Mark Oliphant Conservation Circuit is a 4km, grade 1 hike located in the Mark Oliphant Conservation Park, South Australia. The hike should take around 1.5 hrs to complete.
Hike overview
The Mark Oliphant Conservation Park is a park with stringybark forest and numerous walking trails. The park entrance appears rundown, but don't be deceived - this is a gem of a park for walkers. Trails are marked, and firetracks named with street signs. There is no trail information at the carpark. The oval has a modern shelter, but there are no other park facilities.
4km, 2 hours
This hike route combines three smaller loops into a larger hike:
Walking clockwise:
Stringybark dominate the forest canopy, and there is a small stand of candlebark gums near the Loftia oval. This tall eucalypt with white bark is rare and only found in the higher rainfall areas of the Adelaide Hills. Tiny patches of pink gum, manna gum and blue gum also occur in the park. In the forest understorey there are many spring-flowering shrubs, including myrtle-leaved wattle, beaked hakea and large-leaved bush-pea.
There is a variety of wildlife located in the park, including the rare southern brown bandicoot and yellow-footed antechinus, along with several lizard, snake and frog species. Numerous bird species are also found in the park including the superb fairy-wren, scarlet robin, golden whistler, Adelaide rosella and honeyeater species.
The park was renamed in 1996 in honour of former state Governor Sir Mark Oliphant's contribution to conservation (the park was formerly called Loftia Recreation Park).
GPX file courtesy of Walking SA. File may not contain elevation data and may only represent half the length on return hikes.
Route and GPX file
Max elevation: 477 m
Min elevation: 378 m
Total climbing: 408 m
Total descent: -303 m
For more information on this hiking trail, please visit Walking SA
Trail location
Sorry, no records were found. Please adjust your search criteria and try again.
Sorry, unable to load the Maps API.
Gallery
If you have any photos from this hike and are happy to share them, please upload your .jpg files here.
Please note: Uploading photos does not transfer ownership of copyright away from you. If requested, you will be credited for any photos you provide and can ask they be deleted at any time.
About the region
Renamed in honour of former state Governor Sir Mark Oliphant's contribution to conservation, Mark Oliphant Conservation Park provides plenty of bushwalking opportunities to enjoy the forest landscape. Look out for the native birds that are commonly seen in the area, including the scarlet robin, golden whistler and the Adelaide rosellas. The park is also an important habitat for the nationally endangered southern brown bandicoot.
Suggest an edit
Does this hikes information need updating? Sometimes the route, trail features or access conditions change.
Gear to consider

My planning, food and packing checklists provide an introduction to things your could consider (as well as the Ten Essentials) on your day, overnight and multi-day adventures. Everyone, and every hike, is different, so customise your outdoor kit according to your personal needs, always considering safety first.Â
The HiiKER app helps you to find 1,000’s of the best bushwalking and hiking adventures, with reviews, photos, and great places to stay. I’m excited to have partnered with HiiKER to offer members of Trail hiking Australia Community an exclusive deal to help you get outdoors with extra confidence with premium mapping, planning and tracking features. Claim your offer here.
Let someone know
Let someone know where you’re going and when you plan to return. Fill in an online trip intentions form to privately send important details about your adventure to your emergency contact. They can then inform emergency services if you don’t return on time.
Acknowledgement of Country
Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.