10 Best Day Hikes in Adelaide, South Australia

Adelaide is one of the best cities in Australia when it comes to proximity to nature and wildlife. The city is surrounded by national parks, with a beautiful, wild coastline on one side and rolling, forested hills on the other. It’s no surprise then, that the best day hikes in Adelaide are incredibly accessible from the CBD, and you can be hitting a trail within minutes of leaving the front door.

After spending quite a lot of time in South Australia over the last few years, including thru hiking the state’s longest trail, I’ve put together this list of the best day hikes near Adelaide. From easier coastal boardwalks to challenging climbs to mountain tops, keep reading to find out where you can go walking in Adelaide.

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Best Time to Hike Near Adelaide

With its more moderate climate to other parts of Australia, you can go hiking in Adelaide all year round. All of the trails mentioned below can be done any time, although I’d advise to avoid any particularly hot days in summer if possible.

Spring and autumn are easily considered the best seasons for hiking in South Australia. This brings the perfect balance of cooler temperatures without the rainy days of winter. The colours of the flora are also quite beautiful during these seasons with autumn foliage and spring wildflowers, which makes it picturesque.

Some of these trails are extremely popular for good reason, so prepare to start early if you’re planning to hike on a nice weekend, as the carparks can fill pretty quickly.

Where to Stay in Adelaide

There’s plenty of accommodation in and around Adelaide, from caravan parks to hotels. Below I’m going to list a few places to stay that are in close proximity to some of the walks mentioned (rather than the CBD).

Hiking in Deep Creek — Hiking the Deep Creek Circuit

Day Hiking Essentials

Proper footwear: It’s important to wear sturdy footwear while hiking. There are so many options on the market, but I’ve been impressed with the Keen Targhee III hiking boots over the last couple of years.

Daypack: A good daypack will help you carry all your things comfortably while on trail. I like my Osprey Tempest 24L daypack, which is perfect for a wide range of day hikes.

Hiking poles: For steep, rocky trails, hiking poles can be extremely useful in easing the strain and pressure on your body. I’ve used Helinox trekking poles for years and love how light and compact they are.

Hydration reservoir or bladder: Carrying enough water is important. I prefer to take a 3L hydration reservoir or bladder so I can sip on water throughout the day.

Personal Location Beacon: No hiker should head out on a trail without an emergency device. A PLB is a safety essential so that you can call for help whenever and wherever you are in the wilderness.

First aid kit: Another safety essential, you should always carry at least a basic first aid kit with you on any day hike.

Best Day Hikes in Adelaide

From coastal trails to ambles through the Adelaide Hills, these are the best day hikes in Adelaide to add to your weekend adventure list:

Belair Waterfall Hike

Distance: 6.5 km
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy-moderate
Type: Loop
Trailhead: Old Government House, Belair National Park

As the most popular walk in Belair National Park, the Belair waterfall hike is a relatively short and enjoyable wander just 10km from the CBD. Starting from the carpark near Old Government House, the trail takes you through Echo Tunnel and to the beautiful rocky escarpments of the Upper and Lower Waterfalls.

Unfortunately the waterfalls are often dry (as was the case when I did it), so it’s not as impressive as other hikes in Morialta Conservation Park or Cleland National Park. Yet, it’s still a nice walk and you’ll have the chance to see koalas and kangaroos quite often.

You can extend this hike a bit by connecting onto other trails in the national park or starting closer to the entrance gate. This is also one of the best dog-friendly hikes in Adelaide, but you must ensure your pet is kept on leash at all times.

Mount Lofty from Waterfall Gully

Distance: 8 km
Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Type: Out and back same way
Trailhead: Waterfall Gully, Cleland National Park

This is easily the most popular day hike in Adelaide and for good reason. This moderately challenging route steeply climbs from Waterfall Gully up to the top of Mount Lofty in Cleland National Park. It begins just on the outskirts of the city, about a 15-minute drive from the CBD.

The path is extremely well kept and marked, and is paved almost the entire way. But, this doesn’t mean it’s easy. It climbs over 450m in elevation in just 4km, so you’ll definitely feel the workout.

Once you reach the top of Mount Lofty, you’ll have incredible views over the city of Adelaide. There’s also a huge lookout platform with a cafe (great food!) which makes for a nice little break before descending back down the same way you came up.

Beware that on weekends the carpark at Waterfall Gully (less than 10km from the city) gets full quickly and the trail will be crowded; start early.

Hallett Cove Boardwalk (Marion Coastal Walking Trail)

Distance: 7.5 km (15km return)
Time: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Type: One way
Trailhead: Marino Esplanade or Hallett Cove Headland Reserve

The Hallett Cove Boardwalk is one of the most picturesque coastal walks in Adelaide. As part of the Marion Coastal Walk, the boardwalk is very family friendly as it’s on a well paved trail and wooden boardwalk for most of the way.

The Marion Coastal Walking Trail runs from Marino Rocks to Hallett Cove and is 7.5km one way. The Hallett Cove Boardwalk is the southern section of this walk, but I recommend completing the full walking trail if you have the time.

However, the Hallett Cove Boardwalk is the most interesting part, as it clings to the rocky coastline with rugged cliffs and beautiful beaches. You’ll also get to admire the fascinating rock formations known as The Sugarloaf.

You’ll find the Sugarloaf in the area of the park called the Amphitheatre within the Hallett Cove Conservation Park, which was once filled by a glacial lake millions of years ago. The colours of the rock reminded me so much of the Breakaways in Coober Pedy.

There are several access points along the length of the walk so you can start anywhere you like and simply walk any section.

Morialta Falls Loop Hike (Three Falls Grand Hike)

Distance: 14.2 km
Time: 4-5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Type: Loop
Trailhead: Morialta Falls Carpark

Morialta Conservation Park is my favourite park close to Adelaide CBD. It’s absolutely beautiful, with rugged escarpments and tall waterfalls. There’s also more opportunities to escape the crowds with longer hikes within the park.

The full Morialta Falls Circuit Hike is the best hike for those looking for a challenge. It’s just over 14km in total, taking in the highlights of the park, including First Falls, Second Falls, and Third Falls, as well as Deep View Lookout.

There’s plenty of incredible views along the way of waterfalls, the rocky gorge and further out towards the city. It’s also common to find koalas in the trees and plenty of other wildlife. This trail uses a combination of fire trails and well kept walking trails, with some long sections on wide trails.

You can shorten this hike by tackling just the three falls in a 7.5km loop, which is a really nice alternative walk for those short on time.

Deep Creek National Park beach — Deep Creek National Park

Deep Creek Circuit Hike

Distance: 12 km
Time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Hard
Type: Loop
Trailhead: Trip Campground and Picnic Area

One of my favourite day hikes in South Australia, the Deep Creek Circuit is undoubtedly a stunner. Taking in the highlights of Deep Creek National Park, this loop includes several long ascents and descents that make this a real challenge and recommended for fit hikers only.

It’s best started from Trig Campground but can also be started from Tapanappa Campground, both around 105km from Adelaide (a 1.5 hour drive).

The hike takes in Deep Creek Waterfall, which flows all year round and can be washing over the trail after heavy rain (so be aware). There are also a couple of secluded coves that the trail drops into, with incredibly steep climbs out of (hiking poles would be recommended if you have them).

But the ocean views are spectacular for much of the way, including over to Kangaroo Island. This hike is actually part of the much longer 5 day Wild South Coast Way that traverses this coastline from Victor Haror to Cape Jervis with wonderful campsites along the way.

Onkaparinga Gorge Hike

Distance: 6 km
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate-Hard
Type: Loop
Trailhead: Sundews Carpark

Just a 45 minute drive south of Adelaide, the Onkaparinga River National Park is a peaceful place to get lost in nature for a few hours. It’s home to South Australia’s second longest river that carves out an impressive gorge through the park.

There are plenty of great short walks here, including the 4km Sundews Ridge Hike and the 2km Punchbowl Lookout Walk. However, for a really good challenge, I recommend the Onkaparinga Gorge Hike or sometimes called Sundews Ridge and Gorge Loop, which is a 6km loop.

While not overly long, the trail section along the river is not formed nor marked, so it does require some scrambling over rocks. After heavy rain this hike may not be safe, so it’s best to stick to the two shorter trails mentioned above if you’re not confident.

The gorge trail descends from the Sundews Lookout to the bottom of the gorge, and then follows the river downstream for about 1.5km before returning via a steep fire track to the ridge. It’s best completed in a clockwise direction for navigation purposes, but it can still be hard to follow in the riverbed regardless.

Sugarloaf Hill Circuit and Chambers Gully

Distance: 7.5 km
Time: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Type: Loop
Trailhead: Cleland Wildlife Park

Another fantastic family friendly hike in Adelaide, this moderate loop in Cleland National Park begins at the Cleland Wildlife Park. While there are some gentle inclines and uneven trail, it’s generally well formed and well marked.

It’s best completed in an anticlockwise direction. This begins with a wander along the creek on Bartrill Spur Track until reaching Chambers Gully Track which winds through the bush up towards Sugarloaf Hill. From the lookout, there’s beautiful views over Adelaide and the coast. Heading back to the carpark, follow the Long Ridge Track which is a nice, wide footpath.

Aldgate Valley Nature Walk

Distance: 7 km
Time: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Type: One way
Trailhead: Aldgate or Mylor

This underrated walking trail stretches between Mylor and Aldgate in the Adelaide Hills, connecting patches of native bushland filled with flora and fauna. This 7km one way trail (14km return) can be started at either end in Aldgate or Mylor.

The walk follows mostly shared trails and is very clearly marked with regular post markers. Most of it can also be completed by cyclists. I can highly recommend grabbing a coffee and some cake before or after the walk at Verté Kitchen in Mylor!

Warren Tower Hike (Warren Conservation Park)

Distance: 9 km
Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Type: Loop
Trailhead: Watts Gully Road trail head

I did this trail as part of my Heysen Trail thru hike and believe it’s one of the most underrated day hikes in Adelaide. Located just under an hour from the city, Warren Conservation Park is next to the more widely known Mount Crawford Forest.

The loop follows a beautiful trail through Messmate Stringybark and Long-Leaved Box woodland, with fungi, ferns and orchids coming out in winter and spring. The trail climbs gently towards the Fire Watch Tower, which sits perched on a bare hill offering panoramic views of the surrounding rolling hills and forest.

It’s a wonderful walk and definitely less popular than others on this list, so it’s ideal for a weekend hike.

River Torrens Linear Walk

Distance: 30 km total (recommend to do a section)
Time: Depends on distance covered
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Out and back same way
Trailhead: Athelstone Linear Park or West Beach

One of Adelaide’s premier walking and biking routes, the River Torrens Linear Trail runs from Athelstone in the Adelaide Hills down to the river mouth at West Beach. As the name suggests, it follows the Torrens River for 30km through the city on a well-made trail skirting through red gums and other parkland.

Along the way there are several carparks, playgrounds and picnic areas, so you certainly do not have to complete the entire length. For much of the river, there are trails on both sides of the river, allowing you to walk down one side and come back on the other to make a loop.

The trail can be used by walkers, cyclists, wheelchairs and those with mobility issues, so it’s incredibly accessible for almost anyone.

Day Hikes Further Away From Adelaide

If you’re willing to drive three hours or more for a day day hike (you’d have to leave Adelaide very early), then certainly look to the southern Flinders Ranges. These are the best hikes within 3 hours of Adelaide:

Mount Remarkable Summit: On this 14km loop hike from Melrose, you can head up to the summit of Mount Remarkable (which unfortunately does not have a remarkable view from the top) and back. This is a popular day hike and also part of the Heysen Trail.
Alligator Gorge Hike: Not far from Mount Remarkable, this 9.5km hike takes you through one of the most impressive gorges in the state. It’s a very popular spot, with a shorter 3.5km option as well.
Hidden Gorge Loop Hike: A more demanding but equally beautiful hike on the western side of Mount Remarkable National Park, this 17km loop offers incredible views of Spencer Gulf and takes you through a much less visited gorge.

10 Best Day Hikes in Adelaide, South Australia

Best Time to Hike Near Adelaide

Where to Stay in Adelaide

Day Hiking Essentials