Australia National Parks

SA Adelaide National Parks

Belair National Park

Within easy reach of Adelaide, Belair National Park is South Australia's oldest National Park. Its features include many recreational facilities such as tennis courts, barbecues and ovals set in scenic surrounds, Old Government House and a diverse variety of plant communities, birdlife and native animals. The park protects one of the few remaining areas of native vegetation in the Adelaide Hills. Admission is charged for motorised vehicles only.
Upper Sturt Road,
Glenalta
Telephone: (08) 8278 5477

OPENING HOURS
Park office daily 8.30am to 4.30pm. Closed Christmas Day and days of total fire bans. Park open 8am until sunset.

Black Hill Conservation Park

Only a short distance from the city centre, Black Hill Conservation Park has something for everyone. The park features walking trails, picnic tables, self guided walks, scenic views and bushland.
Addison Avenue, Athelstone
Telephone: (08) 8281 4022

OPENING HOURS
Daily 8.30am to 5pm Park will be closed on declared total fire ban days.

Cleland Conservation Park

Located 19 kilometres south-east of Adelaide, this scenic park of picturesque bushland houses an exciting collection of native animals and birds. A picnic area with free gas BBQs is provided and koalas are shown at close quarters from 10 am to 12noon and 2pm to 4pm. Guided walks at dusk, night and dawn may be booked in advance by phone.
Part of Cleland Conservation Park, Waterfall Gully is one of the more popular waterfalls in the Adelaide foothills. Water flows year round but the cascade is at its most spectacular in the wetter winter months. Walk the many trails in the area. The more energetic can even walk to Eagle on the Hill. Dine in the nearby chalet style kiosk and restaurant - one of Adelaide's first purpose-built tourist landmarks dating back to early this century.

Via Greenhill Road or Mount Lofty turnoff via South Eastern Freeway
Telephone: (08) 8339 2444

OPENING HOURS
Daily 9.30am to 5pm. Closed Christmas Day and on days of total fire ban in the Mount Lofty Ranges.

Horsnell Gully Conservation Park

Horsnell Gully Conservation Park is approximately 10 kilometres east of Adelaide. This 245 hectare park is bounded by Coach, Woodshill and Horsnells Gully roads. The park was extensively cleared in the valleys for market gardening and dairying. However, the deeper, upper slopes of the park are relatively undisturbed, and provide a haven for many birds. The park can be explored by walking the fire tracks.
Horsnells Cully Road, Skye
Telephone: (08) 8281 4022

OPENING HOURS
Daily 8.30am to 5pm Closed on declared total fire ban days. All fires and pets prohibited

Morialta Conservation Park

Located in the Adelaide foothills, 10 minutes drive from the city, Morialta Conservation Park has an extensive network of walking trails leading to three waterfalls within the park. The park offers excellent views, a picnic area, toilet facilities and kiosk.
Stradbroke Road, Rostrevor
Telephone: (08) 8281 4022

OPENING HOURS
Weekdays 8.30am to 5pm. Weekends & Public Holidays 8.30am to sunset. Closed on declared total fire ban days.

Onkaparinga National Park

The Onkaparinga National park is in the Sturt NPWS district. It is the biggest National park within 40kms of the city of Adelaide and has been likened to a walk in the Flinders Ranges in micro.

The park features a deep gorge ( for the Mt Lofty Ranges) with the biggest river flowing west off the Mt Lofty ranges. There are a number of walks which are well maintained and at this time of the year feature native orchids.
There is also a waterfall on the river proper with a number of small cascades on the numerous small tributaries running to the river. The river has cut down to glacial deposits that are aged at about 500my. These are geological monuments in themselves.

There is provision for abseiling and for the more nergetic,reasonably fit walker the bottom of the gorge is a challenge; especially when the river is flooding.

Currently this park is being rehabilitated by the NPWS and a large volunteer group. The area was originally used for pastoral and logging pursuits and is infested with olives through much of its length. However, because of its relative size it is possible to walk in a bushland setting for three + hours without sighting more than the occasional olive tree.

There is a large population of western grey kangaroo, echidna and the occasional koala moves through the area as well. The bird population is large with over 180 different species identified by members of the volunteer group some of whom are members of the RAOA. Reptiles are well represented by brown and red bellied snakes, lizards and skinks of all sizes.

This park has a sister park - the Onkaparinga Recreation Park. This park is on the western side of the Main South Road and like the National Park straddles the river. In this case the park is the estuary; making the Onkaparinga park systems the only system in the Adelaide region where a walker can walk from the Mt Lofty range ecosystem to the sea.

A feature if the Recreation park are the personmade wetland lakes of which there are five. The largest complex has an island and a duckboard trail through the swamp areas. The river itself is a haven for birds and fish.