Onkaparinga River National Park & Recreation Park | Blewitt Springs/Onkaparinga Hills
The magnificent Onkaparinga River National Park and Recreation Park features scenic river vistas, rugged cliffs, rock pools, and native bushland.
Whether you are a regular to these parks or want to visit of the first time, at any time of year you’ll find something fun to do here while you’re out enjoying the best that nature has to offer.
Onkaparinga River Recreation Park features wetland ponds and flood plains created when the river spills onto the plains. The area conserves hundreds of native plant and animal species, many of which are rare, and is an important fish breeding habitat. The Onkaparinga River estuary also provides habitat for endangered migratory birds.
There are plenty of recreational activities to enjoy, such as fishing in the river, wander along the wetland boardwalks, ride a bike on the shared use trails, walk your dog (on a lead), kayak the calm waters or just be at peace with nature.
Just next door, to the east of the recreation park, Onkaparinga River National Park features cliff top views and deep gorges. Witness the narrow river valley of the spectacular Onkaparinga Gorge and challenge yourself with diverse hiking trails and rock climbing. Shared-use trails also offer opportunities for mountain bike riders and horse riders to enjoy the rugged beauty of the park.
This park protects some of the finest remaining pockets of remnant vegetation in the Southern Adelaide region. Wherever you venture throughout the park, you’ll be among native wildlife such as birds, koalas, kangaroos and possums — you may even be lucky enough to spot an echidna. Discover heritage-listed huts and the ruins of houses built in the 1880s located in areas of the park that were once used as farmland.
Location:
The parks are located 35km south of Adelaide. Access the Recreation Park from River Road, Noarlunga Downs and from Commercial and Sauerbiers Roads, Seaford Meadows. The main walking trails in the National Park are on the northern side of the gorge from Piggott Range Road.
For more information and all enquiries please visit the National Parks SA website.
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 Credit: National Parks of SA
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