Search bushwalks Page 19

Starting from the car park at the end of Park Road, Wilmington, this walk takes you on a circuit within Mount Remarkable National Park via the Mambray Creek and Hidden Gorge tracks. The hike begins near the Mambray Creek Campground, winding through native pine forest lining Mambray Creek, past pools of permanent water. The trail passes the Hidden Gorge Campsite before entering the ever-narrowing Hidden Gorge, where you’ll walk between steep red-rock cliff walls. You can spend a night at this great spot next to the creek and make this a multi-day walk. Follow the track up to the Battery, and enjoy panoramic views over Spencer Gulf on one side and Mount Remarkable summit on the other side. Maps are available at the trailhead, and the path is well signed. Keep a lookout for small blue arrows along the way that are nailed onto rocks and trees. There are also metal poles at roughly 500m intervals that state the remaining distance on the hike. The parking area has plenty of space with public toilets and barbeques, making it perfect for a family trip. Although 17km may sound long, the first half of the trail is relatively flat aside from a few hops over the creek. The second half is a slow incline to the ridge, where it flattens out again along the top before hitting a steady decline back towards the car park. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended, and walking poles may be helpful for the numerous creek crossings along the way. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Hidden Gorge Circuit

16.9 km circuit

5 h, 8 h to 2 days

Environment

Starting from the Bunyeroo car park on Bunyeroo Road, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, this walk takes you to the Wilpena Pound Visitor Centre via the Wilcolo Track. This hike follows a section of the Heysen and Mawson Trails alongside Wilcolo Creek between the ABC and Heysen Ranges, passing through white cypress pine woodland and tall river red gums, with stunning views of Wilpena Pound and the surrounding peaks. A diverse range of birds and animals can be seen along the way, including parrots, robins, wrens, eagles, emus, echidnas, kangaroos and rare yellow-footed rock wallabies. Before reaching the Wilpena Pound Visitor Centre, the hike passes the Wilcolo Campground, which sits among native pines, river red gums and wattles, offering picturesque camping options and toilet facilities. The hike also passes the Old Wilpena Station, one of South Australia's most significant pastoral settlements, displaying restored farm buildings, including an 1864 blacksmith's cottage. This loop consists of gently undulating fire tracks, with some uneven natural surfaces and creek crossings, suitable for average fitness levels. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Wilcolo Track

17.4 km oneway

4 h to 6 h

Environment

Starting near the Wilpena Pound Visitor Centre at the end of Wilpena Road, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, this walk takes you to Bridle Gap and back via the Pound Gap Track, Wilpena Pound Hiking Track and Bridle Gap Hike. Experience a section of the iconic Heysen Trail on this hike to Bridle Gap, a high saddle on the south-western escarpment edge of Wilpena Pound, passing through mallee, native pine and heath with an abundance of native birdlife. The hike follows a gently undulating track through the Pound Gap, passing the historic Hills Homestead, where early pastoralists lived while using the Pound as a natural corral for farming and grazing stock. The track remains relatively flat as it continues across the floor of the Pound before climbing the Wilpena Pound Range to Bridle Gap, providing panoramic views of the Bunbinyunna, Elder and Red Ranges. This hike consists of well-marked fire tracks and walking trails, suitable for moderate fitness levels, with some short steep hills. Dogs are not permitted in this park. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Bridle Gap Hike

18.2 km return

4 h to 6 h

Environment

Long Beach via Yangie Track

Long Beach via Yangie Track

18.2 km return

4 h to 6 h

Starting from the Yangie Bay Campground at the end of Coffin Road, Coffin Bay National Park, this walk takes you to Long Beach and back via the Long Beach Hike. Located within Coffin Bay National Park on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, the sheltered waters of Yangie Bay offer an ideal place for canoeing and provide a spectacular backdrop to the Yangie Bay Campground, the starting point for several walking trails, accessible to all vehicles and suitable for caravans. The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including emus, goannas and kangaroos, as well as seabirds such as albatrosses, ospreys, petrels and white-bellied sea eagles. This moderately challenging hike follows sandy trails through coastal mallee, vegetated sand dunes and samphire flats, offering excellent views of Yangie Bay and Yangie Island. The trail heads slightly inland before emerging at the aptly named Long Beach, an extensive white sand beach that provides a fantastic spot to enjoy the sunset over Coffin Bay, with calm and shallow waters that are suitable for swimming and paddling. This walk consists of sandy, gently undulating walking trails, with some overgrown sections, suitable for average fitness levels. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Environment

Hahndorf to Bridgewater Circuit

Hahndorf to Bridgewater Circuit

18.4 km circuit

5 h to 8 h 30 min

Starting from the Pioneer Memorial Gardens on Mount Barker Road, Hahndorf, this walk takes you on an 18km circuit past Bridgewater. The walk mainly follows country roads, laneways and bush tracks through a delightful section of the Adelaide Hills with historic homes, deciduous trees and native bushland. Along the way, you'll go past the great artist Sir Hans Heysen's home, The Cedars. Many of his original works of art can be seen on display in the house and the nearby studio. Some sections of the trail are slightly technical, and there are a couple of river crossings along the way which may be slippery after recent rainfall. This is a long walk, best suited for reasonably fit and experienced walkers. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Environment

Bus

Starting from the Kersbrook Public Hall car park on James Crescent, Kersbrook, this walk takes you on a circuit around the area north of Kersbrook via the Simpson Loop. Following the quiet country lanes and tracks north of the rural town of Kersbrook, the Simpson Loop passes through areas usually only used by locals, with good views over the surrounding ridgetops, rolling hills and farmland, where plenty of grazing cattle, sheep, horses and alpacas can be seen. The Kersbrook Public Hall is the trailhead for most of the Mount Lofty Ranges Trails, with toilet facilities and a large sign detailing the trails in the area. The Simpson Loop is mostly part of the Kersbrook Horse Trail network and is identified with yellow and black trail markers. This loop consists of wide shared-use fire tracks and dirt roads, with some short steep hills, suitable for walkers and cyclists of average fitness levels. When on private farmland, stay close to the fence line and leave the gates as you found them. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Simpson Loop

19.5 km circuit

4 h to 6 h

Environment

Rural

Wilpena Pound and Saint Mary Peak Circuit

Wilpena Pound and Saint Mary Peak Circuit

19.7 km circuit

6 h 30 min to 10 h

Starting near the Wilpena Pound Resort at the end of Wilpena Road, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, this circuit walk takes you to the summit of Saint Mary Peak via the Outside, Inside and Pound Gap tracks. From the summit, walkers are rewarded with outstanding panoramic views of the Flinders Ranges, Aroona Valley, and the salt plains to the west. Wilpena Pound has a wide variety of flora and fauna. The pound is home to Sturt's desert pea, river gums, mallee, acacia and casuarinas. This hike offers a challenge for enthusiastic bushwalkers with steep climbs and rugged terrain. The directions are often marked in very subtle hard-to-spot ways, such as faded arrows scratched into the rocks. The last kilometres to the peak involve a lot of rock scrambling, but the view makes the effort worthwhile. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Environment

Starting from the Sensation Beach Campground on the Misery Track, Coffin Bay National Park, this walk takes you to the coastline of Boarding House Bay and back via the Boarding House Bay Hike. This hike starts from the trailhead at the Sensation Beach Campground, which is accessible only by 4WD through Coffin Bay National Park, and follows old vehicle tracks through the spectacular landscape of the Whidbey Wilderness Area. The trail passes through coastal heath, samphire flats and mallee woodlands before reaching the rugged coastline of Boarding House Bay, which offers stunning views of cliffs, beaches and offshore reefs. From there, walkers can return via the same route or continue along the coastline to the southern headland, which offers excellent views of Point Whidbey. Swimming along this coast isn't advisable due to persistent waves, rocks, reefs and strong rips. This walk consists of gently undulating fire tracks, with some uneven natural surfaces, suitable for average fitness levels. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Boarding House Bay

21.5 km return

6 h to 8 h

Birdwatching

Environment

Starting near the Wilpena Pound Visitor Centre at the end of Wilpena Road, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, this walk takes you to Malloga Falls and back via the Mallonga Falls Hike. This is one of the longer walks in the Flinders Ranges, exploring a challenging trail to the remote Malloga Falls, a set of twin falls in Edeowie Gorge, a deep gorge draining from Wilpena Pound out to the northwestern plains. The hike follows a gently undulating track through the Pound Gap, passing the historic Hills Homestead, then traverses the floor of the Pound to its northwestern edge. After passing Cooinda Camp, the track heads through rocky terrain to Edeowie Gorge, ending with a short steep descent to Malloga Falls, which only flows after heavy rains. This hike consists of fire tracks and narrow walking trails, with some short steep hills and rocky surfaces, suitable for moderately experienced bushwalkers with navigational skills. Bushwalkers must discuss their route with the Wilpena Pound Visitor Centre staff before starting this hike. The trail is closed during the summer months of December, January and February. Dogs are not permitted in this park. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Malloga Falls Hike

21.9 km return

6 h to 8 h

Waterfall

Environment

Belair Railway Station to Mount Lofty Summit

Belair Railway Station to Mount Lofty Summit

22.3 km oneway

4 h 30 min to 7 h 30 min

22.3 km

Oneway

Walk

4 h 30 min to 7 h 30 min

Run

2 h 15 min to 3 h 45 min

Starting from the Belair Railway Station off Upper Sturt Road, Belair, this walk takes you to the summit of Mount Lofty via the Yurrebilla Trail, Chinaman's Hut Track and Nangare Track. This challenging hike follows the Yurrebilla Trail through Belair National Park for the first few kilometres, which are relatively easy-going, passing through the Echo Tunnel before descending to Brownhill Creek Recreation Park. After leaving Brownhill Creek, the trail climbs into the foothills behind the historic Carrick Hill house, then zig-zags across the hills and open grassy woodlands of Waite Conservation Reserve, providing spectacular views across Adelaide. The trail winds along Mount Barker Road then follows the Tunnel Track over the South Eastern Freeway and enters Cleland Conservation Park. For the last few kilometres, the hike climbs steeply to the summit of Mount Lofty, following some of Cleland's lesser-travelled trails. This walk follows a combination of walking trails, fire tracks and sealed roads, with some narrow sections, uneven surfaces and steep hills. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Environment

Starting from the Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden on Mount Barker Road, Hahndorf, this walk takes you to Beaumont via the Pioneer Women's Trail. Experience the amazing journeys undertaken by the Prussian Lutheran women and girls who walked from Hahndorf to Adelaide, carrying fresh produce for the hungry townsfolk during the early years of European settlement. The Pioneer Women's Trail honours these women, for they were instrumental in saving the young colony of South Australia from starvation. The walk follows country roads, laneways and bush tracks through a beautiful section of the Adelaide Hills, passing historic buildings, deciduous trees and native bushland, with interpretive signs detailing the area's history along the way. The walk initially crosses the Onkaparinga River before joining the official trail at Verdun, then winds through Bridgewater and follows Cox Creek past the historic Old Bridgewater Mill. After traversing Mount George Conservation Park, the trail passes the Stirling Golf Club and heads through Stirling, a picturesque village with many cafés, restaurants and boutique shops. The trail continues through Crafers and Cleland Conservation Park, then follows the Old Bullock Track, emerging to stunning city views before descending to the historic Beaumont House. This walk consists of wide and narrow, gently undulating walking trails, fire tracks and roads, with uneven natural surfaces, compacted natural surfaces and sealed surfaces, suitable for moderate fitness levels, and can be done in either direction. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Pioneer Women's Trail

24.4 km oneway

6 h, 10 h to 2 days

Pioneer Women's Trail

Environment

Starting from the Sensation Beach Campground on the Misery Track, Coffin Bay National Park, this walk takes you along the coastline towards Point Whidbey and back via the Whidbey Hike. This hike starts from the trailhead at the Sensation Beach Campground, which is accessible only by 4WD through Coffin Bay National Park, and follows old vehicle tracks through the spectacular landscape of the Whidbey Wilderness Area. The trail initially follows the Boarding House Bay Hike, passing through coastal heath and mallee woodlands, with views of Sudden Jerk Island, then branches off and heads south along the spectacular coastline towards Point Whidbey. The trail passes sheltered coves and a large blowhole along the way, ending at a rugged bay overlooking the Great Australian Bight. This walk consists of gently undulating fire tracks, with some uneven natural surfaces, suitable for average fitness levels. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Whidbey Track

24.9 km return

6 h to 8 h

Birdwatching

Environment

Starting from the Mambray Creek Day Visitor Area at the end of Park Road, Mount Remarkable National Park, this walk takes you to the Melrose War Memorial via the Black Range Trek. This challenging trek connects the Mambray Creek Day Visitor Area to Melrose and is best done over multiple days, with multiple camping options along the route to split up the distance. The trek initially meanders through the Mambray Creek Valley, passing Scarfes Hut and the Sugar Gum Lookout, then heads over the steep Black Range to Grays Hut. From there, the trek climbs steeply to the summit of Mount Remarkable before descending to the town of Melrose. The walk begins near the Mambray Creek Campground, which is suitable for tents, caravans, camper vans and camper trailers and has toilets, showers and fire pits. This walk consists of narrow walking trails and fire tracks, with uneven natural surfaces, compacted natural surfaces, rocky surfaces, steep hills and creek crossings, suitable for high fitness levels, and can be done in either direction. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Black Range Trek

26.7 km oneway

2 days to 3 days

Environment

Nurragi Conservation Reserve Walking Trail

Nurragi Conservation Reserve Walking Trail

26.7 km return

6 h to 8 h

Starting from the car park on Daranda Terrace, Milang, this walk follows the former railway line from Milang to Sandergrove via the Nurragi Conservation Reserve Walking Trail. As you walk along the path, you’ll discover many of the signs of the railway line that used to run here. About halfway through the trail, at the site of the former Nurragi Station, there is a picnic spot with benches and tables. The picnic spot provides lots of information, including maps of the trail, details on flora, fauna and history, and brochures for walkers. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Highlights

Environment