Best trails in Onkaparinga River National Park
Want to find the best trails in Onkaparinga River National Park for an adventurous hike or a family trip? AllTrails has 29 great trails for hiking, walking, and birding and more. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you.
Ready for your next hike or bike ride? Explore one of 7 easy hiking trails in Onkaparinga River National Park that are great for the whole family. Looking for a more strenuous hike? We've got you covered, with trails ranging from 160 to 1,643 feet in elevation gain. Whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to Onkaparinga River National Park.
Top trails
1
(229)
•Easy
•3.8 mi
•Est. 1h 29m
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...
2
(191)
•Moderate
•5.2 mi
•Est. 2h 25m
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.
3
(130)
•Moderate
•3.1 mi
•Est. 1h 35m
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...
4
(150)
•Moderate
•2.5 mi
•Est. 1h 11m
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.
5
(115)
•Moderate
•2.7 mi
•Est. 1h 16m
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.
6
(95)
•Easy
•2.1 mi
•Est. 1h 1m
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.
8
(71)
•Moderate
•7.8 mi
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...
9
(95)
•Moderate
•3.7 mi
•Est. 1h 58m
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.
10
(95)
•Moderate
•4.2 mi
•Est. 1h 47m
This is a great walk or run through remnant scrub and native vegetation in the southern section of Onkaparinga River National Park, just south of Adelaide.
Combining the Hardy's Scrub Hike with the additions of the Old Quarry and Wine Dam spur tracks get you close to a 7km loop in grey box and pink gum scrubland. You can extend the loop further by taking the Sundews Track across Chapel Hill Road which will lead you down into the gorge to the Onkaparinga River.
Showing results 1–10 of 29
Trail reviews for Onkaparinga River National Park
A beautiful winter walk through Onkaparinga River National Park and parts of the Willunga Basin Trail. Walked past many vineyards and cellar doors.
Hardys Scrub via McLaren Flat
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to hike in Onkaparinga River National Park?
According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Onkaparinga River National Park is Punchbowl Link Trail, which has a 4.6 star rating from 229 reviews. This trail is 3.8 mi long with an elevation gain of 390 ft.
What is the longest trail in Onkaparinga River National Park?
According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Onkaparinga River National Park is Onkaparinga Gorge Trek. This trail is estimated to be 10.2 mi long.
How many trails are in Onkaparinga River National Park?
There are 29 trails in Onkaparinga River National Park. These trails have an average 4.2-star rating from 1,939 AllTrails community reviews.
Which trail has the most elevation gain in Onkaparinga River National Park?
If you're looking for elevation gain, Onkaparinga River National Park has you covered. Onkaparinga Gorge: Sundews, Bakers Gully, and Echidna Hike boasts the most elevation gain with 1,643 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Willunga Basin Trail: Onkaparinga River National Park to Kangarilla, which will get you 1,519 ft of elevation gain.
Are there running trails available in Onkaparinga River National Park?
According to AllTrails.com, there are 13 running trails in Onkaparinga River National Park and the most popular is Punchbowl Link Trail with an average 4.6 star rating from 229 community reviews.
Are there biking trails available in Onkaparinga River National Park?
According to AllTrails.com, there are 2 biking trails in Onkaparinga River National Park and the most popular is Hardys Scrub via McLaren Flat with an average 3.9 star rating from 30 community reviews.