Willunga to Kapunda
| Location | Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia |
| Start Point | End of Station Road, Willunga |
| End Point | Hancock Road, Kapunda |
| Distance | 269 km |
| Time | 10–13 days (horse riding/walking) / 5 days (cycling) |
| Difficulty | Varied |
| Activity | Horse Riding, Cycling, Walking |
| Region | Fleurieu Peninsula, Adelaide & Adelaide Hills, Murraylands, Barossa, Clare Valley |
| Accommodation | Camping, mid-range and premium options — see Fleurieu Peninsula, Adelaide Hills, Murray River & Riverland, Barossa Valley and Clare Valley accommodation |
| Key Feature | South Australia’s first long-distance multi-use trail |
269 Kilometres in the Footsteps of the Cattle King
The Kidman Trail is South Australia’s first long-distance multi-use trail — a 269-kilometre journey by horse, bicycle, or foot through the heart of the Mount Lofty Ranges, from the vineyards of Willunga on the Fleurieu Peninsula to the copper mining town of Kapunda in the mid-north. Named after Sir Sidney Kidman — the legendary pastoralist who began his empire as a thirteen-year-old riding a one-eyed horse from Adelaide to the mid-north in search of his fortune — this trail traverses five tourism regions and some of the most beautiful and varied countryside in the state.
The trail follows a combination of roadsides, forest tracks, private land, and unmade road reserves, with trail markers indicating the route through landscapes that shift from the Mediterranean vineyards of McLaren Vale to the eucalypt forests of the Adelaide Hills, the pastoral country of the Murraylands, the rolling vineyards of the Barossa Valley, and the stone-walled farmland of the Clare Valley. It is a trail that reveals the full spectrum of South Australia’s settled landscape.
The Trail Experience
Eleven trailheads are spaced approximately a day’s horse ride apart along the route, providing yards and water for horses, and most offer camping opportunities with permission from the land manager. This infrastructure reflects the trail’s equestrian origins — Horse SA has been central to the trail’s development and maintenance, and the Kidman Trail remains one of the most significant horse-riding trails in the country.
The route includes quite a few steep sections and can be challenging after heavy rainfall along the unmade tracks. However, the spectacular views, abundant wildlife, unique flora, and constantly changing landscapes reward the effort. The five individual Kidman Trail maps are well annotated with history and points of interest, each covering approximately 60 kilometres of trail.
Planning Your Journey
The Kidman Trail is typically walked or ridden on horseback in 10 to 13 days, or cycled in approximately 5 days. The trail can also be explored in sections — day rides and weekend adventures allow riders and walkers to experience different parts of the route without committing to the full distance. Trail maps covering five sections are available for download. Riders should contact land managers at trailhead campsites in advance to confirm camping availability.
The Kidman Trail is a journey through the landscapes and communities that define the Mount Lofty Ranges — 269 kilometres of changing countryside, from ocean to farmland, through forests and vineyards and over ranges that have drawn travellers since long before young Sidney Kidman rode his one-eyed horse north in search of a fortune. It remains South Australia’s premier long-distance multi-use trail, and every section offers its own rewards.
Where to Stay
Planning an overnight trip? See our Clare Valley Accommodation Guide for the best places to stay near this trail.