During our hikes in Adelaide we often noticed trails marked with
Adelaide 100 sign.
Adelaide 100 is a loop trail developed by Walking SA, currently built and marked.
Inspired by it, our group leader Bernie developed an alternative which is different but has some similarities with The Adelaide 100.
Bernie’s circumnavigation trail mainly uses linear park and a combination trails in conservation parks. The walks will feature some soft linear park walks and even some suburban street and road walking.
The walk has 4 sections :
Circumnavigation Adelaide Day 1
Crafers to Duck Inn
Walk from Crafers via Cleland park, Waite, Belair park and Olave Hill Road to the Duck Inn. Total distance is 22 km.
Park the car at Duck Inn with the address, 393 Main Road, Coromandel Valley SA 5051.
Start the walk at Crafers, follow Main Street past Crafers Church of Epiphany, heading to Cleland Conservation Park. Walk a small distance on Birriee, than Mireen track to Measday Lookout.
Turn left to Tunnel track, along Mount Barker Road towards Brown Hill Creek. Continue on Yurrebilla track to Belair Conservation Park.
In Belair, walk on Lodge Track, Echo Track, follow Minno Creek. Cross the Valley Drive, walk on Kaloola Track, then Warri Parri Ridge Track. Cross Upper Sturt Road and continue walking on Olave Hill Road.
The last section is a combination of road walking. Turn Left to Turner Ave, Myrtle Road, right on Magarey Rd, left to Main Road to Duck Inn.
Circumnavigation Adelaide Day 2
Duck Inn to Lockleys Hotel
Walk from Duck Inn via Sturt River Trail / Linear Park, West Beach, Torrens Linear Park to the Lockleys Hotel for a total distance of 29 km.
Park the car at Lockleys Hotel with the address 493 Henley Beach Rd, Fulham.
During this section, expect a variety of walking experiences. An easy and pleasant linear path walking, a few kilometres of challenging riverside walking, some difficult slopes, a few streets, some esplanade and some Torrens Linear Park.
Walk on Sturt River trail from Coromandel Valley to Horner’s Bridge.
Horner’s Bridge was built in 1866 and was the first bridge across the Sturt on the Adelaide to Goolwa Road.
The River trail follows Sturt River through Sturt Gorge to Riverside Reserve Bedford Park. There are 3 creek crossings which were challenging this rainy year due amount of water in the river. Do not cross the river if the water levels are high.
Along the river, red gums, spiny flat sedge provide food shelter for birds, frogs, butterflies.
After crossing Main South Road, Southern Express Way through the underpass, to Sturt road continue to walk on Sturt River Linear Park.
Warriparinga or Sturt River Linear Park is a shared trail between South Road and Anzac Highway.
The Kaurna people have leaved in the Marion area for thousands of years. The name comes from Sturt River which named Warripari by Kaurna people.
The walk meanders through playgrounds and historic sites. One historic site acknowledges that on 28 December 1836, the colony of South Australia was proclaimed and established by Captain John Hindmarsh RN.
Circumnavigation Adelaide Day 3
Lockleys to Rezz
Walk from Lockleys Hotel via Torrens Linear Park to The Rezz Hotel for 27Km.
Park car at the Rezz Hotel with the address, 20 Hamilton Terrace, Newton
This walk is almost entirely along the Torrens Linear Park.
River Torrens was known to Kaurna people as Karrawirra Parri which means Red Gum Forest River.
River Torrens, lined with River Red Gums and reed beds is 85 km long and flows from Mt. Lofty Ranges near Mt. Pleasant to the sea at West Beach.
Torrens Lake is located in the heart of Adelaide and was created in 1881 with the construction of Torrens Weir. The walking trail was completed in 1997.
Off the trail you can visit Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Zoo, Adelaide Botanic Gardens and Festival Theatre, Adelaide Convention Centre.
From 1920, The South Australians enjoyed swimming at “Macks”, the pool at the bend in the Torrens at Gilberton. In 1970 the pool was closed due to pollution. Today you can still see the steps that lead down to the remnants of the old pool. A notice board displays information regarding the old pool “macks”
Exit from Torrens River trail on Silkes Road. Then walk on Reservoir Road, enter Thordon Park walk on the trail around Thordon Park Reservoir. Exit the park at Hamilton Terrace to reach The Rezz.
Circumnavigation Adelaide Day 4
The Rezz to Crafers
Walk from Rezz to Morialta, then Yurrebilla trail to Clelend and to Crafers for a total distance of 27Km.
Park at the Crafers Hotel, 8 Main St, Crafers
This walk is the most challenging of the 4 sections, with considerable vertical gain and some rough terrain to negotiate.
From where you left previous walk, Hamilton Terrace the Rez, head towards Morialta Conservation Park following a myriad of streets. Turn left on Gorge Road, right on Manresa Ct., right on Maryvale Road, cross Montacute road, turn right on Orbona st. and left to Cartlyne road.
Walk in Morialta Park on Moores track, Third Fall track, and Colonial drive to Norton Summit.
After some road walking on Lobethal road, enter Giles Conservation Park, and follow Ridge track, Yurebilla trail to Greenhill road, entering in Cleland via Yereng track.
Walk on Wine Shanty track, Nilee track, turn right to continue on Mt. Lofty road, than Warre track, Heysen trail to Reynolds drive. Exit the park via Summer Hill Drive. Walk along Mount Lofty Summit road, Cox creek road to reach Crafers main road.
All up about 27K of walking and expect 7- 8 hours.
Celebrate completing your Adelaide circumnavigation at Crafers Hotel.