Tatendi Circuit - Onkaparinga Gorge (3 Options) (6km), Onkaparinga River National Park, South Australia

Tatendi Circuit - Onkaparinga Gorge (3 Options) is a 6km, grade 4 hike located in the Onkaparinga River National Park, South Australia. The hike should take around 3 hrs to complete.

Length: 6km

Duration: 3 hrs

Grade: 4

Style: Circuit

Start: 191 Chaffeys Rd

End: 191 Chaffeys Rd

Location: Onkaparinga River National Park

Closest town: McLaren Vale

South Australia

From state capital: 41.2km

Longitude: 138.5522051

Latitude: -35.17012809

Hike summary

A difficult but rewarding hike, descending steeply into Onkaparinga Gorge. The Onkaparinga River is lined with reed and old gum trees, and has many permanent large water holes. Moderate and easy hike choices are also detailed on the map.

The official maps online and trailhead signs differ a bit in their route choices and trail lengths, and the walk options are quite different in terms of difficulty. We've outlined the 3 best route options below:

First, some good photos of the hikes. Underneath the directions below there are photos more specific to the Difficult walking route.

The numbers relate to the numbers on the map.

Below are photos mostly pertaining to the Difficult walking route.

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

Total distance: 6411 m
Max elevation: 168 m
Min elevation: 26 m
Total climbing: 140 m
Total descent: -393 m

Download file: Tatendi-Hike-Onkaparinga-Gorge.gpx

For more information on this hiking trail, please visit Walking SA

Gear you might need

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Location

Getting there

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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.

Gallery

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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.

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