Sundews River Circuit is a 5.8km, grade 4 hike located in Onkaparinga River National Park, South Australia. The hike should take around 3 hours to complete.
Hike overview
A 5.8km return loop, 2-4 hours return.
This trail descends from the Sundews Lookout along a contoured walking trail to the bottom of the gorge, and then follows the river downstream for 1.6km before returning via a steep fire track to the ridge and the car park.
The walk takes in two perennial waterholes, and a lookout. There are numerous glimpses into the river gorge from various parts of the trail.
The 1.6km of trail along the river is not well-formed, and involves some short rock scrambling. Current water levels and recent rainfall can impact on how hard this river section of trail is to follow. The trail is easiest to navigate when walking clockwise, as the fire trail exit is easily spotted, whereas when walking anticlockwise the walking trail exit may be harder to find.
Begins from the carpark at Gate 11 on Piggott Range Road (near junction of Upper Penneys Hill Road).
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: 210 m
Min elevation: 110 m
Total climbing: 7 m
Total descent: -80 m
For more information on this hiking trail, please visit Walking SA
Trail location
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About the region
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.
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Explore Safe
While planning your hike, it’s important to check official government sources for updated information, temporary closures and trail access requirements. Before hitting the trail, check local weather and bushfire advice for planned burns and bushfire warnings and let someone know before you go. Plan ahead and hike safely.
Let someone know
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Gear to consider
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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.