- Distance
- 12 km circuit
- Duration
- 4-7 hour hike
- Suitable for
- Hiking, Trail Running
- Grade 4, Hard Hike
- Terrain
- Steep
- Part of a longer trail
- Heysen Trail
- Park
- Deep Creek National Park
- Region
- Fleurieu Peninsula
- Download maps & GPS files
- 2 GPS files
- 1 website link
- Photos
- 7 photosJump to Photos section
- Travel options
- Car
- Travel time from Adelaide
- 1-2 hours



About the Walking Trail
There are four things that make a hike a good hiking experience. Hills – where would the fun be in hiking without them; views – which one can so often naturally find at the top of those hills; ecosystem diversity; and water – to look at, to swim in. The Deep Creek Circuit hike in Deep Creek National Park has all those elements, all along some nicely maintained trails.
The diversity of ecosystems throughout this circuit hike make it all the more enjoyable. From the Xanthorrhoea hillsides, the grassy hill tops, to the closed-in humid valley nooks, and the stands of tall eucalypts, the ecosystems offer a variety that stands in contrast to the cleared farmland further inland. Kangaroos, echindas and blue tongue lizards are plentiful, as unfortunately, are the flies when there’s no breeze.
The hike is made up of four components, which can be hiked by themselves as shorter hikes:
- Deep Creek Waterfall Hike from Tent Rock Road (Trig Campsite) (along the Heysen Trail)
- Deep Creek Cove Hike from Trig Picnic Area
- Deep Creek Cove Hike from Tapanappa Lookout
- Deep Creek Waterfall Hike from Tapanappa Lookout (along the Heysen Trail)
Track Notes
The hike ventures down to the valley bottom before returning to the hill tops – once on the way over via the northern route, then back again via the southern route.
I prefer clockwise because the gradients are easier, the steep sections are downhill, the uphill sections on the better contoured made trails.
0.0km, Tapanappa Campground to Deep Creek Cove
First on the hike it’s down to the coast, so heading clockwise around the circuit. Later it’s up to Trig Campground, before returning via the waterfall. The first up-close glimpse of the rugged coastline is breathtaking, seeing the wild waves crashing into the base of the rocky cliffs.
The trek down to Deep Creek Cove is quick, which means, quite simply, it’s a very steep trek down. The little beach in the cove is wild, the rough seas crash into the collection of large rocks interspersed with driftwood. The estuary behind the rocky beach, the outlet of Deep Creek, is calm and sandy, and not a bad place for an impromptu game of cricket (truly, I’ve seen it).
2.3km, Deep Creek Cove to Trig Campground
The trail enters Trig Campground at the picnic area, with a nice shelter and rain water tank. The toilets is close by, in campground is just north of the picnic area.