Ambers Gully & Sugarloaves Trail is a 5.3 km, grade 3 hike in Black Hill Conservation Park, South Australia, and takes about 2 hours to complete. This short circuit hike begins at the car park on Gorge Road and runs through Ambers Gully, paralleling a section of the Yurrebilla Trail. It continues onto the Sugarloaves Track, ascending to the top of the hill and the fire track. The circuit then turns onto Sugarloaf Track and descends back to the trailhead. Along the way, there are good opportunities to spot koalas in Ambers Gully and enjoy views over the Adelaide Plains.
Grade 3 (Moderate) - Walks for Most Fitness Levels: Grade 3 on the
AWTGS represents moderate walking tracks. These are ideal for walkers with some fitness who are comfortable with some hills and uneven terrain. While suitable for most ages, some bushwalking experience is recommended to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Tracks may have short, steep hill sections, a rough surface, and many steps. The total distance of a Grade 3 walk can be up to 20 kilometers.
Total distance: 5346 m
Max elevation: 411 m
Min elevation: 118 m
Total climbing: 357 m
Total descent: -357 m
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Getting there
Getting to the trailhead: Black Hill Conservation Park.
Ambers Gully & Sugarloaves Trail is easily accessed via Adelaide Metro bus, on route 178 to bus stop 36 Quondong Avenue, Athelstone.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
Accommodation nearby
Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.
Nearby towns: Adelaide, Campbelltown, Dernancourt, Glynde, Golden Grove, Gumeracha, Houghton, Kensington Gardens, Newton, Norton Summit, Paradise, Tea Tree Gully
About the region
Black Hill Conservation Park, formerly known as Black Hill National Park, is a protected area in South Australia, located approximately 10 kilometres northeast of Adelaide. This conservation park is set in a rugged bush environment with a prominent peak, bounded by steep ridges on the southern slopes.
Visitors can enjoy the undulating hills, rugged ridges, and diverse native scenery along the park's extensive network of walking trails. In spring, the park showcases a stunning array of native flowers, including many delicate and colorful orchid species. A must-see feature is the landscaped Wildflower Garden, which dates back to the late 1940s.
Covering an area of 684 hectares, Black Hill Conservation Park is named after the low sheoaks, whose foliage gradually matures to a dark rusty, almost black color as summer progresses. From the Adelaide Plains, these hills appear black, giving the park its distinctive name.
While Black Hill can be visited year-round, it is best appreciated from March to November. The summer months from December to February can be very hot, so walkers should be prepared for high temperatures.
The area is part of the traditional lands of the Kaurna people, who used it for hunting, gathering, and obtaining wood for fire and shelter during their seasonal relocation from the coast. Fire was one of their most important tools, particularly in fire management practices that encouraged vegetation regrowth. The seasonal use of Black Hill allowed game populations to recover, maintaining a relatively steady food supply.
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