The best walks in the Adelaide Hills
Waterfalls, summits, sanctuaries and gold-turning forests.
Lace up and look up
The Mount Lofty Ranges rise straight out of Adelaide's suburbs, which means world-class walking is barely half an hour from the city. Expect stringybark forest, fern-lined gullies, koalas overhead and views that run all the way to the sea. These ten walks span every effort level, from a summit assault to a flat amble under autumn trees.
-
1
CrafersCleland Conservation Park – Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty
The classic. A steep, waterfall-flanked climb from Waterfall Gully to the Mount Lofty Summit and its sea views.
See place → -
2
StirlingMount Lofty Summit
The payoff panorama across Adelaide — reachable on foot or by car, often above a sea of valley fog.
See place → -
3
CrafersMt Lofty Adventure Hub – Cleland Trails
A web of trails through stringybark forest, with koalas, birds and routes for every set of legs.
See place → -
4
StirlingMount Lofty Botanic Garden
Gentle paths through a cool-climate garden that turns spectacularly gold and red in autumn.
See place → -
5
AldgateAldgate Valley Nature Walk
A peaceful loop through bushland and creek-line near Aldgate, good for birdlife and a quiet morning.
See place → -
6
Mount BarkerMount Barker Summit
A short, sharp climb to a 360-degree lookout over the southern Hills and the Murray plains.
See place → -
7
MylorWarrawong Wildlife Sanctuary
Guided dawn and dusk walks among reintroduced bettongs, bandicoots and wild platypus near Mylor.
See place → -
8
CrafersCarrick Hill
A woodland sculpture trail and storybook walk through the gardens of a 1930s foothills estate.
See place → -
9
GumerachaThe Big Rocking Horse
Climb the giant rocking horse, then wander the surrounding wildlife park and gum forest at Gumeracha.
See place → -
10
AldgateAldgate Village
An easy main-street stroll under the deciduous trees of one of the prettiest Hills villages.
See place →
Carry water, wear proper shoes for the steeper climbs, and check for fire-danger and seasonal closures before you set out.
More like this
Guide
Gardens and autumn colour drive
Botanic gardens, a 1930s estate, village main streets and a ridge-top lunch — the Adelaide Hills at their most photogenic, best in April and May.
Guide
Family & Wildlife Day
Hand-feed kangaroos, climb a giant rocking horse, meet bilbies at dusk and burn off the rest at a waterfall playground. The Hills is one big natural playground.
Guide
Stirling & Aldgate Village Stroll
No car keys, no rush. Wander the deli, bookshop and antique stores of Stirling and Aldgate, with garden stops and a pub lunch to round it out.
Top 10
The best scenic drives in the Adelaide Hills
Wind through gorges, ridges and orchard country on the Adelaide Hills' most beautiful drives.
Top 10
The best free things to do in the Adelaide Hills
You don't need to spend a cent to fall for the Adelaide Hills. Here are our favourite free days out.
Top 10
Best Family Activities in the Adelaide Hills
Wildlife you can get close to, a famously enormous landmark and bushland with room to run — the Hills is one big natural playground for families.