Sundews Ridge Hike (2 hrs, 4km)

Take a short hike to the Sundews lookout to see the rocky outcrops and the river flowing through the Onkaparinga Gorge. Sundews Ridge Hike is a moderate loop trail that runs along the ridge top, returning to the car park without descending to the river.

In Onkaparinga River National Park, diverse hiking trails take you to cliff tops with magnificent views, or down to permanent rock pools teeming with life. You’ll see rugged ridge tops and the narrow river valley of the spectacular Onkaparinga Gorge. This park protects some of the finest remaining pockets of remnant vegetation in the Southern Adelaide region. Wherever you go, you’ll be among native wildlife such as birds, koalas, kangaroos and possums – you may even spot an echidna. Areas of the park were used as farmland for many years, so you can also discover heritage-listed huts and the ruins of houses built in the 1880s.

In Onkaparinga Recreation Park, the river spills onto the plains, creating wetland ponds and flood plains. The area conserves important fish breeding habitat and hundreds of native plant and animal species, many of which are rare. The Onkaparinga River estuary also provides habitat for endangered migratory birds. This park is popular with people of all ages and interests. You can go fishing in the river, wander along the wetland boardwalks, ride a bicycle on the shared use trails, walk your dog (on a lead), kayak the calm waters or just be at peace with nature.

From the rugged gorge to the river plains, the Onkaparinga River parks provide a natural corridor for wildlife moving from the natural and recovering landscapes, downriver to the wetland estuary, abundant with life.

More information can be found on the National Parks website.