With daylight savings short after-work walks are a great way to get out and experience the sunshine.
We’re showcasing 30 short walks around Adelaide along rivers, the coast and metropolitan parks. All are an hour or two, or up to three hours, so are ideal for after-work.
Looking for some more adventurous hikes in nature?
Check out our accompanying article:
45 Bushwalks close to the city for evening hikes
Throughout October we’re celebrating walking with walktoberSA.
30 Evening walks to enjoy now that Daylight Saving has started
1.
FOOTHILLS: Blackwood Forest Recreation Park
A small park in the hills is popular for walking the dog off-leash. A great place to take the kids to explore the pine forest, the creek and Sturt River, you can walk a 1.4km loop here.
2.
NORTH: Mawson Lakes loop
Enjoy a 2.2km loop walk around the main lake at Mawson Lakes. Extend the walk with some of the nearby Dry Creek Trails network.
3.
WEST: St Clair Wetlands Walk
A 2.1km walking trail loop around the St Clair wetland are bitumen so are suitable for people with all abilities (accessible trails), including prams, childrens bikes, and those who use mobility aids, including wheelchairs.
4.
NORTH-EAST: Oakden reserves loop
A 3.4km loop through the reserves and side streets of Oakden. The loop is a great loop for dog walking which is also pram friendly, and suitable for wheelchair users.
5.
SOUTH: Pedler Creek Trail
This 5km / 2 hour shared use path trail provides a local link from Seaford Meadows to Moana and offers stunning scenery along the full length of the trail. It follows the Pedler Creek riverine corridor from the Coast to Vines Rail Trail in Seaford Meadows where there are some moderately sloping sections, and links to the Coast Park Trail at Moana via the shared use path along Nashwauk Crescent. The trail also extends southwards through the Pedler Creek Reserve and wetlands which frequently features abundant birdlife and has large areas of landscaped open space.
6.
SOUTH: Loop in Morphett Vale along 4 trails
A 6.5km 2 hour walking loop of four trails in Morphett Vale: Christie Creek Linear Trail; Golden Wattle Way Trail; Beach Road Trail and the Coast to Vines Rail Trail. The loop is not marked as a loop, but is easy enough to follow.
7.
EAST: The Waite Arboretum
Wander around the Waite Arboretum, either on one the walks or just freely wander. Arboretum simply means a collection of trees, and these here are from around the world and all growing under natural rainfall. Watch out for the distinctive Draceana Draco – or Dragon’s Blood Tree – which is logo for Waite Arboretum.
8.
EAST: Fourth Creek Trail
Follow Fourth Creek downstream as it meanders along quiet suburban streets and parks from the Morialta Playground to the River Torrens Linear Park. A 4.8km 2 hour one-way trail.
9.
NORTH-EAST: Wynn Vale Dam Circuit
You can walk around the lake itself (950m), or walk from Grenfell Road on the Wynn Vale Dam Circuit (2.8km return). The marked trail is a shared-use path, and has markers every 200m, and begins near the Jubilee Lake, near the footbridge on Wynn Vale to Valley View Walking Path which crosses Grenfell Road.
10.
NORTH: Lowie’s Loop Nature Play Trail
Lowie’s Loop is a 1km children’s exploratory nature play trail that encourages children to get out and explore the natural environment.
11.
WESTERN: Walking Loop of the Patawalonga, Glenelg
1 hour, 3.8km
Enjoy a walk around the Patawalonga Lake, with it’s pleasant grassed banks, playgrounds and views to Glenelg and across the marina and lake. The walk can be commenced from Wigley Reserve or Colley Reserve in Glenelg, from where you can follow the path on either side of the lake northwards. Return by walking across either the road bridge half way along, or at the foot bridge near Tapleys Hill Road.
12.
EASTERN: Thorndon Park loop around lake
1 hour, 1.5km
There are numerous walking trails at Thorndon Park that loop around the lake. Walking trails take you throughout this photographic location and past unique attractions like the water tower, natural wetlands, and a giant chess board. It easy to make a couple of different loops of the park and lake.
13.
NORTH WEST, WEST, SOUTH: Coast Park Path along Adelaide’s Beaches
Enjoy a section of the Coast Park Path along Adelaide Beaches. Stretching 70km from North Haven through to Sellicks Beach the trail is a wide bitumen or compacted trail suitable for walking, prams, bikes and wheelchairs.
The major missing section is around Port Stanvac, where no trail or even rough footpath exists (there is no access to the foreshore). Sections between Moana and Port Willunga may also be rough, but easy enough for walkers to follow.
14.
EAST, HILLS: Woorabinda Bushland Reserve Loop, Stirling
2-3 hours, 5.4km
A cool, quiet forest oasis, filled with a cacophony of birds or frogs. Woorabinda Lake is a highlight, with a path circling the lake passing reed beds, picnic benches, boardwalks and a bird hide.
Enjoy a shorter walk on The Lake Trail, which loops around the main lake.
15.
SOUTH: Hallett Cove Boardwalk (Marion Coastal Walking Trail)
90 mins – 2 hours one-way, 5.1km
A clifftop boardwalk along the rocky coastline between Marino and Hallett Cove. There are lots of options as to how long to make this walk.
Dogs are only permitted north of the Hallett Cove Conservation Park.
16.
CITY: Adelaide Park Lands Trail (loop ring route)
A series of connected walking and cycling trails through the parklands which loop around the city. Bisected by the River Torrens, offering the option to do either the southern or northern loops and loop back via the river.
- Full circuit (around south Adelaide and North Adelaide): 18.1km
- southern Adelaide circuit, using Torrens River to link up: 16km
- North Adelaide circuit, using Torrens River to link up: 9km
17.
NORTH: Little Para River Trail
Choose a section of the 14km long trail, which goes from the hilly escarpment in the east, to Barker Inlet in the west. Trail users can experience diverse areas of remnant eucalyptus woodlands, grasslands, samphire and mangroves.
18.
NORTH: Munno Para Wetlands
30 mins, 1.4km
The Munno Para Wetlands include walking trails, a playground, a large grassed area and picnic shelter.
19.
NORTH: The Gawler Rivers (Tapa Pariara) Path
10.3km, 3 hours, or shorter to walk a section of it
Take a leisurely stroll along the pretty North and South Para Rivers. Interpretative panels provide information on the history of the area, native birds and vegetation. The official map shows 6.8km of trail, but the trail network has been extended north from Clonlea Reserve a further 3.5km into the suburb of Hewett.
20.
NORTH, NORTH EAST: Dry Creek River Trails
The Dry Creek Trails are a 14km network of walking and cycling trails that follow Dry Creek and its reserves from the Little Para River Trail near Barker Inlet, through Mawson Lakes, past Yatala Prison and on to Valley View and Wynn Vale.
Highlight sections include around Mawson Lakes and Dry Creek.
21.
NORTH EAST: Wynn Vale to Valley View Walking Path
A 6.3km trail meandering along the beautiful Dry Creek corridor from Wynn Vale Dam through to Vaucluse Reserve in Valley View. There are four playgrounds and seating along the route.
The trail is a wide shared-use path for walkers, runners, cyclists and is pram and wheelchair accessible. There is a gentle decent from Wynn Vale towards Valley View.
22.
WEST: Inner Harbour Loop Path
3.5km
A shared-use walking and cycling loop path provides a 3.5km route around Port Adelaide’s Inner Harbour and Port River, taking in history and playgrounds.
23.
EAST, CITY, WEST: River Torrens Linear Trail, West Beach to Adelaide CBD to Athelstone
The trail follows 30km of Torrens River. Walk a section of the trail as a circuit by walking down one side of the river, and returning on the other side.
25.
HILLS: Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker
15mins to 45mins, 2km
There are 3 marked walking trails within the wetlands, with a fourth trail (Linear Trail) exiting the park and heading into Mt Barker.
26.
WEST: Tennyson Dunes Native Plant Trail
45mins, 2km
An interpretive trail through the one of the last remaining remnants of a tertiary dune system on the metropolitan coast, containing some 56 native plant species and host a variety of wildlife.
27.
WEST: Loop around West Lakes
1.5 hours, 5.8km
Walk around the southern lake at West Lakes on this 5.8km circuit.
28.
SOUTH: Coast to Vines Rail Trail
This 32km trail follows an old railway corridor from Hallett Cove train station to Noarlunga via Morphett Vale, and then on to McLaren Vale to Willunga as the Shiraz Trail. Enjoy a short section and retrace your steps.
29.
SOUTH: Pingle Farm Trail via estuary, Onkaparinga River Recreation Park
90 mins, 3.3km
Walk along the estuary before returning via the ruins of the former Pingle Farm farmhouse and sheds.
30.
SOUTH: Wetlands Loop Trail, Onkaparinga River
2 hours, 4.5km
The Wetlands Walk is located on the Onkaparinga River estuary with opportunities for walking, birdwatching and photography, with interpretive signs.