Crisp air, flowing creeks and calmer trails – bushwalking season has arrived. From waterfall strolls to city loops, here are eight easy walks around Adelaide worth your weekend.
If there’s a perfect time and place for bushwalking, autumn in South Australia is it. The temperature’s dropped, the trails are open, the creeks are running again, and even the birds sound like they approve.
There are more than 800 walking trails across South Australia, so choosing one can feel like a big call.
We asked Rod Quintrell, Executive Director of Walking SA, for his pick of the best easy trails around Adelaide for every kind of walker.
Eight easy walks to get you started
1. Most beautiful autumn walk
Mount Lofty Botanic Garden – Lakeside & Lower Loops
If there’s one walk that justifies autumn as a season, it’s this one – scarlet maples, golden elms and liquidambars colour the scene along a gentle loop that even hike-haters will love. Start with the flat Lakeside Loop, then add the slightly longer Lower Loop if you’re happy to keep wandering. Once you’re hooked, the garden has steeper bushwalks too – try the Rhododendron Trail.
- 1-2.2km / 30-60 mins / minimal incline (easy)
- Need to know: Free entry, Bracegirdle’s mobile cafe on site at certain times of the year, toilets near the main carparks. Paths are mostly sealed or compacted and suitable for prams and most wheelchairs. No dogs, no BBQs or alcohol.
- More info here
2. Best waterfall hike
First Falls Walk – Morialta Conservation Park
A great introduction to Adelaide’s best local waterfall, Rod says this is the walk that often converts people. It’s short, mostly flat, and threads along Fourth Creek before delivering a proper “wow” moment at the base of First Falls. Pram‑friendly and close to the suburbs, it’s an easy way to fall in love with one of the city’s most beautiful parks.
- About 1.6km return / 2 hours / Grade 1-2 (easy)
- Need to know: Hard‑packed gravel and bitumen path, suitable for prams. Toilets, BBQs and picnic areas near the lower carpark and playground; no café in the park itself. Dogs on lead only between the Stradbroke Road carpark and the First Falls carpark.
- More info here
3. Best (pram-friendly) walk with kids
Punchbowl Lookout Trail – Onkaparinga River National Park
If you want big‑gorge views without a big‑gorge effort, this is the one. The wide, gently-graded path makes it doable with prams and even some wheelchairs, and the fenced lookout lets kids safely peer into the vast Onkaparinga Gorge. It feels wild and dramatic, but the trail itself is simple and stress‑free.
- 2km return / 1 hour / Grade 2 (easy-moderate, gentle gradients)
- Need to know: Compact gravel surface around 1m wide. Some wheelchair users may need a push on the way back up. Toilets and picnic area at the nearby Sundews car park. No dogs.
- More info here
4. Best wheelchair‑accessible trail
Adelaide Park Lands Trail – City and North Adelaide
This is the big one: a choose‑your‑own‑adventure loop around the entire city, stitched together by wide, mostly sealed paths. You get wetlands, river red gums, city skyline views and pockets of surprisingly wild-feeling bush, all without leaving town. It’s ideal for wheelchairs, prams and anyone who wants nature without a long drive.
- Any distance up to 18km for the full loop / As much time as you want / Easy, flat
- Need to know: Shared path for walkers, cyclists, prams and wheelchairs. Many toilets, playgrounds, cafés and drinking fountains along the way. Dogs welcome on lead; you can easily dip in for a short 20–30 minute section.
- More info here
5. Best dog‑friendly hike
Lorikeet Loop Walk – Belair National Park
This is the classic “proper bushwalk” you can still do with the dog. The loop winds through tall gums and grey‑box woodland, past Old Government House and the adventure playground, with plenty of birdlife and shady spots to stop. It feels like a real escape but the trail itself is wide, well‑made and easy to follow.
- 3.5km circuit / 1-1.5 hours / Grade 1 (easy, gently undulating)
- Need to know: Dogs must be on lead. Wide gravel path, suitable for most prams and many wheelchairs (some sections may need a push). Toilets, picnic areas, playground and changing places facilities scattered through the park; accessible by train to Belair.
- More info here
6. Best walk for wildlife spotting
Laratinga Wetlands – Mount Barker
If you want guaranteed wildlife, Laratinga is hard to beat. Easy loops wind around a series of wetlands that regularly host herons, ducks, ibis and migratory waders, with turtles sunning on logs and frogs calling from the reeds. The paths are flat and accessible, with bird hides and benches every few hundred metres, so you can wander, sit and just watch the place come alive.
- 0.75-2.6km loops / 15-45 mins / Easy, flat
- Need to know: Compacted paths built to accessibility standards, suitable for prams, wheelchairs and kids on bikes. Toilets, BBQs and shelters near the main entrance. Dogs allowed on lead.
- More info here
7. Best hike for views
Botanical Trail – Marino Conservation Park
A clifftop loop through coastal heath to the Marino Rocks Lighthouse, with views up and down the Gulf and back to the city skyline. Great for sunset or an after-work leg-stretch when you want maximum payoff for minimal effort.
- 1.4 km circuit / 45 mins / Grade 3 (easy-moderate, some steps and slopes)
- Need to know: Natural surface with some uneven sections. No toilets in the park; closest facilities and cafés are down the hill near Marino or Seacliff. Dogs are allowed (on lead).
- More info here
8. Best walk that ends near coffee
Flat to Vale Trail – McLaren Flat to McLaren Vale
This trail strolls straight through vineyard country, following Pedler Creek between McLaren Vale and McLaren Flat. It’s wide, flat and paved, with red gums, open paddocks and rows of vines on either side. At the McLaren Flat end you’re a short wander from the local bakery and playground; at the McLaren Vale end you can link into the Shiraz Trail and a cluster of cellar doors, plus plenty of cafés.
- 3.6km one way (7.2km return) / 45 mins each way / Easy, flat
- Need to know: 2.5m‑wide bitumen path, shared with cyclists, suitable for prams and most wheelchairs. Dogs allowed on lead. Toilets and playground at PG Dawson Reserve near McLaren Flat; plenty of cafés and wineries around McLaren Vale.
- More info here
Why walking works
“Whatever you’ve got, walking will probably help,” says Rod. And the physical evidence backs him up. Even a 20-minute walk most days lowers your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes – no gym membership required. He calls it “fitness by stealth”: you set out to count koalas or reach a lookout, and end up 4km fitter before you’ve noticed.
The mental health payoff is just as real. Rod spent years working in mental health before heading up Walking SA, so he’s seen it from both sides. And there’s something that happens on a trail that doesn’t happen at the pub or the footy.
“There is a high possibility, especially amongst men, to have a deeper conversation,” he says. “We’re not looking at each other, not competing. There is a chance and space to actually talk to each other as human beings.”
Walking SA volunteer and Gawler Bushwalkers Club secretary Betty Smith puts it more simply: “Every time you see a kangaroo or a koala, you still get a thrill out of it – regardless of how many times you’ve walked and seen them.”
Before you go
A few things worth knowing – because even easy walks can go sideways if you’re not prepared.
- You don’t need expensive new gear. Lightweight trousers, a hat, sunscreen, water and a backpack are all you need – plus a rain jacket if the forecast looks questionable.
- The one thing worth spending money on, Rod says, is comfortable footwear – because nothing kills the vibe faster than a blister. Your usual sneakers are fine for all eight walks listed here – no need to invest in hiking boots yet.
- Whatever you do, don’t wear jeans. “They’re uncomfortable,” Rod says, “and they increase the chances of hypothermia or hyperthermia.”
- A basic safety plan goes a long way. Tell someone where you’re walking and where you’ve parked, keep your phone charged, and carry a paper map in case the battery dies.
- Social media isn’t a route guide: “Influencers tell people how easy it is when it’s sometimes not,” Rod says. “Underestimating trails and overestimating your tech” is what can lead to disaster.
- Check park alerts before heading out – trails can close after heavy rain, on high fire danger days or during maintenance works.
With mates – or without
Most people don’t need a formal walking group to get started. Grab a couple of friends, pick a trail from the list and go. But if you want structure – or just someone else to choose the route – Walking SA supports member clubs right across South Australia, alongside Heart Foundation Walking groups in most suburbs.
There are women-only walks, new-mum strolls, LGBTQIA+ inclusive spaces and clubs that welcome every age and fitness level. Some focus on deeper bush exploration. Others are built around the coffee at the end. Chances are, there’s one that suits you.
WalkFest is your perfect starting line
Interested in giving walking more of a go? Here’s the perfect event for you.
WalkFest 2026 is happening at Belair National Park on Sunday 29 March, 9am-1pm, supported by the SA Government’s Parks and Wildlife Service. There are dozens of guided walks, plus a big expo on the main oval celebrating the start of the walking season.
Walking SA – the state’s peak body for walking – and its partners have got something lined up for everyone: children’s options, pram- and wheelchair-friendly routes, dog-friendly strolls and trails for more confident walkers.
There’s a forest bathing session, a yarning circle, bird walks, gear demos, seriously good prizes and about 40 exhibitors covering outdoor brands, local clubs and nature activities.
Tickets for walks are $10 per adult, $6 per child and $26 for a family of four, with proceeds going to Walking SA. Many of the shorter walks sell out before the day so book ahead here.
Find your nearest trail through Walking SA or explore SA’s national parks and reserves here.
