Marino Conservation Park

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Marino Conservation Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)

Nearest town/city:	Marino
Area:	30ha
Managing authorities:	Department for Environment and Heritage
Official site:	Marino Conservation Park

Marino Conservation Park is a 30 ha park located in the Adelaide suburb of Marino with views across Adelaide and the coastline.

Once part of the lands of the Aboriginal Kaurna people, the Marino Conservation Park and surrounding areas are part of the Tjilbruke dreamtime.

Proclaimed in 1989 as a conservation park, it aims to protect flora such as the ground cover Desert Saw Sedge Gahnia lanigera and Twiggy Daisy Bush Olearia ramulosa. Native grass species such as Danthonia species and Stipa species as well as groundcovers dominate the central and eastern portions of the park. The Elegant Wattle Acacia victoriae can also be seen in the park.

The steep west-facing hillside above the railway line contains a very significant remnant area of coastal heath vegetation, including rare plants such as lemon beauty heads Calocephalus citreus, shiny ground berry Acrotiche patula and native apricot Pittosporum phylliraecoides.

Past land-use practices severely depleted the habitat available for native wildlife. Twenty-nine species of bird including owls, falcons, honeyeaters and rosellas frequent the park. The Eastern brown snake and insects also find sanctuary in the remnant vegetation and open space area.

A 1.5km self-guided botanical trail starts from the car park with two gentle hills to climb. The path is not suitable for wheelchairs. There are also designated dog trails. There are no picnic, toilet or other facilities in the park. Camping is prohibited.

The park has an active Friends of Marino Conservation Park group, mostly locals, who regularly weed and look after the area.

The park is accessible via the Marino Rocks railway station, which is nearby.