5 great walks in Adelaide

Spring has (finally) sprung in Adelaide and with temperatures from the late teens into the 20’s it is the perfect time to get out and explore the many beautiful walks within easy striking distance of the CBD.

Renowned architectural magazine Architectural Digest recently crowned the South Australian capital as the most beautiful city in the world by calling out, among other things, the beaches, Victorian buildings and the hiking.

As an adopted Adelaidean and a lover of hiking and walking, I wanted to share my top five places to walk or hike in Adelaide, some of which even the locals aren’t aware of. They are presented in no particular order, as each one is special in its own right.

Waterfall Gully to Mt Lofty

First off the bat is the most popular trail near Adelaide, on a sunny weekend make sure to get there early to beat the crowds.

This 7.8km return trail will test your fitness as it climbs steeply to the summit of Mount Lofty to stand 710m above sea level alongside a large obelisk constructed in 1885 as a survey station.  The panoramic views from the summit over the city and coastline, and even as far as Kangaroo Island will make the sweat getting there worth it, and you will have earned your coffee and cake at the café at the top – or you can save that gratification for your return at the end of the hike. 

Difficulty: Allow approx 2 hours depending on fitness, as this one is steep with a 457m total climb. Top tip, park at the Cark Park at Mount Lofty and go downhill first then back up.

Coastal Walkway

The newly renovated coastal walkway extends from Marino to Hallet Cove and passes through geological formations, a significant cultural site of the Tjilbruke dreaming and stunning vistas of rocky cliffs and glorious coastline with potential sightings of Seals & Dolphins.

This walk contains plenty of steps to cross down and up natural gullies and at the Hallet Cove end 2 new state of the art suspension bridges, means views over the gullies without having to descend & ascend again.

Difficulty: 5.1km each way and a good level of fitness for the stair sections is recommended. Another walk with café’s on both ends (seeing a theme?) this walk will eventually be part of a 71km trail going all the way from Sellicks beach in the South to North Haven. 

Ambers Gully Hike

The Ambers Gully hike is a great place to spot the lovely wildflowers blooming at this time of year, including orchids, Bush pea, and creamy candles. Also, keep your eyes peeled for Koalas as this site offers good opportunities to see them.

This area provides a vital habitat for small woodland birds, and contains significant large trees for nesting raptors and other larger birds of prey. 

Difficulty: This moderate walk has some steep sections, but at 2.3km, it is very doable by most, including children. The hike can be extended further by scaling the summit of Black Hill or continuing the Yurrebilla trail.

River Torrens linear trail

The river Torrens flows from the Adelaide hills, through the city centre before emptying out to sea at West Beach, and alongside the entire length of 35km there is an accessible trail suitable for wheelchairs, prams, biking or jogging.

This trail is lined with River Red Gums, and has several playgrounds and water fountains for taking a break and enjoying nature, or keeping the kids amused. Passing through the city close to the iconic Adelaide Oval you get a sense of the peace in the heart of the city. Choose a start point, pack a picnic or some seeds to feed the ducks and go East or West to the hills or the coast, both directions are stunning. You can explore the whole day, visiting surrounding galleries and museums or even having a BBQ on a boat along this trail.

Difficulty: Easy walk and as a bonus, it is dog friendly – but please keep Fido on-leash and be aware of other path users.

Waterfall Hike Belair National Park

Another dog-friendly but on-leash trail takes in the views, fauna and flora, and overall special place that is Belair National Park. Entrance fees do apply; however, I strongly believe it’s money well spent to experience this park and to support the maintenance and upkeep provided by the National Parks & Wildlife Service.

Probably my favourite walk in Belair is the 6.5km loop that is the waterfall hike. A well-signed and moderately difficult trail that passes under a railway via the echo tunnel – try it with the junior hikers – passes through rocky views over the upper and lower waterfalls before looping back to the car park and plant Nursery and the Victorian splendour that is the Old Government house for afternoon tea.

This hike is another wonderful spot to encounter Koala, Emu, Kangaroos and maybe an Echidna if lucky.  Due to Adelaide’s low rainfall, the waterfalls tend to only flow after heavy rainfall, but waterfalls or not, this walk deserves to be experienced.