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
6 stops-
1
Pulpit Rock Lookout
GumerachaPull in for the classic gorge view over the River Torrens far below.
See place → -
2
Cudlee Creek (Gorge Wildlife Park)
GumerachaMeet koalas, wombats and native birds at this long-running family park.
See place → -
3
Cudlee Creek Conservation Park
GumerachaWalk the regenerating bushland trails above the gorge.
See place → -
4
Mount Crawford Forest
BirdwoodDetour into the pine and native forest for a picnic and a leg-stretch.
See place → -
5
-
6
Birdwood Main Street
BirdwoodFinish in the Torrens Valley with a wander down Birdwood's heritage main street.
See place →
On the map
More like this
Story
The quiet north: Kersbrook, the Warren and the Hills nobody visits
Beyond Gorge Road, the Hills' quiet north hides a converted-pub cellar door, a reservoir you can paddle, and the wildest walking in the ranges.
Top 10
The best scenic drives in the Adelaide Hills
Wind through gorges, ridges and orchard country on the Adelaide Hills' most beautiful drives.
Story
When Blumberg became Birdwood: the war that renamed the Hills
Blumberg, Grunthal, Lobethal, Hahndorf - the First World War took the Hills' German names away. Some came back. Some never did.
Story
After the fire: how the Hills came back from Cudlee Creek
The Cudlee Creek fire of December 2019 burnt more than 23,000 hectares from Gumeracha to Harrogate. The Hills that grew back are worth seeing.
Guide
Torrens Valley Heritage Drive
Trace the Torrens River through the quietest, prettiest corner of the Hills - old stone main streets, vintage cars, a giant rocking horse and chocolate straight from the factory.
Guide
Northern Hills orchards & forest
Climb to the high ridge of Lenswood and Forest Range for apples, cherries, elegant wines and the deep green of Mount Crawford Forest.
Image credits
- Torrens Gorge Bridge(GN05627).jpg by Captain Frank Hurley , CC0 via Wikimedia Commons