9 Of The Best Spots for Hiking in Adelaide

South Australia is known for its incredible landscapes and exploring Adelaide and surrounds on foot will give you a taste of its wild beauty.

Whether you’re looking to traverse sandstone cliffs, established boardwalks, sandy inlets or spot kangaroos grazing along trails, Adelaide is blessed with a stunning array of options for walkers in search of everything from a stroll to a more strenuous hike in the great outdoors. The only problem is deciding where to start. Here are nine of the best spots for hiking in Adelaide.

1. Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty

Where: Yurebilla Trail

Travel time from Adelaide: 35 minutes

Length: 7.8km/ 1.5-3 hours return

Difficulty: Medium

Waterfall Gully in Mount Lofty — Waterfall Gully delivers a healthy dose of nature. (Image: Ben Goodes)

Description: This is Adelaide’s version of the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. A popular walk among both locals and tourists, this spot is well-equipped with signage, benches, a clear path and cafes at each end. You’ll pass a mix of leisurely walkers, runners and others in training for distant trekking and hiking.

There are a few steep sections, with a couple of hard hills, so be sure to wear sturdy exercise footwear.

Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty — Climb for views from Mount Lofty.

2. First Falls Valley

Where: Morialta Conservation Park

Travel time from Adelaide: 25 minutes

Length: 1.7km/ 45 minutes return

Difficulty: Easy

Description: Hidden within one of Adelaide’s most popular parks, this glacial trail will take you down to Morialta Gorge and deliver plenty of cliffs, waterfalls and wildlife to keep you entertained along the way.

A girl at a waterfall in Morialta Conservation Park — Breathtaking views from Morialta Conservation Park. (Image: Megan Crabb)

3. The Marion Coastal Walk

Where: Hallett Cove Boardwalk

Travel time from Adelaide: 35 minutes

Length: 10.2km return/ 4 hours

Difficulty: Medium/Hard

Description: Experience the rugged beauty of Adelaide’s coastline on this clifftop boardwalk between Marino and Hallett Cove.

There are lots of steps, pathways and boardwalks to navigate as you take the time to admire the rocky cliffs and reef platforms on the descent through numerous gullies and bends. It’s a good one for keeping fit, too – you can thank the abundance of ascending and descending stairways for that.

Sugarloaf in Hallet Cove — The Sugarloaf is a highlight of the Marion Coastal Walk. (Image: Jessica-Coulter)

4. The River Torrens Linear Trail

Where: Torrens Lane Linear Park

Travel time from Adelaide: 25 minutes

Length: 30km/ 5 hours

Difficulty: Hard

Description: Marvel at the city of Adelaide as you explore it on foot via the River Torrens Linear Park trail – one of the most popular trails in the city. The trail will take you from the Adelaide foothills, wind its way through the CBD and finish at the coast.

For those who aren’t keen to trek the entire distance, several entry points along the trail will allow you to customise it to your preferred distance.

5. Coast Park Walking Trail

Where: From North Haven to Sellicks Beach

Travel time from Adelaide: 35 minutes

Length: 70km

Difficulty: Easy (but long!)

Description: In 2018, the Government of South Australia and six local councils announced a scheme to create a 70km walking and cycling path along the metropolitan Adelaide coastline. Stretching from North Haven to Sellick’s Beach, it has been progressively developed since 1992, and construction on the last section is in its final stages.

The Coastal Park Walking Trail overlooks Sellecks Beach — Sellicks Beach marks the end of the 70-kilometre trail. (Image: Jesse Ehlers)

Start anywhere, stop anywhere, have a coffee or walk the dog along your preferred section of the trail. The walking distance between beaches ranges from 2.2 km to almost 10km.

For those keen to just tackle one section of the walk, Port Noarlunga South to Moana is the most popular stretch of the trail. It provides coastal views of Gulf St Vincent and passes through family-friendly reserves, playgrounds and picnic areas.

Surfers using the coastal walk at Port Noarlunga South — Port Noarlunga South is a great place to start, ending at Moana. (Image: Trent Martin Photography)

6. The Onkaparinga River Hike

Where: Onkaparinga River National Park

Travel time from Adelaide: 40 minutes

Length: 4.2km return/ 2.5 hours

Difficulty: Medium

Description: Beginning at Gate 15 on Chapel Hill Road, this spectacular gorge walk will take you down into valleys, underneath winding cliffs and to the edge of waterholes. The trail starts fairly easy but quickly steepens as you descend into the gorge – which is something to remember for the way back!

7. Aldgate Valley nature walk

Where: The Adelaide Hills

Travel time from Adelaide: 25 minutes

Length: 13.6km/ 3.5 hours return

Difficulty: Medium

Description: A versatile walk through native bushland. This trail connects a series of nature reserves that are all worthy of exploring on foot.

Begin at either Mylor or Aldgate and spend your hours traversing through the Mylor Parklands, Aldgate Valley, Kyle Road Nature Reserve and the Nurrutti Reserve. Stop for a bite to eat at the Aldgate Pump Hotel or the Harvest Cafe.

Be sure to also keep your eyes peeled for the variety of wildlife that call this valley home. There are the usual suspects: kangaroos, possums, koalas and echidnas, but also the southern brown bandicoot. The notoriously shy creatures can often be spotted foraging for food in the early evening.

Sy wildlife along the Aldgate Valley nature walk.

8. Waterfall Hike

Where: Belair National Park

Travel time from Adelaide: 20 minutes

Length: 6.5km/ 3 hours return

Difficulty: Medium

Description: This scenic track guides walkers through the two Belair National Park waterfalls – the lower and the upper.

Both waterfalls are large in scale after heavy rainfall but are often down to a trickle of water for most of the year. Attempt to time your visit with a good downpour to see these waterfalls in full force.

Stand to take photos on the lower waterfall viewing platform before the walking trail takes you past the top of the upper one. There are some steep sections, particularly around Echo Tunnel, and non-fenced escarpment lookouts can mean the cliff edges are slippery at times, so be sure to wear sturdy walking shoes.

9. Sugarloaf Circuit

Where: Cleland Conservation Park

Travel time from Adelaide: 20 minutes

Length: 5.8km/ 3 hours

Difficulty: Easy

Description: Those with an affinity for wildlife should take note of the Sugarloaf Circuit. A trip down this escarpment often brings hikers face to face with koalas, kangaroos and an array of birds.

Park the car at Waterfall Gully Road, then follow the Chambers Gully Track. While the Sugarloaf Circuit is enough to keep you busy, you can extend the journey by following the signs to Long Ridge Lookout to check out those famous panoramic views over Adelaide City and Glenelg.

Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.

So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.

1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism — Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.

Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.

2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

woman relaxing at Deep Blue Hot Springs — Let mineral-rich water heal you.

If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.

The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.

3. Take to the air at Princetown

12 Apostles Helicopters flight alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road — See an icon from a different view.

You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.

The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.

4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum , a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.

The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.

If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.

5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

kid having a lesson with Go Ride A Wave — Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.

Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.

6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

Barwon Flow Trails Otways Flow MTB — Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.

Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.

Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.

7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

bush rat on Wildlife Wonders tour — Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)

If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.

The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.

8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation

Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red .

While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.

And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.

Plan your next no-stone-unturned journey along this iconic Aussie road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.

9 of the best spots for hiking in Adelaide

South Australia is known for its incredible landscapes and exploring Adelaide and surrounds on foot will give you a taste of its wild beauty.

1. Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty

2. First Falls Valley

3. The Marion Coastal Walk

4. The River Torrens Linear Trail

5. Coast Park Walking Trail

6. The Onkaparinga River Hike

7. Aldgate Valley nature walk

8. Waterfall Hike

9. Sugarloaf Circuit

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8 experiences to get the most out of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road

Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

3. Take to the air at Princetown

4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation