South Australian Walking Experiences

Adelaide Region (Kaurna/Peramangk)

Adelaide has many wonderful National Parks, Conservation Parks, and Forest Reserves. Each destination offers varying terrain and unique experiences for walking. There are also many parklands and trail corridors that link the outer suburbs to Adelaide’s City Centre. These allow safe walking away from vehicle traffic between the Adelaide Hills, coastline and the city.

During the cooler months, walking the trails in the Adelaide Hills (Mount Lofty Ranges) is recommended. There are hundreds of options and all levels of difficulty and length to choose from. A favourite is the 56km Yurrebilla Trail, which is a 2 or 3 day walk from Belair to the River Torrens, following the hills face with spectacular views over Adelaide.

In Summer, it’s best to keep to urban and coastal walking trails. The Hallett Cove Boardwalk trail, the Torrens River trail, and the Adelaide Parklands trail are all great options to choose from. If you’re looking for a longer walk the 70km Adelaide Coast Path trail is a 2 or 3 day walk from North Haven to Sellicks Beach, following the coast with ocean views and safe sandy beaches.

Guided walks to choose from

Clare Valley (Ngadjuri)

Walk in the Clare Valley and you’re bound to find yourself amongst world famous vine yards.

Predominantly short and easy to walk trails on country lanes, the Valley also has offers the 35km Riesling Trail. The Riesling Trail is the regions most loved and most popular walking trail. Following the old railway line between Clare and Auburn, the Riesling Trail is easy to walk because of it’s comfortable gradient and gravel surface.

Bushland walking trails are less common, but Spring Gully Conservation Park has a couple of beautiful walking trail with seasonal waterfalls and nice views.

By linking some of the shorter trails around the Clare Valley the region has created a 100km loop which is named the Clare Valley Wine & Wilderness trail. This trail follows roadways and quiet laneways linking some of the wineries, and includes some clearings and nice views from the high points.

Guided walks to choose from

Barossa Valley (Ngadjuri)

The Barossa Valley is best known for its wine, and the walking trails in the heart of the Barossa generally link the wineries on easy to walk trails.

However, nearby in the Outer Valley areas there are some wonderful Conservation Parks that have nice bushland trails. The closest and one of the best is Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park, and the trails here take you along creeks and rocky outcrops, through low forest and open grasslands. The best trail here is the Wal­lowa Hike, which is 5km one way.

The Heysen Trail also passes through the Barossa Valley on its way to the Flinders Ranges.

Guided walks to choose from

Flinders Ranges (Nukunu/Banggarla/Adnamathyna)

The gorgeous Flinders Ranges is one of Australia best walking destinations. In the north you have Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park, and the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. These northern reaches are home to the world-famous Wilpena Pound. In the south you have many Parks to explore, including Mount Remarkable National Park, which surrounds the spectacular Alligator Gorge.

The trails throughout the Flinders Ranges are generally rocky and rugged. They traverse dry creek beds with seasonal flooding, dry mountain peaks and pastoral flats. The varying terrain is vast and the views even better.

The popular walking trails in the Flinders Ranges can be busy with tourists, but there are plenty of equally spectacular walking trails where their remoteness makes you feel like your alone on earth.

Australia’s longest walking trail, the Heysen Trail passes through the Flinders Ranges with it’s northern trailhead located at Parachilna Gorge.

Guided walks to choose from

Yorke Peninsula (Narungga)

Some of the nations best coastal walking is in South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula. Especially in the Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park.

The Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park is home to many highlights, including rugged coastlines, quiet sandy beaches, local wildlife, culture and history. The walks here are generally easy to walk sandy beach trails, rocky but not technical tracks, and quiet bushland trails. Due to the spectacular views and the abundant wildlife this southern tip boasts the best walking in the region.

The eastern and western coastline also has some short trails to secluded beaches. These smaller trails have been linked by roadways and connected to the Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, to form the ‘Walk The Yorke‘ trail. This is a 500km trail that links all the coastal towns all the way along the Peninsula.

Guided walks to choose from

Limestone Coast (Boandik)

Coastal walks and bushland trails with sinkholes and volcanic craters. The landscape in this region is unique.

Experience a walk on the Limestone Coast through bushland, coastal reserves, and forestry plantations. The trails range from sand, to hard limestone, to soft leaf litter. This region has many short and easy to walk trails nearby to the coastal towns. One short walk is up the Mount Schank Volcano, Australia’s youngest volcano. This 2km trail circumnavigates the crater rim and is located just south of Mount Gambier.

Also nearby in Victoria is the Lower Glenelg National Park and the Grampians National Park. Both are spectacular places to walk with many trails that range from challenging to easy.

Guided walks to choose from

Kangaroo Island (Karta Pintingga)

Kangaroo Island was once considered South Australia’s Galapagos Island, due to its symphony of wildlife and stunning natural features.

The walking trails on Kangaroo Island are generally short distances and easy walking through towns, and along pretty beaches. Without doubt the most spectacular walking is found on the south-western side of the island. That is where the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail is located.

The Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail (KIWT) is considered one of the best multi-day South Australian walking trails. The trail starts in Flinders Chase National Park which has many other beautiful shorter walking trails to explore. Although not considered too technical, the KIWT does have long sections of hard limestone which can cause feet issues for some walkers. It also has soft sand and coastal scrubland trail sections. Walking no more than 20km each day is realistic for most people that walk the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail.

Kangaroo Islands most famous natural landmarks such as Admiral’s Arch and Remarkable Rocks can only be accessed by trails, and can be walked separately or included when walking the KIWT if you have time.

Guided walks to choose from

Fleurieu Peninsula (Kaurna/Ngarrindjeri)

The rugged beauty of the Deep Creek Conservation Park is the highlight when walking in this region. This park provides spectacular scenery with views of Backstairs Passage, Kangaroo Island and the Deep Creek Valley.

There is also many coastal trails near townships, the Shiraz Trail links wineries in McLaren Vale, and the Heysen Trails southern trail head is in the Fleurieu Peninsula.

The most well-known and best trail in the region is without doubt the coastal section of the Heysen Trail (also known as the Wild South Coast Way). Totaling around 75km before turning north and up towards the Flinders Ranges, this trail winds its way through Deep Creek Conservation Park and Newland Head Conservation Park. This trail is challenging in parts, and ranges from rocky thick bushland, sandy beach, open forest and sections of roadway. The views from the cliff line make this South Australia’s best multi-day coastal walking trail.

Guided walks to choose from

Murray River (Erawirung/Ngarrindjeri)

The mighty Murray River winds it way through South Australia, creating wonderful walking experiences through the Riverland district.

Walking trails here are generally limited to along the banks of the Murray River. Short walking trails linked by roads provide access points to the river and pretty views from high points. Most of the larger towns in the Riverland have walking trails and generally the surface is sealed roadways, and gravel paths. There are 9 nature parks in the Riverland, and the one with the best bushland trails is the Murray River National Park. Walkers can expect quiet riverbank hiking trails that are easy to walk.

Guided walks to choose from