A Gorgeous Gorge

 On a sublimely sunshiny morning we set off to do a short walk in the Okaparinga National Park. It's a huge park with loads of different types of walks. We selected the Chapel Hill Walk - an easy hike on the southern side of the Onkaparinga Gorge that we accessed from the McLaren Vale winery region. In fact, Samuels' Gorge Winery almost overlooks the gorge. It was a fairly easy-going walk along a grassy path ...

and passing an enormous olive grove.

 It was gentle at first.

Then the path began veering steadily upwards. 

And upwards...

We were heading for the viewing spot which overlooked the gorge. It was clearly signposted so no going off piste for us.

And here it was. I was expecting a wide gorge with rocky sides and craggy overhangs. Instead, it was difficult to see any kind of rocky interface at all, as it was so thickly wooded. I could just make out the shape of the Onkaparinga River snaking through the narrow river valley. 

My zoom lens found the rather murky river...

... while Steve got to work with the gorge itself.

After a peaceful rest with no one but us about, we set off on the return loop, passing the Chapel Hill winery vines.

On the way I spotted two different types of wattle - always a cheery sight.

A house way off in the distance caught my eye, especially that inviting sun room. Thanks to my zoom lens, I practically made it to the front door! 

I then came across a rather large swathe of dandelions a sure sign of impending spring. Who remembers making daisy chains and fashioning them into bracelets, necklaces and crowns? Not Steve. I picked a couple and demonstrated my long-forgotten skill. I'm not sure he was that impressed. I do remember, and this came back to me fairly quickly, that dandelions have no scent except for a weedy, pungent odour.

When we came upon part of the Chapel Hill winery estate we knew we were almost at the end of the walk.

Not far away was the entrance to Samuel's Gorge Winery. Such a sublime scene that sums up this lovely part of South Australia.

The winery itself had a lovely lived-in atmosphere.

We did a couple of tastings inside this atmospheric room, but as they were reds, they weren't for me.  

On the way home we called in at a lovely cafe in McLaren Vale village for lunch. 

Another enjoyable walk. I later looked up more information about the gorge and it is indeed dramatically rocky and craggy, but the walks getting down to the gorge at river level are fairly long and scrambly, so I may just enjoy this part of the gorge vicariously from the Walking SA website instead!