Hike South Australia: From the Flinders Ranges to Kangaroo Island

South Australia doesn’t get talked about as a hiking state the way Tasmania or New South Wales do, and I think that’s unfair to it. I’ve walked sections of the Heysen Trail and spent enough time picking my way through the Flinders Ranges to know this state holds its own against anywhere else in the country. It just does it quietly, with red dirt, ancient eroded ranges and empty coastline rather than alpine drama.

What I like most about hiking here is how much sits inside one state. You can be on windswept clifftop country on Kangaroo Island one week and standing in a dry creek bed under the Flinders Ranges the next, and the two feel like they belong to entirely different parts of the country.

Epic journeys: Long distance trails

If you want a proper long-distance objective, South Australia holds one of the country’s best known: the Heysen Trail, a 1,200-kilometre route that crosses an extraordinary range of landscapes from the southern coast all the way to the Flinders Ranges. It starts on the Fleurieu Peninsula and runs through coastal bushland, sea cliffs and farming country before climbing into the rolling hills of the Mount Lofty Ranges, then on into the more rugged terrain of the Flinders Ranges. It’s not a trail that grabs you in the first hour. It’s one that rewards persistence, and the scale of it only really sinks in once you’ve walked a few consecutive days and watched the landscape keep changing under your feet.

Challenge yourself near Adelaide

Closer to the city, the 54-kilometre Yurrebilla Trail is the one I’d point most Adelaide locals toward first. You can walk it end to end over a few days or break it into shorter sections, which makes it far more forgiving for people fitting hikes around work and family. It follows tracks and fire trails through the Mount Lofty Ranges, links forest, ridgeline and foothill country, and takes in the summit of Mount Lofty along the way. Given how close it sits to the city, I’d call it one of the most accessible longer walks anywhere in the state.

Island escapes: Kangaroo Island’s wilderness

Kangaroo Island is where South Australia does something no other part of the state can. The five-day Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail passes through coastal heath, eucalypt woodland and rugged clifftop country, and it links up some of the island’s best known natural features, including Admiral’s Arch and Remarkable Rocks. Add in the wildlife you pass along the way and the fact you’re walking on an island cut off from the mainland, and it has a genuine sense of remoteness that’s hard to match. It’s strong walking too, not just scenery.

Exploring Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park

This is the part of South Australia I keep coming back to. Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park has some of the state’s most recognisable inland hiking country, with steep ranges, creek beds, lookouts and real cultural weight behind them. There’s something here for most abilities, from short family loops to longer summit routes.

St Mary Peak Circuit – Wilpena Pound Hike (21km) climbs to the highest peak in the Flinders Ranges, and it’s a genuinely challenging day out. The summit is well known, but it’s also significant to the Adnyamathanha people, and I’d encourage walkers to think about that before committing to it. The shorter option to Tanderra Saddle still gives you outstanding views without walking to the summit itself, and it’s worth considering for that reason alone.

Bunyeroo & Wilcolo Creeks Circuit Hike (9.2km) is a gentler loop through the Bunyeroo Valley, with varied terrain and views back toward the peaks around Wilpena Pound. It’s a good pick for families or anyone wanting a shorter introduction to the area before tackling something bigger.

Wangara Lookout Hike (7km) is a moderate walk through Pound Gap into Wilpena Pound, finishing at the Wangara Lookouts. Along the way it passes Hills Homestead and an Adnyamathanha sculpture before you reach the viewing platforms, which I think adds more to the walk than the distance alone suggests.

Day hikes for explorers

Beyond the big multi-day routes, South Australia has a solid run of day hikes for walkers after harder terrain, longer distances and views worth the effort. These span coastal parks, inland ranges and conservation areas, and most suit hikers with decent fitness and basic navigation skills. This list of day hikes is a fair sample of what’s on offer.

Blinman Pools Walk (Flinders Ranges National Park, 12km) starts near Angorichina Village and follows Parachilna and Blinman Creeks through rugged country with sheer cliffs and rocky creek beds. It’s harder going than the distance suggests, and the trail infrastructure is limited, so don’t underestimate it.

Mount Remarkable Summit Hike (Mount Remarkable National Park, 14km) follows a section of the Heysen Trail to the summit. It’s a steady climb rather than a punishing one, with broad views at the top and an alternate approach if you want to vary the route.

Dutchmans Stern Circuit Hike (The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park, 11km) is a rewarding circuit to a prominent bluff above the Willochra Plain, with views across Spencer Gulf and the surrounding ranges. The trail’s generally well maintained, with a few rocky sections to watch your footing on.

Deep Creek Circuit Hike (Deep Creek Conservation Park, 12km) combines hills, forest, open country and creek crossings. I like this one for the wildlife alone, sightings are regular, and being close to the coast adds another layer to the walk.

Rocky River Hike (Flinders Chase National Park, 13km) follows the Rocky River through Snake Lagoon, past spring-fed pools and riverine habitat that support plenty of birdlife, reptiles and mammals. It also happens to be the opening section of the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail, so it’s a good taste of that walk if you’re not ready to commit to the full five days.

Exploring South Australia’s trails

What sold me on South Australia as a hiking state is the sense of place you get from moving between its different landscapes. Coastal tracks open onto headlands and sea cliffs, inland routes cut through dry creek beds and old mountain ranges, and island trails mix bush, wildlife and ocean views into a single walk. None of that comes across on paper. It’s something you notice once you’ve actually done a few of these routes back to back and felt how different they are from each other.

I’d say this is a state that rewards people who give it a proper chance rather than treating it as a stopover on the way to somewhere else. Whether you’ve got a few hours or several days, there’s more here than most people expect.

Find the best hikes and walks in South Australia here.