About the Walking Trail

South Australia’s newest park, Glenthorne National Park-Ityamaiitpinna Yarta, opened its gates to the public on 2 August 2020.

The park is located 16 km south of Adelaide on Majors Road in O’Halloran Hill, about 850m off South Road.

You can now take a walk along the park’s 4km temporary loop trail.

Start the walk from the carpark next to the park’s ranger station on Majors Road, at O’Halloran Hill.

Opening times: the trailhead and ranger station car park are open 8am to 7pm daily.

The trail features interpretive signage that gives insight into the park’s rich history and future plans. The walk takes 1–2 hours depending on how much time is spent reading the many, temporary interpretive signs. The area has a rich historical past and a healthy habitat for over 90 species of birds. Bear in mind that the area is in its early stages of development and some areas under construction can not be entered. The open fields reflect more than a century of farming but the revegetation sites emulate how the area will develop and encourage native species to return in the future.

Starting from the carpark and Ranger Station, the trail heads south then east towards the Glenthorne Hub, presently under construction. The Hub is a heritage precinct which will include space for education, learning and social connection in addition to learning about Kaurna Culture and history. From here the trail heads south again passing The Pond, a natural habitat for over 90 species of bird recorded on the property, and continues south through gently undulating avenues of large red gum forest to the wetland area which hosts many species of water birds. The trail gently climbs to the ridge that leads back to the carpark via the historic Munitions Buildings.

The trail is very much a work in progress, being one of the many planned walking trails which are in the master plan. The Glenthorne Loop Trail encompasses major features of the park over 4.5 kilometres of gently undulating unsurfaced vehicle track.

The track is well marked but can be muddy at times and not suitable for wheelchairs, prams or bikes at present but perfect for dogs on a lead.

The former 208-hectare Glenthorne property is being revitalised through an extensive revegetation program. Once construction is complete, visitors can expect to enjoy a nature play space and picnic area, wetland, camping facilities, walking trails and a heritage precinct. This area will join a large precinct of existing parks and open spaces in Adelaide’s south that will span almost 1500 hectares, which is almost twice the size of Belair National Park and includes Hallett Cove Conservation Park, Marino Conservation Park and Happy Valley Reservoir, which will open to visitors by the end of 2021.