The best MTB trails in Anstey Hill Recreation Park

River Torrens (Karrawirra Pari) is Adelaide’s central river, flowing about 85 kilometres from the Adelaide Hills through the city centre and west to the sea at Henley Beach. Lined by parks, wetlands, and walking trails through much of metropolitan Adelaide, the river supports birdlife, recreation, and important green spaces while also holding deep cultural significance for the Kaurna people, who know it as Karrawirra Pari, meaning “red gum forest river.” Along its course, the river varies from narrow, tree-lined sections and wetlands to more expansive stretches, including the well-known waters of Torrens Lake in central Adelaide.

River Torrens Linear Park is a long green corridor that follows the River Torrens (Karrawirra Pari) through Adelaide, linking parks, wetlands, picnic areas, and shared-use trails from the Adelaide Hills to the coast at Henley Beach. Established to improve river health and public access, the park combines open lawns, native vegetation, wetlands, playgrounds, and shaded riverbanks that support birdlife and recreation throughout the city. Its mostly flat, continuous pathway makes it popular for walking and cycling, with multiple access points connecting the surrounding suburbs and reserves.

Torrens Linear Parkway is a long, 35-kilometre shared walking and cycling route that follows the River Torrens (Karrawirra Pari) through Adelaide, connecting parklands, wetlands, and riverside reserves from the hills to the coast. This section is an easy walk through Adelaide’s eastern suburbs along the peaceful riverside corridor under river red gums and through pockets of wetland vegetation. Along the way, you’ll pass open parklands and quiet stretches of water before reaching Lochiel Park, an environmentally focused reserve with wetlands, picnic areas, and additional walking loops for plenty of options to extend your walk.

Set along the Torrens Linear Track, this viewpoint looks across the River Torrens toward the Adelaide Convention Centre and surrounding city skyline. The modern footbridge spans the river in the foreground, with clear reflections on calmer days, making it a great spot to pause and take in the scenery.

The University of Adelaide Footbridge was built in 1937, part of the Adelaide City Council's contribution to South Australia's Centenary in 1936. In 1971, there was a prank on Prosh Day in which engineering students suspended a car hanging from the bridge under the cover of night. This prank is still talked about as part of Adelaide University folklore.

Looking out across the river, five origami-like boats sit on the water, part of Shaun Kirby’s Talking Our Way Home installation on the Karrawirra Pari, also known as the River Torrens. Taking a look at the boats, there is writing, which is letters written to loved ones by migrants in the 19th and 20th centuries who immigrated here.

In this area, there are wild bats, and here is a warning sign for them. They are flying foxes and keep an eye up in the trees for them. Never touch them, as they can carry diseases. Keep a distance from the trees they are in, and avoid walking under them.

Along the dammed Torrens River, beautiful green spaces and sports facilities in the middle of the city