Totness Recreation Park

Totness Recreation Park South Australia
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)
Railway dam in Totness Recreation Park
Totness Recreation Park
Nearest town or city	Mount Barker, South Australia
Coordinates	35°03′29″S 138°50′14″E / 35.05811°S 138.83721°E / -35.05811; 138.83721Coordinates: 35°03′29″S 138°50′14″E / 35.05811°S 138.83721°E / -35.05811; 138.83721
Established	1970
Area	41 hectares (101 acres)
Managing authorities	Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

Totness Recreation Park, is a protected area located in South Australia within the localities of Mount Barker and Totness in the central Mount Lofty Ranges. Covering 41 hectares (101 acres) of land, the park is divided by the South Eastern Freeway and features a large dam. It was declared as a reserve in 1970 and re-designated as a recreation park in 1972. The park has no visitor facilities except for access tracks. It is the only park in the district, managed by the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, that is solely designated for recreation.

While parts of the park are dominated by pest plant species, primarily gorse and blackberry, it has native plant communities that are of conservation significance. messmate stringybark and manna gum woodlands are of particular note, being now uncommon in much of their former range across the Mount Lofty Ranges.

Totness Recreation Park is approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Adelaide and 2.5 km (1.6 mi) from Mount Barker. The park covers 41 hectares (101 acres) but is divided by the South Eastern Freeway, with 9 ha (22 acres) north of the freeway and 32 ha (79 acres) on its south. The only connection between the two sections is a 1.5-metre (5 ft) high, 100 m (328 ft) long, concrete storm water pipe that passes under the freeway. 5.8 ha (14 acres) of the park's southern section is leased for grazing, and fenced off from public access. The park is surrounded by rural properties that are primarily used for grazing. The most prominent feature is a former railway dam in the northern section. Most of the park, and some adjacent rural properties, drain into this dam. Overflow from the dam eventually reaches the Mount Barker Creek and subsequently the Bremer River. There are walking trails throughout the park and dirt vehicle access tracks along the boundaries. A boardwalk, constructed in 2001 in the northern section adjacent to the freeway, enables passage through boggy areas. Apart from the boardwalk there are no built structures and no facilities nor interpretive signs.