Easy hikes and walks in South Australia

The shared pathway around Sir Douglas Mawson Lake is a mostly level, well-maintained route used for walking, jogging, and cycling. It runs alongside the water and connects residential areas with nearby cafés and shops along Mawson Lakes Boulevard. The path is lit with wildlife-sensitive, low-glare lighting designed to reduce light pollution while still providing clear visibility after dark. Benches, landscaped sections, and open reserves line parts of the route, making it suitable for both short strolls and longer circuits at any time of day.

One of Mawson Lakes’ central lakes, this man-made body of water forms part of a managed stormwater system in Adelaide’s northern suburbs. Named after Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, the lake is bordered by modern homes, small bridges, and open green spaces. It’s a reliable spot for birdlife, with black swans often seen on the water. While it may look inviting, swimming and watercraft are not permitted due to water quality and its role in urban water management.

Onkaparinga River National Park protects a rugged section of the Onkaparinga Gorge about 30–35 kilometres south of Adelaide, where steep ridgelines, a narrow river valley, and permanent rock pools create one of the region’s most dramatic landscapes. The park includes a network of walking trails that lead to clifftop lookouts and down into the gorge, with abundant wildlife, including kangaroos, koalas, birdlife, and echidnas. The park also reflects a layer of history, with heritage-listed huts and 1880s ruins scattered among areas once used for farming.

Measday's Lookout is a viewpoint right from the Cleveland National Park parking area on Mount Baker Road. This view stretches over the city and even to the coastline when it's clear.

Chinamans Hut Track leaves Mireen Track and stretches east to the Cleland Wildlife Park. It's a wider trail, nice for group walks, and follows higher ridges in Cleveland National Park.

Sleeps Hill Walking Trail winds through the bushland of Sleeps Hill Reserve on Adelaide’s southern foothills, following old service routes and natural contours through open woodland and regenerating native vegetation. As the trail climbs gently across the hillside, there are a few beautiful views over the surrounding suburbs and nearby valleys, so keep an eye out as you walk along this quiet section of the reserve.

Windy Point Lookout is a well-known scenic lookout in the Adelaide Hills overlooking the city of Adelaide. From the viewing area, the expansive views stretch across the Adelaide plains to the coastline of Gulf St Vincent, with the city skyline visible below. This spot is especially popular at sunset and after dark, when the city lights spread across the plain beneath the hills.

Lynton Belair Urban Trail is a shared-use path that links the suburbs of Lynton and Belair along a corridor of native vegetation and open hillside. The trail follows a gently undulating route with beautiful views across Adelaide’s southern suburbs and nearby bushland reserves. It’s a great route for urban walking and cycling while still offering pockets of quiet natural scenery along the way.