The best walking trails in Mount Barker
Walking is a great way to improve your overall health, and the best thing about walking is it doesn’t require any special skills or equipment (besides a good supportive pair of shoes) to get started. Even better, you can control the level of difficulty by choosing where you walk and how fast you go! Walking regularly can improve your cardiovascular fitness, increase your muscular strength and endurance, and even have a beneficial impact on your mental health - especially when you take a walk through nature. For safety, make sure you see your doctor for a medical check-up before you start on a new fitness plan, even if it’s as low impact as walking, and don’t forget your sunscreen, hat, comfortable clothing, and water. With that said, here are some of the best walking trails in (and around) Mount Barker!
Laratinga Wetlands
Laratinga Wetlands is a great natural trail to walk or bike through located just off Bald Hills Rd. It’s an easy, low impact walk with leashed pets welcome; there are hiding spots to birdwatch (along with information plaques about what birds to look for in each area), plus spots to picnic and barbeque, and public toilets available. With trails ringing small and large bodies of water up to 2.6km in length filled with information about the flora and fauna in the area, plus cultural information and stunning art pieces from the Peramangk people – the traditional custodians of the Mount Barker area - it’s an excellent place to spend an hour or so to exercise and learn more about Mount Barker and its history. You can sometimes find a nice little coffee cart setup at the entrance/carpark on the weekends, too!
On Wednesdays from 9:30am, you can find the Adelaide Hills Greyhounds | Facebook group going for a meander through the wetlands with their pups, and you can meet (and pet!) the dogs. If you own or foster a greyhound it would be a fun way to socialise, and if you’re thinking of adopting a greyhound the members are a fountain of information. Thanks to Carol G. for the tip!
Laratinga Wetlands. Taken by me!
Public Parks in Barker
Keith Stephenson Park is a large park in the heart of Mount Barker with paved walkways under native trees, a skate park, and a playground plus plenty of space for a picnic. It is also home to events periodically throughout the year which are generally advertised on the roadside. It’s situated on Adelaide Rd and connects via underpass to a walking trail that goes directly through the middle of Mount Barker, and it’s not a far walk to the shops or the cinemas!
Just across the road from Keith Stephenson Park are the Mount Barker Showgrounds, running along Wellington Rd. The showgrounds include a full-sized AFL oval with plenty of space to run around (if that’s what you’re into) plus some cricket cages one one end and combination basketball/futsal court with goals on the other, though you’ll need to bring your own equipment to play games with. The courts and cages are also public use, so it’s first come, first served!
If you’ve got a furry friend in need of some exercise and socialising too, Mount Barker Dog Park, also known as Barka Park, is located just off Zanker Dr by car and Bluestone Dr by foot. Part of the new Bluestone Estate, this enclosed doggy exercise area has shelters, doggy bag dispensers, doggy drinking fountains, and more equipment for pups and people alike to explore. For a feel-good introductory video to Barka Park, follow this link: Mount Barker's new dog park
For more parks in and around the Mount Barker area, this is a helpful link that will also let you know which amenities each park has: Park Finder | Mount Barker District Council
Tara-Illa
Located in Hahndorf around a 15 minute drive out of Mount Barker, Tara-Illa (from the Peramangk words for “high place”) is a new set of mountain biking and shared use trails designed by the team at Destination Trails. If you park at the Blueberry Hills Lookout, the park is just a short walk (or bike) away. The nature walks are a sight to see, and the bike trails have something for everyone. Well worth a look, and Hahndorf has some great restaurants and tourist attractions to check out when you’re done! Thanks to Debbie M. for the tip!
Mount Lofty
If you’re looking for more of a challenge, located outside of Mount Barker about 20 minutes down the highway towards Adelaide, Mount Lofty is also an excellent advanced walking trail, but it’s not for the faint of heart as in some spots it can be very steep! Soaring to a peak of just over 700m above sea level, at the summit you’ll find an incredible lookout along with a gift shop and amenities, and at the base you’ll find the restaurant Utopia, an 18m waterfall, and a carpark with public toilets and picnic facilities. The path from base to summit can get very steep at times and weaves through some bushland, so best to wear some sturdy shoes, appropriate clothing and bring a travel first aid kit, just in case. Finally, while the walk itself doesn’t cost anything, parking at the summit does – and parking at the base fills up fast! For more information on opening times and how to get to Mount Lofty, follow this link: Mount Lofty - National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia
Aston Hills Trail Park
Located in the new development area of Aston Hills, you’ll need a bike for this one! With multiple trails ranging in difficulty from beginner to immediate, this downhill ride has something for everyone, from kids to adults – except maybe competitive racers. Good to spend at least a few tries on each run and see if you can beat your best time, then have a relaxing picnic in the park! Have a look at Adventure Trail Park Now Open! | Aston Hills for more information.
Hills Sculpture Trail
The Hills Sculpture Trail doesn’t only take place in Barker, so it’s a great way to see the surrounding areas of the Adelaide Hills. You’ll likely need a car for this one, though you can also do just the sculptures in Mount Barker on foot – but it’s a bit of walking! The Sculptures are all by award winning artists and if you’ve lived in the area for at least a little while you’ll likely have seen a few in passing. For more information and a map of statue locations plus a brochure full of all the little details, visit: Hills Sculpture Trail