The best city hikes and walks in Morialta Conservation Park

Lochiel Park has everything from walking paths, basketball courts, open fields, small ponds, wetlands, and even the historic Lochend House. The park also connects with the Torrens Linear Parkway, which runs all the way from the Adelaide Hills to the coast.

This nearly 35-kilometre shared-use path is one of Adelaide's premier trails. Starting in the Adelaide Hills the parkway follows the River Torrens through the city all the way to Henley and West Beach.

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.

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.

Victoria Park, also known by its Kaurna name Pakapakanthi (Park 16), forms part of Adelaide’s Park Lands just east of the city centre. The park combines open grasslands, restored wetlands and areas of woodland, with walking and cycling paths running throughout. It offers wide views toward the Adelaide skyline while retaining pockets of natural habitat.

The Pakapakanthi Wetlands demonstrates how urban parks can support both nature and community needs. Designed as part of the Brown Hill Keswick Creek Stormwater Project, the wetland helps manage floodwater while improving stormwater quality before it moves downstream. Beyond flood protection, it creates habitat for birds and aquatic life and adds biodiversity to the parklands. The area also enhances the recreational and visual appeal of Victoria Park, showing how integrated urban water management can balance environmental health with city infrastructure.