second walk at Lord Robinson Park at the southern end of town.

When to go

Spring is the pick for wildflowers, and the shade makes it a fair summer option too. It suits dogs that enjoy a slow sniff more than a run.