The Adelaide Park Lands Trail is a memorable 18km trail that forms a loop around and through Adelaide’s 27 central parks. This route is a fantastic way to explore the city’s green spaces, historic buildings, and iconic landmarks.

Distance: 18 km (full loop), with shorter options available (12.5 km South Adelaide Loop, 9 km North Adelaide Loop)
Difficulty: Easy
Surface: Paved trails

Highlights:

• Diverse park landscapes
• Historic buildings
• City highlights
• Adelaide Botanic Gardens
• Adelaide Zoo
• National Wine Centre

Description:

The Park Lands Trail offers a scenic loop around Adelaide’s park system, providing various options to customize your experience. Choose from the full 18km loop or explore the shorter South Adelaide Loop (12.5km) or North Adelaide Loop (9km). The well-maintained paved trails are clearly signposted and feature regular access to water and restrooms.

Starting Points & Route:

Begin your journey from the Adelaide Aquatic Centre in the north and proceed clockwise. You’ll pass through a series of named and numbered parks, encountering landmarks like the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Adelaide Zoo, and National Wine Centre on the eastern side (Parks 6-16). The southern section skirts Victoria Square, starting with Victoria Park (Park 16) and continuing through Parks 17-21. The western leg (Parks 22-27) offers views of the West Terrace Cemetery and North Adelaide Golf Course.

Add-Ons & Variations:

• The Park Lands Trail conveniently connects to the River Torrens Trail for east-west exploration.
• Take advantage of Adelaide’s bike-sharing program for one-way journeys on the trail.
• Numerous north-south and east-west trails branching off the main loop allow for further exploration.
• Public transportation options include tram lines running through Victoria Square and train lines bordering the western side of the Park Lands.
• Popular running routes within the parklands include the University Loop (Park 10) and the River Torrens Trail.

Note: This trail is shared by walkers, runners, and cyclists. Please be courteous of other users.