Explore the best of Fleurieu Peninsula hikes in this guide
Rolling hills, undulating valleys, coastal towns, and scenic wine regions make Fleurieu Peninsula one of the best destinations in South Australia. For a long time, the area has been known to promote a significant amount of hiking trails & walking paths. Its popularity has grown since the addition of newer hiking trails in the region. Some paths wind through the McLaren Vale wine region, whilst some venture through the coastal seaside towns and suburbs of the Fleurieu. Ultimately, all trails lead you to the best scenic spots of the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Whether you’re hiking, walking, trekking, or bush-walking – the Fleurieu Peninsula offers the best hiking trails to explore in South Australia. Some of the hikes in Fleurieu are undeniably beautiful – leading us to compile a list of the must-visit ones.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up a short list of all the best Fleurieu Peninsula hikes you should visit now!
Fleurieu Peninsula’s Best Hiking & Walking Trails
Out of all the hiking you do in Fleurieu, these two remain the top-rated trails in South Australia. Both Onkaparinga River National Park and Deep Creek Conservation Park boast dramatic scenery, lush wildlife, dense forest area, and rich vegetation. With walking trails leading you to some of Fleurieu’s best views, putting them inside your bucket-list adventures is worth mentioning.
Onkaparinga River National Park
The beauty of experiencing the hikes at Onkaparinga River National Park is its diversity. With over 17 hiking trails, the park covers all types of surfaces for you to walk upon. From easy flat walks to rugged cliffs, there’s everything to suit your hiking style. The most popular trail of Onkaparinga is Punchbowl Lookout Trail. This 2km stretch is best suited for families who merely want to wander through the deep forests of the national park.
To try something challenging, we suggest taking the Gorge Hike. As the name suggests, the trail ventures through deep gorges and densely forested park areas. For any beginner-level hiker, the stretch can take 4 hrs to complete.
We also recommend taking a trip to the Onkaparinga River Recreation Park. You’ll find plenty of combination trials with accessible boardwalk and gravel paths. Try The Wetland loop, which is also suitable for prams and wheelchairs.
Deep Creek Conservation Park
One of the most-visited parks of South Australia, the Deep Creek National Park is truly a wild, rugged beauty of the Fleurieu Peninsula region. The region is known to feature some of the most striking scenes, including rough terrain, cliffs, secluded viewpoints, and classic walking trails. You’ll also be greeted with stunning white sand beaches and abundant wildlife.
Deep Creek National Park houses 15 walking trails of different difficulty levels. All these trails lead you to the best spots in the conservation park, including Deep Creek Valley and Backstairs Passage. The slightly-more difficult paths lead you to even more scenic locations, granting you the best viewing experience.
For families, we recommend a friendly trail to hike upon, i.e. The Stringybark Loop. This flat, straight surface is best suited for families travelling with kids, and it takes less than 30-minutes to complete the entire stretch. To make it more memorable, camp at the Stringybark campsite and marvel at the scenic lookout areas from your spot.
To level up your hiking, take the Deep Creek Waterfall Hike. Starting from the Tent Rock Road, this trail is often walked by moderate hikers with reasonable fitness levels. Nevertheless, if you feel you’re up for the challenge, it will only reward you more. The total distance of the Deep Creek Waterfall Hike is 3.5km; on average, it takes 2 hrs to complete.
The Blowhole Beach Hike will sweat you down to the core for those who love adrenaline fun. The descent portion is relatively flat, with no such challenge; however, the uphill burns you. But, the beauty of the trail attracts the tourists the most. You’ll need good fitness levels to pass this trial, so ensure you’re equipped with energy bars & healthy snacks. On average, the trail takes 2.5 hrs to complete.
Read Next | 10 Gorgeous Places to Stay on the Fleurieu Peninsula
Popular Walking Trails of the Fleurieu Peninsula
Heysen Trail
Heysen Trail is one of South Australia’s iconic hiking trails. Stretching from the Flinders Ranges to the Fleurieu Peninsula, the trail covers a distance of a total of 1200km. The entire route of the Heysen Trail is broken down into several sections with moderate difficulty levels. However, the portion falling on the Fleurieu Peninsula region (75.5km of length) is the one you shouldn’t miss!
The smaller sections, such as the Waitpinga Cliffs to Kings Beach, are even a more spectacular version of the Heysen Trail. This particular portion of the trail ventures through the coastal scrub, leading you to the best ocean views of the Fleurieu. Also, watch out for dolphins and seals – as they tend to hop out occasionally near the beach.
Southern Ocean Walk
To get the most out of your Fleurieu Peninsula hikes, join a guided walking tour with one of SA’s top tour operators – Southern Ocean Walk. Independent hikes are fun, but it’s even better to enter an expert along your tour. The amount of knowledge about conservation, wildlife, and native heritage you get is impressive.
While the benefit of joining a guided tour is always a peak, don’t forget to delve deeper into the exploration of Fleurieu’s amazing coastal landscapes. The trail leads you through dense forest and bushes, ultimately landing you near the beach area.
The Southern Ocean Walk guided tours include to & fro transfers, meals, and accommodation in Deep Creek National Park. For more info, visit the site.
Willunga Basin Trail
Willunga Basin Trail is one of the Fleurieu Peninsula’s beautiful hiking trails. Covering a distance of 130km, the trail journeys between a diverse landscape of dense forest, bushland, parks, vineyards, and beaches. The terrain is relatively easy to hike compared to other Fleurieu Peninsula hikes. However, it still requires moderate fitness levels to complete some portion, which can either be completed over 5 days or 11 days.
Furthermore, the Willunga Basin Trail connects Heysen and Coast to Vines trail. It also winds through the local settlements of Fleurieu, including Port Willunga, Maslin Beach, McLaren Vale, Kangarilla, and Moana.
The Kidman Trail
The Kidman Trail is a family-friendly stretch from Willunga to the rolling hills of the Barossa Valley. The path is popular for hiking, biking, and horse-riding. Thus, families visiting the Fleurieu Peninsula can enjoy spectacular views along the Kidman Trail.
The Stuart River Linear Park Trail
The Stuart River Linear Park Trail is one of the new additions to the Fleurieu Peninsula hikes. Surrounded by beautiful scenery and unique coastal towns, the trail winds down through the Coromandel Valley, starting from Frank Smith Park to Horner’s Bridge. The path is best suited for all groups and can be done by any tourist with reasonable fitness levels.
Explore more | Looking for other hikes around South Australia? Read this guide to find out more.
Further Readings & Resources
Fleurieu Peninsula Accommodation – 10 Gorgeous Places to Stay on the Fleurieu Peninsula
Fleurieu Peninsula Food – A Tale of Fleurieu Peninsula’s Best Fish & Chips
Pet Friendly Accommodation – A Complete Guide to Pet Friendly Accommodation in the Fleurieu Peninsula
