Tadpole Cove Circuit is a 760m, grade 1 hike located in Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park, South Australia. The hike should take around 35 minutes to complete.
Hike overview
This short walk explores an old threshing floor and nearby ruin of a hut before heading to the lookout into Tadpole Cove. During the late 1800s and early 1900s D'Estrees Bay was used for growing wheat and malting barley. Whilst the farmers were using the threshing floor, they would stay in the nearby hut, now a ruin.
There are several threshing floors preserved throughout Kangaroo Island, including here on the Tadpole Cove Walk, on the Ironstone Hill Hike near Penneshaw (2 threshing floors here). There are few others preserved elsewhere in South Australia.
The threshing floor is a large, outdoor circle, with a stone pavement and a stones placed on edge around it to contain the grain as it was threshed. Sheaves of grain would be opened up and the stalks spread across the threshing floor and horses would then be walked round and round, often dragging a heavy threshing board behind them, to tear the ears of grain from the stalks, and loosen the grain itself from the husks. After this threshing process, the broken stalks and grain were collected and then thrown up into the air with a wooden winnowing fork or a winnowing fan. The chaff would be blown away by the wind; the short torn straw would fall some distance away; while the heavier grain would fall at the winnower's feet. The grain could then be further cleansed by sieving. A large stone was usually placed at the centre where the person controlling the horses would stand.
GPX file courtesy of Walking SA. File may not contain elevation data and may only represent half the length on return hikes.
Route and GPX file
Max elevation: 21 m
Min elevation: 17 m
Total climbing: 4 m
Total descent: -5 m
For more information on this hiking trail, please visit Walking SA
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About the region
Vast areas of wilderness, the Island's largest lagoon and coastal scenery provide a spectacular backdrop to Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park and adjoining Wilderness Protection Area on the south coast of Kangaroo Island. This large area of pristine coastal environment is important for biodiversity and provides a continuous block of vegetation adjoining Seal Bay Conservation Park, a critical corridor and habitat for a range of rare and threatened species.
The park has plenty of walking opportunities, including the unmarked Cape Gantheaume Coastal Trek (experienced hikers only), established trails at Murray Lagoon (may be subject to flooding in the winter months), and short walks at D'Estrees Bay.
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Gear to consider
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Acknowledgement of Country
Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.