Grab your kids, lace up your hiking boots and head for the Hills to explore the wooded wonderland that is Lobethal Bushland Park.
by Katrina Gogel
Located on the outskirts of Lobethal, Bushland Park is brimming with history and beauty. Before being acquired by the Adelaide Hills Council in 1986 the two reservoirs located here supplied the township of Lobethal with water. You can still see remnants of old pipes in the reservoirs and along certain parts of the trails today.
Over the past thirty years the park has been utilised by locals and visitors to the region as a recreation area. With a large carpark, network of walking trails and a great BBQ and playground area, this park makes for a wonderful day out in the Adelaide Hills.
Lobethal Bushland Park Nature Playground – Play Space Review
The Trails
Bushland Park offers four circuit trails that weave their way through the woodlands. Each circuit is colour coded, with trail markers helping you navigate your way around the park.
All trails are relatively short which makes this the perfect place to explore with kids. Take your pick from one of the following trails and get walking!
It’s best to read the information boards that are located near the public toilets to decide which walk is best suited to you
Yellow: The yellow trail takes you on a 1-kilometre return hike to the lookout. While this walk is the shortest in the park, it is also the steepest. Unfortunately, the lookout tower at the top is no longer in use which does make it hard to see the views through the trees.
Red: A 2-kilometre circuit that takes you around the second reservoir and to the lookout. See if you can find some of the large, old stringybark trees that are estimated to be over 600 years old!
Blue: The least demanding walk in the park and probably our favourite. At just over 2 kilometres long it is short enough to keep the kids from complaining but long enough to burn some energy! This trail leads you across the creek, up a hill and through ferns, regenerating wetlands, and woodlands. It also takes you past the second reservoir and over some boardwalks.
Purple: Enjoy all that Lobethal Bushland Park has to offer on the longest and most comprehensive walk in the park. At just over 4 kilometres long this trail visits the most Northerly, Southerly, Easterly, and Westerly sides of the park as well as taking you past the second reservoir and to the lookout.
Here’s some pics from our recent adventure along the blue trail
Lobethal Bushland Park Nature Playground – New Play Space opened February 2022
Stepping stones can be found by walking past the playground towards the far side of the main reservoir. Our boys love hopping and jumping over these!
Bushland Park is a place to be enjoyed with family and friends all year round. In Summer it’s a cool, shady place for a walk, and in the winter months you’ll be met by the lush green vistas of the Adelaide Hills. It’s definitely one to add to your bushwalking list.
What we love about Lobethal Bushland Park
- It’s a wonderful park for families to explore
- You can bushwalk, picnic and play all in the one place
- It’s nice and quiet
- It’s free
Facilities
- Large gravel carpark
- Interpretive signage
- Toilets
- Undercover BBQ’s + picnic tables
- Bench seats throughout park
- Playground
- Rubbish bins (located at the entrance)
Things to consider
- The gates to the carpark are open from 8am to 5pm daily
- Bushland Park is closed on total fire ban days
- No pets are allowed in the bushland section of the park
- The lookout tower at the top of the hill on the yellow circuit is in disrepair
- Fishing is allowed from the banks of the first reservoir
- The playground is not fenced
Things to see and do nearby
- Play Slot Cars at Adelaide Hills Slot Raceway in Lobethal – read our Review here (check their website for opening times)
- Call into Lobethal Bakery or one of the cafes in town for a bite to eat
- Visit one of the wineries in the region. Goldings Winery in Lobethal and Barristers Block at Woodside are both kid-friendly and close by
- Continue on to Gumeracha and visit the Big Rocking Horse
- Take the kids to the National Motor Museum in Birdwood
Location
Kenton Valley Road, Lobethal (approx. 40 minutes drive from Adelaide)
Click here for all the Best Playgrounds for Toddlers
See our Top Parks & Playgrounds Around Adelaide
For more information and all enquiries please visit the Adelaide Hills Council website
What: Bushland Park
When: Everyday between 8am to 5pm
Where: Lobethal, Adelaide Hills
Who: Bushwalking fans
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: All photos by Katrina Gogel
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