Wirraparinga Trail Circuit is a 5.4km, grade 3 hike located in Brownhill Creek Recreation Park, South Australia. The hike should take around 2.5 hours to complete.
Hike overview
The Wirraparinga Trail Loop meanders along the Brownhill Creek valley, through Brownhill Creek Recreation Park. A narrow creek flows through the steep-sided valley, with majestic river red gums, some more than 300 years old.
The Wirraparinga Trail traverses the southern side of the valley, and the Shared Use Trail the northern side along the creek. It's easily possible to combine the two trails in to a loop, starting at the caravan park and turning around at the Manure Pits.
Sites of interest on the hike include the Monarch of the Glen, a 400 year old river red gum. Its hollow trunk once sheltered Kaurna Aboriginal people and colonists until as late as the 1950s. Several settlers even gave birth inside the tree.
You can also walk your dog in this park providing it remains under your control on a lead.
Brownhill Creek was once a favourite camping, hunting and gathering ground for the Kaurna (Gar-na) Aboriginal people, who called it Wirraparinga (scrub and camping place). As many as 150 people inhabited the area at one time.
In the 1840s agriculture, market gardening and quarrying were established in the valley. Concrete pits were used to store horse manure for the market gardens and to prevent pollution of the creek, while stone quarries provided sandstone and slate for buildings.
In 1915 the area was declared a National Pleasure Resort, becoming the Brownhill Creek Recreation Park in 1972.
You can access this hike by Adelaide Metro bus via Bus Stop 17/B Albert Street, Mitcham.
Route and GPX file
Max elevation: 0 m
Min elevation: 0 m
Total climbing: 0 m
Total descent: 0 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.
Getting there
You can access this hike by Adelaide Metro bus via Bus Stop 17/B Albert Street, Mitcham.
GPX file courtesy of Walking SA. File may not contain elevation data and may only represent half the length on return hikes.
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
Brownhill Creek Recreation Park is a popular and picturesque recreation park in suburban Adelaide where you can enjoy bushwalking, bike riding, horse riding or a picnic. The park's narrow creek flows through a steep sided valley with majestic river red gums, (some more than 300 years old). This area was once a favourite camping, hunting and gathering ground for the Kaurna Aboriginal People. Large river red gums line Brownhill Creek while blue gum woodland climbs the valley slopes. The park also supports a small, threatened, ecosystem of greybox grassy woodland. Today, this 51 hectare park offers an escape from the city and includes a horse trail and fenced horse exercise area.
Similar trails nearby
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
Adventure with peace of mind: Fill out your trip intentions form. Before you hit the trail, fill out an online form to privately send important details about your hike to your family or friends. If you don’t return on time, they can easily alert emergency services, preventing worry and ensuring a swift response. Hike with peace of mind and enjoy your outdoor adventure to the fullest. Be smart, be safe: Register your plans here.
Gear to consider
My free 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. Customise your kit according to your personal needs, always considering safety first.Â
Suggest an edit
Does this hikes information need updating? Sometimes the route, trail features or access conditions change.
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.