- Distance
- 2 km circuit
- Duration
- 60 mins
- Suitable for
- Walking, Hiking, Get to by public transport, Jogging, Trail Running
- Grade 3, Moderate Hike
- Terrain
- Undulating
- Park
- Hallett Cove Conservation Park
- Region
- Adelaide City & Suburbs
- Download maps & GPS files
- 2 GPS files
- 1 website link
- Photos
- 8 photosJump to Photos section
- Travel options
- Bus
- Car
- Train
- Travel time from Adelaide
- 1 hour or less
About the Walking Trail
A 2km circuit hike of Hallett Cove Conservation Park exploring some of the outstanding geological sites. Interpretive signs along the way explain some of the features. The cliff tops are the base of a glacial lake that melted 270 million years ago, leaving boulders and sedimentary deposits. The glacial pavement on the cliff top shows the scrape marks from boulders moved in a glacier. The park is recognised as the best record of Permian glaciation in Australia and has international significance.
The hike begins from the carpark and cafe at Hallett Cove Beach, at the end of Heron Way.
Extend the hike by walking northwards on some of the Hallett Cove Boardwalk (Marion Coastal Walking Trail).
Photos
The Sugarloaf, named for its resemblence to a mass of hard refined sugar. The shape is due to wind and erosion. The red layer is made of boulders and sediment deposited on the bottom of an ancient glacial meltwater lake. When the lake was drained, white sand blew over it and settled.
The Sugarloaf at Hallett Cove Conservation Park
The Amphitheatre as viewed on the Glacial Hike
Hallett Cove Beach
The glacial pavement on the cliff top (showing scrape marks from boulders moved in a glacier) are recognised as the best record of Permian glaciation in Australia and have international significance
Hallett Cove Conservation Park contains outstanding geological sites. The outcrop pictured here shows a slice through sediments that were deposited in a glacial lake around 270 million years ago
Optional sidetrip to the Sugarloaf and the Glacial Hike
Southern trailhead and southern entrance to Hallett Cove Conservation Park