Best trails in Onkaparinga River National Park

This easy-to-moderate hike links together the Sundews trail network with the Punchbowl Lookout network. The path follows the cliff tops above the Onkaparinga River all the way to the Punchbowl Lookout. The views over the gorge and the rocky outcrops lining the river are stunning, especially at sunrise and sunset. As with most of the park, you'll likely spot some wildlife along the way. The return near the road is along a fire trail which is wide and compact gravel, the rest of the trail is...

This is a wonderful moderate hike that takes in a few of the different hikes in Onkaparinga River National Park in one go. Starting with the Nature Hike the path is gentle through box woodland. The Echidna Hike has some short, steep slopes and a short detour to a seasonal waterfall – a great place for a snack. Finish this loop with the Sundews Ridge Hike where you get multiple viewing areas over the Onkaparinga Gorge.

This return walk brings you to one of the main attractions of Onkaparinga River National Park: The Punchbowl. The path the lookout is wide, packed gravel and suitable for prams. Beyond the lookout the trail becomes more technical and steeply descends to the river and the Punchbowl Water Hole. Make sure you have good footwear to avoid slipping on the descent, especially when wet. There is a lot of wildlife within the park that you could see on this walk, like echidnas, kangaroos, goats, and...

The Sundews Ridge Hike is an easy-to-moderate loop in the eastern section of Onkaparinga River National Park south of Adelaide. The trail starts by following the Nature Hike to the Sundews Lookout where you can soak in the views over the rocky outcrops and river gorge below. The trail doesn't descend to the river and stays along the ridge tops before returning to the car park.

This hike starts in the East of Onkaparinga River National Park, on the south side of the gorge. It shares a car park area with the climbing access trail. This area of the park has the most intact native vegetation within the national park. Begin by walking easy-going paths in the rolling hills above the gorge. It then before descends via a more technical trail into the gorge to the banks of the river. You can continue downstream a short distance to connect to the Gorge Hike.

This is a great, easy walk in the eastern section of Onkaparinga River National Park. The Echidna Hike follows well-formed paths with some occasional steep sections and passes by a seasonal waterfall. When flowing it makes for a great snack spot, and is complete with a tree swing that children will love to play on.

This longer loop covers a large area of the Eastern section of Onkaparinga River National Park just south of Adelaide. From the main Sundews car park head out on the Nature Hike and continue the extension by taking the left trails at junctions. You'll complete the Echidna Hike (with seasonal waterfall detour) and then connect to Bakers Gully Firetrail. You'll need to do some off-trail bush bashing along the park boundary on the south side to connect again to the Bronzewing Track which...

This is a great loop that combines the Onkaparinga Gorge Hike and Sundews Ridge Hikes to form a full value trip. At Sundews Lookout soak in the views over the gorge and look forward to the next section of track that follows the river downstream. The track is steep and can be loose on the way down to the river so take care. A marginal trail follows the river until you climb up the north banks and climb steeply to the remaining kms of the Sundews Track.

Take a cruisy stroll along the Echidna Hike, one of the more gentle trails in Onkaparinga River National Park. This lovely walk meanders through the bush over rolling hills, making it a great option for a casual day out. The track gives you a wonderful sense of being immersed in nature, especially in the sections that are a little bit overgrown. Don’t expect a major rock scramble; the path is only slightly rocky in spots, so you can focus on the peaceful surroundings and look for wildlife....

This route follows easy paths to a tricky and steep descent to the Onkaparinga River and the famous Punchbowl Waterhole. Not too far south of Adelaide this is a great spot for a swim on a warm day. Be sure you have some decent footwear for the descent and ascent in and out of the river. The track is easy until the last section where it gets quite steep and rocky. The waterhole is popular on nice days, especially weekends.