The Best Walks & Hiking Trails on the Fleurieu Peninsula
* Waitpinga Cliff overlooking Parsons Beach – Image via Fleurieu Peninsula
At a glance
- For an easy walk: Myponga Reservoir*
- For serious coastal views: Waitpinga Cliffs
- For the full Fleurieu wilderness experience: Deep Creek National Park
- For something closer to Adelaide: Onkaparinga River National Park
- For families: Goondooloo Ridge Walk, Deep Creek
- For experienced walkers: Deep Creek Waterfall Hike
*Myponga Reservoir Reserve is currently temporarily closed following heavy rain. Check SA Water before visiting.
There are weekends on the Fleurieu built around lunch reservations and cellar doors.
And then there are the ones where you pack the sneakers.
From reservoir loops and gum-filled bushland to proper cliff-top hikes with the Southern Ocean below, some of the best walks in South Australia are sitting right here on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Here are a few we’d put on the list:
Myponga Reservoir Reserve
Usually one of our picks when you want walk rather than hike.
Myponga Reservoir has 10.5 kilometres of unsealed trails, including an easier 3.3-kilometre south-eastern loop suitable for families, plus a more challenging Grade 3 western trail.
It’s the kind of place we’d choose for a slower morning. Walk, take in the reservoir views, then head into Myponga and make a day of it.
Good to know: The reserve is currently temporarily closed after heavy rain caused flooding, fallen trees and unsafe access. Check the SA Water website before adding this one to your itinerary. Dogs are also not permitted in reservoir reserves, except assistance animals.
Waitpinga Cliffs
This is the one for the views.
The Wild South Coast Way section between The Bluff at Victor Harbor and Waitpinga Cliffs is a 6-kilometre, Grade 4 one-way walk, passing Petrel Cove, Kings Beach and eventually the huge Waitpinga Cliffs, which rise around 100 metres above the sea.
Between May and October, there’s also the possibility of spotting southern right whales along this stretch.
Not your casual post-lunch stroll. Very much worth packing proper shoes for.
Deep Creek National Park
If hiking is actually part of the reason you’re coming to the Fleurieu, give Deep Creek some time.
For something gentle, the Goondooloo Ridge Walk is around 4.5 kilometres return and leads through woodland to views across Backstairs Passage. It’s Grade 2 and suitable for families.
Want more of a challenge? The Deep Creek Waterfall Hike takes you through wooded hills to a seasonal waterfall, while the Blowhole Beach Hike drops steeply towards the coast before making you earn the view again on the climb back.
This is one of those places where we’d leave a good chunk of the day free rather than trying to squeeze it between bookings.
Onkaparinga River National Park
A very good reminder that you don’t have to head all the way south for dramatic scenery.
The Punchbowl Lookout Trail is an easy 2-kilometre return walk through grey box woodland to views over the gorge. It’s also suitable for prams and people with limited mobility.
For something with a little more bite, the 4-kilometre Sundews Ridge Hike stays along the ridge and gives you those big gorge views without descending all the way to the river. Experienced walkers can tackle the much harder Grade 4 Gorge Hike.
Our tip?
Don’t try to do five.
Pick one good walk, book somewhere excellent for lunch afterwards, then head back towards the coast.
That’s a Fleurieu day done properly.
Planning your weekend? Explore more of our local favourites in our Guide To The Fleurieu, then explore a Sanbis stay that puts you close to the part of the Fleurieu you want to explore.