The Torrens Gorge scenic drive
The Gorge Road is one of South Australia's great short drives - a serpentine route that climbs from Adelaide's eastern edge into the wild northern Hills, shadowing the River Torrens the whole way.
The plan
Start early and drive up the gorge, pausing at the river lookouts before the road traffic builds. Take it slowly; the bends are tight and the views frequent. Break the climb with a wildlife encounter, then push on into the forest country around Cudlee Creek before looping home through the orchards and villages of the Torrens Valley. It's an easy day with plenty of room to linger.
Day 1
5 stops-
1CUDLEE CREEK
Gorge Wildlife Park
Meet koalas, wombats and native birds at this long-running family park.
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2CUDLEE CREEK
Fox Creek Bike Park
Watch the riders, or bring a bike, at the free mountain bike park rebuilt after the 2019 fire (closed on total fire ban days).
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3Williamstown
Mount Crawford Forest
Detour into the pine and native forest for a picnic and a leg-stretch.
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4
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5Birdwood
Birdwood Main Street
Finish in the Torrens Valley with a wander down Birdwood's heritage main street.
On the map
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Image credits
- Torrens Gorge Bridge(GN05627).jpg by Captain Frank Hurley , CC0 via Wikimedia Commons