6 Mount Lofty Botanic Garden walking trails for spring

Wander your way through Mount Lofty Botanic Garden with these six walks.

There’s never a better time to visit Adelaide Hills’ Mount Lofty Botanic Garden than in spring. Take in 97 hectares blooming to life, changing the land with vibrant colours and scenting the air with sweet fragrances. And these six Mount Lofty Botanic Garden walking trails will help you make the most of it.

1. Rhododendron Trail

women on Rhododendron Gully Mount Lofty Botanic Garden walking trails — See all the Rhododendron colours. (Image: Paula McManus)

Distance: 700 metres

Love the pink and purple hues of this flower, hailing from eastern Asia and the Himalayas? Take the short (but somewhat steep) walk through some of the most spectacular Rhododendron displays. Enter from either the upper car park or past the duck pond and wander through gorgeous woodland with a carpet of colourful petals at your feet.

Just try to time this walk for early spring or late winter, when the flowers will be at their blooming best.

2. Lakeside Loop

Lakeside Loop, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden walking trails — Stop to hug a tree. (Image: SATC)

Distance: 1 kilometre

Short on time and energy, or in need of an accessible option? Get a short but sweet taste of Mount Lofty on this Lakeside Loop, taking walkers around the central lake. Starting from the lower car park where the seasonal display garden bed lies, continue past soft meadows of moss, through strikingly shaped trees and a rainforest canopy featuring plenty of ferns. Stop to look at a collection of sculptures along the way.

3. Lower Loop

Distance: 1.2 kilometres

This easy walk certainly isn’t short on views. Start at the duck pond and follow the path along gardens featuring plant life from around the world. Take a seat on a bench in the forest to soak in the sights and smells around you, before heading into the South America gardens, with gorgeous views over the lake and treetops.

Along the walk, you’ll spot everything from exotic flora from China to monkey trees that are usually found thriving in the Andes Mountains of Chile and Argentina.

4. Central Walk

aerial of mount lofty botanic garden — Mount Lofty comes alive with colour in spring. (Image: Jake Wundersitz)

Distance: 2 kilometres

This is the first walk with an incline, but it’s only medium. Starting from the lower car park again, head uphill past the Central Gazebo before heading down to the quiet Woodland Garden. Continue on to spot waterfalls, California redwood trunks and a stunning view over Piccadilly Valley.

5. Boundary Loop

Mount Lofty Botanic Garden walking trails — Explore Boundary Loop. (Image: SATC)

Distance: 2 kilometres

Now we’re getting into steeper incline territory, but it’s an absolute showstopper come spring. Head uphill, through pin oak canopies, the Heritage Rose Gardens and the Cherry Tree Collection (brought over from Adelaide’s Japanese sister city, Okayama). Be rewarded with panoramic views of the Adelaide Hills and the Rhododendron Gully from above. Once you’ve had your fill, continue on through the Southeast Asian Gully and Magnolia Gully – where 36 different magnolia species come to life in spring.

6. Heysen Trail

people walking in Cleland Conservation Park — Walk through stringybarks at Cleland National Park. (Image: SATC)

Distance: 7.5 kilometres

Want to get off the beaten path? This trail takes you to the untamed side of Mount Lofty Botanic Garden, and you’ll have to return the way you came. The paths won’t always be sealed, and the inclines can be steep, but you’ll get a wonderful mix of all the sights mentioned on the walks above. Plus, you’ll get a panoramic view from the summit of Mt Lofty, the small farms of Piccadilly Valley and the stringybark forests of Cleland National Park. Start at the car park at the entrance to Mt Lofty Summit.

The garden is open daily with free entry every day, and free parking on Sundays (thought it’s still very cheap during the week at $4.40 a day). Discover more beautiful walks around Adelaide.

Spend a few days visiting the real-life Central Australian locations that inspired the new film everyone is talking about, and discover why Alice Springs is such an important part of Australian culture.

In the credits of the new Australian film Kangaroo , the first name under ‘cast’ should read ‘The Northern Territory ’. Not only is Alice Springs (and the surrounding landscape) integral to the movie itself, but the spiritual heart of Australia and its local Indigenous owners also inform the look and feel of every frame, explains Producer Trisha Morton-Thomas of Brindle Films, who also plays Charlie’s grandmother Gwennie.

“By setting Kangaroo in Alice Springs (Mparntwe), the film embraces how visible Aboriginal people are here, and the living Aboriginal culture that is woven through this community,” she explains.

still from kangarro film — See *Kangaroo*, then visit the real-life filming locations.

And while shooting in such a sacred part of the Northern Territory required extra planning, it was something the cast and crew were highly invested in.

“There are incredibly significant sacred sites and places of deep cultural stories in the area, that at times are very gender-specific, which we’ve kept out of the production,” she explains. “Even if overhead drone footage captures a sacred site that isn’t meant to be seen by other people outside of that clan, we’ve made sure to omit it from the film.”

If Kangaroo piqued your interest in a Central Australian holiday, we don’t blame you. Read on to discover eight places featured in the movie that you can visit in real life – and get planning. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen and a hat.

1. Alice Springs/ Mparntwe

artist at Many Hands Art Centre — Visit the galleries of Alice Springs, like Many Hands Art Centre. (Image: Tourism NT/ Helen Orr/ Many Hands Art Centre)

The red and dusty streets of the film’s fictional town of Silvergum were filmed on the outskirts of Alice Springs. And, while the art gallery featured in the film is fictional, Alice Springs is a hub of creativity. See the work of local artists at the Araluen Art Centre , Yubu Napa Art Gallery , Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Art Centre and the famous Tjanpi Desert Weavers .

2. The Kangaroo Sanctuary & Kangaroo Rescue Centre

The Kangaroo Sanctuary Alice Springs, the inspiration for the Kangaroo move — Visit the movie’s inspiration at Kangaroo Sanctuary. (Image: Tourism NT/ Kangaroo Sanctuary)

Kangaroo was inspired by the journey of Chris ‘Brolga’ Barns, who founded the now world-renowned Kangaroo Sanctuary based in Alice Springs. For lead actor, Aussie Ryan Corr, the animals were central to the movie, alongside the landscapes.

“The animals in this story were a real calling point for me,” he explains. “What this story tries to tell us about the connection between humans and animals is beautiful.”

To gain a real insight into the fauna and flora of the Red Centre, you can visit the Kangaroo Sanctuary on a sunset tour, where you might even get the chance to hold a baby kangaroo.

3. Ormiston Gorge

woman walking along the edge of Ormiston Gorge near alice springs — Take a dip in Ormiston Gorge. (Image: Tourism NT/ @domandjesso)

The film captures the raw beauty of the West MacDonnell Ranges, known in the Arrernte language as Tjoritja. This national park is rich in Indigenous culture and stark geological wonders.

Only a 15-minute drive from Alice Springs, Tjoritja offers visitors the chance to camp, hike and swim among ancient landscapes (most attractions are less than a three-hour drive away).

Ormiston Gorge , a cooling oasis in among the red desert sands, is one of the most popular destinations, no doubt because of the permanent swimming hole and towering red cliffs. From here, visitors can also embark on the beautiful Ormiston Pound Walk and the shorter – more accessible – Ghost Gum Walk. Bring your bathers – it’s safe for swimming.

4. Standley Chasm

woman walking through Standley Chasm near alice springs — Wander through Standley Chasm. (Image: Tourism NT)

The 1.2-kilometre walk to nearby Standley Chasm will be a highlight for any visitor as the imposing 40 metre-high chasm walls project strength and ancient wisdom.

Visit at midday to experience the path illumined by the midday sun. Not only will you fill your camera roll with vibrant red images of the gorge and its intoxicating shadows, but you can also camp nearby in a powered or unpowered site so you can watch the brilliance of the desert stars fill the night sky after dusk.

5. Simpsons Gap

three people walking on path through simpsons gap near alice springs — Walk the trails of Simpson’s Gap. (Image: Tourism NT/ Helen Orr)

Closer to Alice Springs, the photogenic Simpsons Gap is the perfect place to spot the endangered Black-footed Rock wallaby near the permanent watering hole. While swimming isn’t permitted, soaking up the sun and views certainly is.

Explore the area’s numerous walking trails, appreciate the soaring cliffs on either side of the ‘gap’ and pick out the shooting locations of Kangaroo in the area.

6. Ellery Creek Big Hole

aerial of Ellery Creek Big Hole near alice springs — Dive into Ellery Creek Big Hole. (Image: Tourism NT/ Tourism Australia)

When it comes to classic Northern Territory landscapes, you can’t go past Ellery Creek Big Hole/ Udepata : tall gum trees sidling up to a refreshing watering hole (fed by the West MacDonnell Ranges and surrounded by rugged red cliffs.

Swim in the cooling waters, hike the cliff tops, watch for birds and even stargaze as you camp here overnight. It’s locations like this that attracted the film’s director Kate Woods to the project.

“It humbles you to be in this environment: it’s so beautiful, so old and so vast,” she explains. “I was thrilled to get a chance to … shoot such a beautiful story in the incredible landscape of the Northern Territory.”

7. Larapinta Drive

aerial of Larapinta Drive into alice springs — Drive along Larapinta Drive. (Image: Tourism NT)

There is no better way to get a feel for how the characters arrived at the fictional Central Australian town of Silvergum than to travel along the iconic state road, Larapinta Drive.

Connecting Alice Springs to the mighty King’s Canyon in the west, via the historic community of Hermannsburg, this road takes in the West MacDonnell National Park, Alice Springs Desert Park and artist Albert Namatjira’s house, among other attractions. Take your time, bring a camera and prepare for numerous stops along the way.

8. Todd River

competitors in Henley on Todd Regatta, alice springs — Join in the fun of the quirky Henley on Todd Regatta. (Image: Tourism NT/ TImparja Creative)

Meandering through Alice Springs like a lazy Western Brown snake, the Todd River is a central part of Alice Springs culture. Known as an ‘intermittent river’, the Todd can go from a dry dusty riverbed to a flowing waterscape in less than 15 minutes after heavy rainfall.

When it’s dry, the famous Henley on Todd Regatta fills the sandy riverbed with handmade ‘boats’ carried by sailors. This is the world’s only dry river boating event, and it’s referenced in the ‘Silvergum Boat Race’ in the movie. Inspired by the real-life event, the characters built quirky “Flintstones-style boats” and competed in teams.

See Kangaroo in cinemas now, and start planning your NT getaway at northernterritory.com.

Adelaide Hills has a 97-hectare botanic garden with 6 nature trails