Beautiful trails, diverse terrain, and iconic views – South Australia has some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the country. Here are our top five awe-inspiring hikes in South Australia.
Wilpena Pound is a must-do when it comes to hikes in South Australia
The spectacular Rawnsley Bluff and Wilpena Pound Lookout hike – around 430 kilometres north of Adelaide in the Flinders Ranges – is an unforgettable 11.3-kilometre loop through Rawnsley Park Station that you should allow five hours to complete.
Climbing the escarpment of Wilpena Pound, the trail rewards hikers with breathtaking views deep into the heart of Wilpena Pound – an extraordinary natural landscape covering approximately 80-square kilometres. This ancient amphitheatre is estimated to be around 800 million years old, and resembles a vast rocky crater.
Wilpena Pound is one of the Flinders Ranges’ most iconic landmarks and a deeply sacred place for the Adnyamathanha people – the Traditional Owners of the region.
The walk begins with a gentle, easy section, giving hikers time to soak up the surrounding desert scenery before the trail gradually becomes steeper. From Wilpena Pound Lookout, sweeping views extend across the Pound to the east and the rugged Chace Range beyond. The track is well signposted throughout, making it straightforward to follow.
Near the top, the trail splits, allowing hikers to visit either Wilpena Pound Lookout or continue on to Rawnsley Bluff. Wilpena Pound Lookout offers one of the finest vantage points into the natural amphitheatre, while Rawnsley Bluff marks the highest point of the walk, rewarding those who make the climb with spectacular 360-degree views across the Flinders Ranges, neighbouring valleys and the vast South Australian outback.
Mount Remarkable Summit Trail
Mount Remarkable Summit Trail starts in the main street of Melrose, which is the oldest town in South Australia at the base of 960-metre-high Mount Remarkable. It shares a section with the famous Heysen Trail, which is one of the longest walking trails in South Australia, spanning approximately 1,200km.
Follow the bitumen road past Melrose Caravan & Tourist Park, and while on the lower slopes keep an eye out for remnants of a small plane that crashed here in 1980. You can reach the Monument Trailhead by walking across the swing bridge, and either following the road to the Monument, or a walking trail which begins from a gap in the small stone wall on the western edge of the campground.
If including the Mt Remarkable Southern Summit Trail as well (it was added in 2016), the challenging hike is 13.8km, and takes around five hours to complete. It’s ideal for hikers who enjoy day-long hikes with different types of terrain and levels of steepness throughout.
If you fancy a beer and a wood-fired pizza at the end of your hike, head on over to Jacka Brothers Brewery in Melrose, where you’ll be rewarded views of the Southern Flinders Ranges while you relax in the welcoming space that is also dog-friendly.
The taphouse is open from Wednesday to Sunday, with woodfired pizza lunch on offer Wednesday to Sunday and dinner Friday and Saturday night. The new bistro and modern Australian menu is available to book for dinner Thursday to Saturday nights and Sunday lunch.
If you’re tired after all that hiking, you can also stay the night or for the weekend, as the brewery’s original bottling shed (that was operating from 1895 to 1934) and shearing shed (1935 to 2018) have both been transformed into modern, stylish boutique accommodation where you’ll feel right at home while resting up.
Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail
For hikers after a multi-day wilderness and nature experience, The Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail is an amazing 61-kilometre trail that takes about five hours to hike. For those who want to experience the entire trail, there are campsites along the way.
The trail takes in many iconic Kangaroo Island attractions, such as the Remarkable Rocks – which, as their names suggests, is a collection of remarkably weathered boulders sitting on the clifftop above the wild Southern Ocean in Flinders Chase National Park.
These extraordinary granite boulders have been sculpted by more than 500 million years of wind, rain and crashing waves into surreal shapes that seem to defy gravity. Their smooth curves, honeycombed hollows and vivid orange lichen create an ever-changing spectacle, particularly at sunrise and sunset when the rocks glow against the ocean backdrop. A short, accessible boardwalk leads visitors up to the formations, and you can wander inside some of the hollows for great photos.
Also in Flinders Chase National Park is Admirals Arch – a spectacular natural rock bridge carved by thousands of years of relentless Southern Ocean swells. The boardwalk passes through towering limestone cliffs before reaching the dramatic arch, where long-nosed fur seals can often be seen resting on the rocks below, playing in the surf or diving through the waves. If you’re there between December and March, you can watch the pups at play.
Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty Summit Trail
The hike from Waterfall Gully to the summit of Mount Lofty is Adelaide’s most iconic walking trail, attracting everyone from dedicated fitness enthusiasts to first-time visitors. And being only eight kilometres from Adelaide’s CBD, it’s really easy to get to.
Considered the city’s signature climb, the 4.4-kilometre, one-way trail ascends to the 727-metre summit — the highest point in the Mount Lofty Ranges — rewarding hikers with sweeping views across Adelaide, the plains and the coastline.
The trail climbs steadily through Cleland Conservation Park’s native eucalypt forest. Along the way, you’ll pass the picturesque First Falls (a picturesque waterfall that’s impressive after winter rains) and Second Falls, before tackling the steady climb to the top.
Whether you’re walking for exercise, the scenery or the sense of achievement, this well-loved trail offers one of South Australia’s most rewarding hiking experiences.
River Hike, Onkaparinga Gorge
Another beautiful hike just south of Adelaide is the 4.2-kilometre River Hike, Onkaparinga Gorge in Onkaparinga River National Park, that should take you around 2.5 hours to complete.
The Onkaparinga Gorge was carved out over millions of years by the Onkaparinga River, and today it features towering cliffs, rocky river crossings and abundant native wildlife including kangaroos, koalas and more than 120 bird species.
If it’s hot out there, you can take a dip at the Punchbowl Waterhole on the Onkaparinga River. Due to the river being continuously in motion, the shifting silt can make the water look muddy, so keep your head out of the water while cooling off, and watch out for debris and slippery boulders.
Whether you’re looking for a challenging, multi-day hike, or a more leisurely walk along a trail surrounded by nature, South Australia has a hike to suit everyone.
If you enjoyed this story on awe-inspiring hikes in South Australia, you might like our story the hikes and history of Narrandera in New South Wales.
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