Mount Lofty Summit
The highest point of the Adelaide Hills at 727 metres, with views over the city and Gulf St Vincent. Nearby Cleland Wildlife Park lets you get close to koalas.
Mount Lofty is the highest peak of the Adelaide Hills, rising 727 metres and about 15 km from the city centre. The summit lookout offers a 180-degree panorama of the Adelaide Plains, the city skyline and, in the distance, Gulf St Vincent. It is especially lovely at sunset, when the city lights come on. The summit has the Flinders Column memorial obelisk, a café restaurant and a visitor centre, and parking is free. Hikers can climb from the foot of the mountain at Waterfall Gully along the trail, a one-way trip of about 3.9 km taking 1 to 1.5 hours with roughly 400 metres of elevation gain. It is a favourite fitness route among locals. Just below the summit, Cleland Wildlife Park lets you feed kangaroos, wallabies and emus freely. At set times you can join the Koala Close Encounter. In South Australia, visitors may pose with koalas under expert supervision for an extra fee, and places are limited. Admission is around AUD 30 (check the official website). Getting there: about 20 minutes by car. By public transport, take bus 864 or 865 and transfer to route 823.
Opening hours
Summit lookout open all day; Cleland Wildlife Park about 09:30–17:00
Nearby sights
- Cleland Wildlife Park
- Penfolds Magill Estate
- Morialta Conservation Park
- National Wine Centre of Australia
- Adelaide Botanic Garden
- Hahndorf
- Art Gallery of South Australia
- South Australian Museum