The Onkaparinga River National Park has two components. The National Park portion runs essentially between Piggot Range Road to the west and Chapel Hill Road to the east, with a small area known as Hardy’s Scrub on the east side of Chapel Hill Road.
The other component is the Onkaparinga River Recreation Park which follows the Onkaparinga river on both sides from Old Noarlunga to Port Noarlunga.
Both of the parks have a number of walking tracks and designated mountain bike tracks.
Some of the tracks leading to the bottom of the gorge are quite steep and challenging whilst others around the top of the gorge such as the Lookout track are somewhat gentler.
For more information check out the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) website which has all the information about using the park for your enjoyment. There is a designated camping area at Gate 15 (Pink Gums) on Chapel Hill Road as well as a rock-climbing facility that can be reached from the same gate.
Click here for the NPWS Onkaparinga National Park website. (Opens in a new tab)
Above, Lookout walk, pools at bottom of gorge.
Above, a walking track is named after this one.
These we do not want to see!!
The NPWS publishes maps of the National Park and the Recreation Park which can be accessed by the free Avanza Maps app for your mobile phone or tablet. There are two maps of the National Park, Onkaparinga NP East, and Onkaparinga NP West. The Recreation Park is listed as the Onkaparinga River Recreation Park.
All maps list the walking tracks, bike tracks and fire access roads. You can use the fire access roads as a shortcut between some walking tracks
Please note that the Parks are closed when fire bans are in place for the Mt Lofty Ranges.
It is likely that you will encounter some wildlife on your walks like the one on the left. but kangaroos are more often spotted.
As this website progresses images and lists of flora and fauna will be published. You will want to visit when you see the variety of species in the parks.
Please enjoy the serenity of these wonderful parks soon.