National Parks Near Adelaide: Best Hiking & Day Trips

Adelaide National Parks 2026 — Overview

Adelaide is flanked by the Mount Lofty Ranges to the east, the Fleurieu Peninsula to the south and the remarkable Flinders Ranges to the north. Kangaroo Island, one of Australia's greatest natural wonders, is accessible by ferry from Cape Jervis. Here's a guide to the best national parks and nature near Adelaide.

Belair National Park (30 minutes south-east)

• Highlights — South Australia's first national park (1891), in the Mount Lofty Ranges. Bushwalking, cycling, picnics, tennis courts and the historic Old Government House. Accessible by train (Belair Line from Adelaide CBD). Good wildlife spotting — koalas, echidnas, wallabies. Entry fee applies.

Mount Lofty and Cleland Conservation Park (30 minutes east)

• Highlights — Summit Walk (9.4km return from Waterfall Gully, moderate). Mount Lofty Summit (727m) has spectacular views over Adelaide. Cleland Wildlife Park (koala encounters, kangaroos, wombats — fees apply). Morialta Conservation Park (seasonal waterfalls, rocky gorges, family walks). All 30-40 minutes from the CBD.

Deep Creek Conservation Park (90 minutes south)

• Highlights — Spectacular coastal national park on the Fleurieu Peninsula above Encounter Bay. Sea views over the Southern Ocean, seasonal southern right whale watching (June-September from the cliff tops), camping and multi-day walking. One of SA's most beautiful coastal parks.

Flinders Ranges (4 hours north)

• Highlights — One of Australia's great outback landscapes. Wilpena Pound (a natural amphitheatre of ancient mountains), Brachina Gorge, Bunyeroo Valley, ancient fossils and extraordinary geological history. Overnight recommended. Flinders Ranges National Park entry fee applies. parks.sa.gov.au

Kangaroo Island (2.5 hours by ferry from Cape Jervis)

Kangaroo Island is one of Australia's greatest wildlife and nature destinations. Remarkable Rocks (dramatic granite boulders), Admirals Arch (New Zealand fur seal colony), Seal Bay Conservation Park (Australian sea lions on the beach), koalas, echidnas, Cape Barren geese and over 150,000 koalas. A truly world-class nature experience. Book the Sealink ferry from Cape Jervis at sealink.com.au.

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