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The Best Walks and Hikes in Adelaide and Beyond
The best walks in Adelaide are a nature lover's dream, with trails leading to picturesque lookouts, waterfalls and rock pools.
The best walks in Adelaide take you to clifftop ocean views, hidden waterfalls, and bushland trails that feel nothing like a capital city, all within striking distance of the CBD. Venture further and South Australia’s national parks and coastal conservation trails add serious heft to the list. Lace up and follow a network of hiking trails through reserves, gorges and foreshore paths, where the only thing better than the scenery is how close it all is.
In This Guide:
The Best Walks in the Adelaide CBD & Surrounds
Waterfall Gully to Mt Lofty Summit Hike
If you had to pick just one, this is it. The Waterfall Gully to Mt Lofty Summit Hike draws everyone from seasoned trail runners to first-time hikers, and it even caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey when she visited Adelaide. Some sections get steep, but the views from the summit make every burning step worth it. Start at Waterfall Gully Road and follow the signs, or just follow the crowd.
Sitchu Tip: For the days when a steep hike is off the cards, Belair National Park is 15 minutes away and has trails for every fitness level.
Where: Waterfall Gully, Waterfall Gully
Cost: Free
Best For: Active, Adventure, Outdoor, Nature lovers
Need To Know: Some sections are steep, suited to both first-timers and experienced hikers.
Adelaide Botanic Gardens
Not every great walk requires a car, a trail map, or a decent pair of hiking boots. The Adelaide Botanic Garden sits right on the city’s doorstep and spans 50 hectares of maintained gardens displaying plants from Australia and across the globe. Go at your own pace, tackle sections at a time, or join a free guided walk that runs for 1.5 hours and is genuinely worth your Sunday morning.
Where: Adelaide Botanic Garden, Adelaide
Cost: Free
Best For: Families, Free, Outdoor, Locals, Visitors
Need To Know: Free guided walks run for 1.5 hours.
Marion Coastal Walk
Clifftop views, rugged gullies, and ocean as far as the eye can see. The Marion Coastal Walk is the kind of trail where you stop noticing how far you’ve walked because the scenery keeps getting better. The Hallett Cove Boardwalk section is a moderate 5km one way, with steps to climb and drops to descend as you follow the line of the cliffs. Bring your camera and don’t rush it.
Where: Hallett Cove Boardwalk, Marino
Cost: Free
Best For: Outdoor, Nature lovers, Active, Couples
Need To Know: The Hallett Cove Boardwalk section is a moderate 5km one way, with steps and drops along the cliff line.
The Coast Trail, Adelaide
Seventy kilometres of walking and cycling paths hug Adelaide’s coastal foreshore from North Haven to Sellicks Beach, passing beachside suburbs, waterfront cafes, and stretches of parkland that give way to open sand. You don’t have to do The Coast Trail all at once. Glenelg to Brighton at 4.2km or Henley Square to Glenelg at 7.5km are both excellent starting points for a flat, breezy morning out.
Where: O’Sullivan Beach to Sellicks Beach, O’Sullivan Beach
Cost: Free
Best For: Families, Free, Outdoor, Weekend plans, Budget-friendly
Need To Know: Glenelg to Brighton (4.2km) and Henley Square to Glenelg (7.5km) are both good starting points if you’re not doing the full 70km.
Three Falls Grand Hike, Morialta Conservation Park
Twenty minutes from the city and you’d genuinely never know it. Morialta Conservation Park is thick with native bushland, wildlife, and the kind of gorge views that make you stop mid-stride. The Three Falls Grand Hike is the pick of the park’s trail network — a 7.3km round-trip that follows the edge of the gorge past Fourth Creek and all three falls. Allow more time than you think you’ll need.
Where: Morialta Conservation Park, Woodforde
Cost: Free
Best For: Active, Adventure, Nature lovers, Outdoor
Need To Know: A 7.3km round-trip, allow more time than you think you’ll need.
Mount Osmond Reserve
The Hills are right there, and Mount Osmond Reserve makes it easy to disappear into them. Choose a 2.2km trail if you’re after something quick, or commit to the 11km loop through pine and eucalypt forest that eventually opens out to sweeping views over Adelaide. Either way, you’ll come back feeling like you actually did something with your day.
Where: Mount Osmond Reserve, Beaumont
Cost: Free
Best For: Active, Outdoor, Nature lovers, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Choose the 2.2km trail for something quick or the 11km loop for a full outing.
Yellowtail Loop, Anstey Hill Recreation Park
On the outskirts of Adelaide, Yellowtail Loop at Anstey Hill Recreation Park winds through native bushland past the ruins of Newmans Nursery, climbs steeply enough to earn the views, and looks out over the Adelaide Plains from the top. It’s dog-friendly on a leash, and eight mountain biking trails run through the park for anyone who wants to make a full day of it.
Where: Anstey Hill Recreation Park, Tea Tree Gully
Cost: Free
Best For: Dog-friendly, Active, Outdoor, Nature lovers
Need To Know: Dog-friendly on a leash; eight mountain biking trails also run through the park.
Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens
In autumn, Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens is one of the most beautiful places in South Australia, full stop. The Lakeside Trail loops around the garden’s main lake at an easy pace, while the Valley View Walk looks out across vineyards, orchards and garden in every direction. The gardens also form part of the Heysen Trail, a 1,200km walk that runs from Cape Jervis all the way to the Flinders Ranges, if you’re feeling ambitious.
Where: Mount Lofty Botanic Garden, Crafers
Cost: Free
Best For: Families, Free, Outdoor, Nature lovers, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Forms part of the 1,200km Heysen Trail, running from Cape Jervis to the Flinders Ranges.
River Torrens Linear Park Trail
Flat, scenic, and thirty kilometres long — the River Torrens Linear Trail follows the river from Athelstone in Adelaide’s east all the way through to West Beach and Henley Beach. It’s a shared path popular with walkers, runners and cyclists, with playgrounds, cafes and picnic spots dotted along the way.
Sitchu Tip: Pack your swimmers. After 30km, a dip at the beach is non-negotiable.
Where: Athelstone to West Beach, Athelstone
Cost: Free
Best For: Families, Free, Outdoor, Locals, Weekend plans
Need To Know: The trail runs 30km one way, plan for a single section rather than the full distance.
Beaumont Circuit, Burnside
When you want to get out without going far, Burnside’s network of reserves delivers. The Beaumont Circuit starts from Hayward Drive and Caithness Avenue and climbs steeply into Mount Osmond Reserve through bushland that opens out to views over Adelaide. Follow the trail around the hill’s contours or cut through via the fire trail if you’re short on time. Compact, satisfying, and close enough to squeeze in before lunch.
Where: Beaumont Circuit, Beaumont
Cost: Free
Best For: Active, Outdoor, Weekend plans, Locals
Need To Know: A fire trail shortcut is available if you’re short on time.
Aldgate Valley Nature Walk
Half an hour from the city, the Aldgate Valley Nature Walk is a 7km trail through quiet bushland where kangaroos graze and the southern brown bandicoot occasionally makes an appearance. Restored by local conservationists, it’s well-suited to morning walkers, dog owners, and anyone after a slower pace than the Hills’ busier tracks. The valley earns its reputation for a reason.
Where: Aldgate Valley, Aldgate
Cost: Free
Best For: Dog-friendly, Nature lovers, Outdoor, Weekend plans
Need To Know: A 7km trail suited to a slower pace than the Hills’ busier tracks.
The Best Walks in Wider South Australia
Coastal Park Trail (Port Noarlunga South to Moana)
Part of the broader 70km Coast Park Walking Trail, this 4.2km stretch from Port Noarlunga South to Moana is one of the most enjoyable easy walks near Adelaide. Gulf St Vincent sits on one side, family-friendly reserves and coffee stops on the other, with the occasional dolphin sighting thrown in for good measure. It’s flat, pram-friendly, dog-on-lead approved, and new boardwalk sections near Witton Bluff have made it better than ever. End at the Moana Surf Club for a post-walk bite.
Where: Port Noarlunga South to Moana, Port Noarlunga
Cost: Free
Best For: Families, Free, Outdoor, Dog-friendly, Budget-friendly
Need To Know: Pram-friendly and dog-on-lead approved, with new boardwalk sections near Witton Bluff.
Deep Creek Circuit Hike, Deep Creek Conservation Park
This one is for serious hikers. The 12km Deep Creek Circuit navigates dramatic rock formations, dense coastal bushland, creek crossings, and waterfalls across one of South Australia’s most spectacular conservation parks. Western grey kangaroos, short-beaked echidnas, and more than 100 bird species call it home. Clear a full day and don’t underestimate it.
Sitchu Tip: After something less demanding? The Deep Creek Waterfall Hike from Tent Rock Road covers the highlights without the full commitment.
Where: Deep Creek Conservation Park, Deep Creek
Cost: Free, vehicle costs
Best For: Active, Adventure, Nature lovers, Outdoor
Need To Know: A 12km circuit, clear a full day.
Alligator Gorge Ring Route, Mount Remarkable National Park
Three and a half hours from Adelaide and worth every kilometre of the drive. The Alligator Gorge Ring Route runs the length of Alligator Gorge, squeezes through the Narrows — a gorge just a couple of metres wide stretching for several hundred metres — and takes in The Terraces, where the creek cascades down a series of natural platforms. Come in spring and the wildflowers make it something else entirely.
Where: Mount Remarkable National Park, Wilmington
Cost: Free, vehicle costs
Best For: Active, Adventure, Nature lovers, Unique experiences
Need To Know: Around three and a half hours’ drive from Adelaide.
Gorge Hike, Onkaparinga River National Park
South of Adelaide, Onkaparinga River National Park is a hiker’s dream with trails across all skill levels. The Gorge Hike is the standout. From Sundews Lookout, where rocky outcrops and the river below make for a proper view, take a steep descent to the bottom of the gorge and follow the river downstream before climbing back to the ridge. Hard work, genuinely worth it.
Where: Onkaparinga River National Park, Port Noarlunga South
Cost: Free
Best For: Active, Adventure, Nature lovers, Outdoor
Need To Know: Starts from Sundews Lookout with a steep descent to the gorge floor.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Walks in Adelaide
The River Torrens Linear Trail is the most accessible walk in Adelaide for beginners, covering a flat 30-kilometre path from Athelstone through to West Beach and Henley Beach. You don’t need to complete the full distance: the section between Henley Square and Glenelg at 7.5 kilometres is a popular and manageable choice, with cafes, playgrounds, and picnic spots along the way. The Marion Coastal Walk’s Hallett Cove Boardwalk section at 5 kilometres one way is another solid option, though it includes some steps and elevation.
The Waterfall Gully to Mt Lofty Summit Hike is the walk that consistently delivers the best views in Adelaide. Starting at Waterfall Gully Road in the foothills, it climbs to the summit of Mount Lofty at 727 metres, where on a clear day you can see across the Adelaide Plains and out to Gulf St Vincent. It’s a moderate to hard hike with steep sections, but the summit views make the effort worthwhile. Mount Osmond Reserve’s 11-kilometre loop and the Beaumont Circuit are good alternatives with sweeping city outlooks and less elevation gain.
Several of Adelaide’s best walking trails welcome dogs on a lead. Yellowtail Loop at Anstey Hill Recreation Park in Tea Tree Gully is dog-friendly and winds through native bushland with views over the Adelaide Plains. The River Torrens Linear Trail is another popular choice for dog owners, running 30 kilometres along the river with plenty of open space along the route. The Aldgate Valley Nature Walk in the Adelaide Hills is also well-suited to dogs, offering a quieter 7-kilometre trail through bushland with kangaroo sightings common along the way.
Most of Adelaide’s top walking trails are within 30 minutes of the CBD. The Adelaide Botanic Garden is right on the city’s edge on North Terrace, while Morialta Conservation Park is approximately 20 minutes east. The Waterfall Gully to Mt Lofty Summit trailhead is around 15 to 20 minutes from the CBD, and Mount Osmond Reserve is similarly close. The Marion Coastal Walk at Hallett Cove is about 25 minutes south. For longer day trips, Deep Creek Conservation Park and Alligator Gorge in Mount Remarkable National Park require one to three and a half hours of driving respectively.
For any trail in the Adelaide Hills, bring at least one to two litres of water per person, sun protection including sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses, and wear closed footwear with grip. The Hills can be significantly cooler than the CBD, particularly in autumn and winter, so a light layer is worth packing even on clear days. Trails like the Waterfall Gully to Mt Lofty Summit and the Three Falls Grand Hike at Morialta involve steep sections, so take your time and allow more time than you think you’ll need. Download a trail map before you go as mobile coverage can be patchy.
That’s our list of the best walks in Adelaide, and we’re just skimming the surface. For more inspo on what to do in Adelaide, check out the best places for lunch in Adelaide and our favourite things to do in Adelaide.
