I believe this is actually Adelaide's oldest National Park, and it certainly does show it. In fact,…read moreas a kid I thought that this was the fun one because there were lots of things to see and do in the park, ignoring the fact that Cleland has a wildlife reserve. In fact, the old governor's mansion is located here, as well as lots of picnic areas, and a train line running through the middle. Actually, there was a time when you could catch the train through the park, and get off at a couple of stations in the middle, though these have since closed down. Still, it's a pretty cool park, and I would like to go back so as to explore it more.

I'm disappointed with myself that I have lived so close to this gorgeous park and never visited…read more It's shameful really. This place is amazing, definitely a great way to spend a day with the family. We took advantage of one of the many picnic area to enjoy our pre-packed lunch. There is a little kiosk there, or at least there was today as being Father's Day I am sure they were expecting a crowd. We have a baby so we really appreciated the abundance of shade and grassy areas for bubs to get her crawl on. There is an awesome adventure playground which our child is far too young for but would definitely capture the interest of a range of ages of children. There are a MILLION tennis courts! I'm actually not sure why so many are needed but if you are looking for a tennis court you'll find one or 20 here. We strolled through the state flora nursery at did a tour of the old government house. I'm a bit of a history nerd and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I can't wait to return to attempt some of the many walking/cycling trails. This place is awesome.

This park is pretty big, or at least big where national parks located in Adelaide are concerned…read more Well, okay, there are much, much bigger ones than this around Australia, but growing up in Adelaide I would always look at the maps and think 'woah, this is pretty big'. Mind you, it probably isn't the best of parks to walk around, though there are some rather cool hikes, such as the one that takes you to the top of Mount Lofty. However, the thing that is really cool is the wildlife refuge that is located in the middle. Oh, and I should mention the Hills Face Zone - basically the park was initially designed so that the hills would actually be pleasant to look at, as opposed to being full of houses, or quarries (of which, unfortunately, there are some).

In a Nutshell: -If…read moreyou love animals you need to come visit Cleland Conservation/Wildlife Park. -Not only do you get to see a variety of kangaroos, but you also get to walk inside their fenced off areas & feed/pet them. -There are also emu's, which you can feed. -The koala's are really soft & there are designated meeting times, where you can touch them/take photos with. -The park itself is well-maintained & staff knowledgable. -There are other animals such as wombats, Tazmanian Devils, dingoes, various fowl & other tiny marsupials. Overall, I love this park & all the free-roaming kangaroos.

It can be a little confusing, the park that it, because it is actually part of a much larger…read moreconservation park. As such, I would suggest that it is probably the park that is located in the Gully, and it probably ends at the second falls, not that there is any indicated as to where this park ends and Cleland begins. Mind you, this park, or at least the gully, certainly doesn't feel like your typical national park, in that the trees here make it feel much more like England. On the other hand, this place is the best place to start your trek up to the top of Mount Lofty, probably because there is a car park here. On the other hand, there isn't a kiosk, just a fancy restaurant.

Like many others, what struck me about Waterfall Gully is its proximity to the Adelaide CBD. I'd…read morespent years in Adelaide before ever coming here, and I was surprised at how close a natural treasure like this could be situated so close to the hustle and bustle of the city without any overlap. This is one of the reasons I hold Adelaide in such high regard, as you only have to travel ten minutes from the city to find yourself in an oasis such as this. The waterfall is grand and magnificent, and a short walk up to the top will give you a a breathtaking view of the flora (and the carpark) below. However, for the greatest view, one must traverse the walking trail all the way to Mount Lofty. It's no easy feat, and I've experienced my fair share of wanting to turn back. Though it starts off quite pleasant, the climb soon becomes steep and relentless, and simply grounding yourself on the rocky path is a challenge. However, the reward once reaching Mount Lofty is worth it, and you can enjoy a coffee or lunch at the cafe before making your way back down. The scenery on the drive in and out of Waterfall Gully is also picturesque, with age old architecture and rolling hills in the background. I even spotted some deer once on the drive out! Keep your eyes peeled.

There are a few things people like to do around this time of the year, and caravanning is one of…read morethem... There is something so inviting about family chatter and barbeques during a warm twilight and picturesque surroundings. And at Brown Hill Creek Caravan Park it truly is magical beyond belief. Brown Hill Creek is a gorgeous green bushland location, which I am lucky enough to have in my very own backyard. With this said, it is of no surprise to me that Brown Hill Creek also has its very own Caravan Park. I often hike and run through the many trails in the area during my weekly exercise rituals. I love passing the caravan park, and have even visited in the past. I absolutely love nature and all things green, and this area of Brown Hill Creek is inquisitively fresh. I would therefore most definitely recommend the caravan park. Once whilst walking I was approached by Swedish or equivalent tourists staying at the caravan park. They were concerned that there were crocodiles everywhere. Luckily they were only referring to lizards. However there is plenty of wildlife here, and I have even seen koalas. The caravan park itself is a perfect setting for families, and kids will enjoy the luscious green grounds. To add to the appeal, the tennis courts draped with vibrant sheltering trees are perfect for Federer wannabes. Recommended is that you also take the 5-minute hike through intense walking trails to the stunning lookout known at Carrick Hill. It's a rewarding way to see the entire city through a new light. Sun kissed and fresh from tip to toe, I can't ever give anything relating to Brown Hill Creek anything short of 5 stars.

The Botanic Park is great place to hang about or inspect the nature. There is also this white dome…read morething that has tropical trees/ plants and a humid atmosphere. It is a massive place so you can always explore the hidden parts that it has to offer. Once you go there a lot in your life you start to feel bored of it. My Overall opinion is that it is a very great place and I do recommend it. Actually ignore this review, it was for the Botanic Garden. Woops!

One of Adelaide's best green spaces. Great place for a picnic, a spot of cricket, or a kick of the…read morefooty. As it is next to the Botanic Gardens there are toilets and a kiosk close by. There is no formal playground for kids but the Morton Bay Fig trees provide plenty of exploring and climbing opportunities. But get here early on the weekend in summer if you hope to get a car park!

This is a delightful piece of paradise in a beautiful neighborhood. There are many ducks and birds…read moreto enjoy, and my family always likes to take a look. The new playground has a bird theme, but I think it might be a little too advanced for very young children. Kids aged 5 and older can use some parts of it, but certain areas can be quite high and hard to reach. Make sure to stroll along the outer path when you arrive, and get close to the water where the birds are. They waddle over to you, which is an amazing experience.

Thorndon Park Reservoir used to provide the water for the whole area, although is no longer used as…read morea water source these days. The surrounding recreation reserve is really well set out, with a long walk through carefully tended gardens going all round the reservoir set so picturesquely into the hillside. The grounds are huge, with excellent walking trails, and tons of space for family picnics and gatherings. Plenty of bbq's are available to support those gatherings, and there's a kiosk on weekends if you forget your picnic basket. There is a huge playground, all under shade cloth, with a steadily growing collection of equipment for the kids - including the Liberty Swing, a special swing for children in wheelchairs to ride, a nice touch although I'm yet to see it in use. There's a big spiders web on a stick for climbing, a number of swinging things that spin around (one with rather comfy chairs dangling from a frame shaped like two big bat wings - not that I'm a big kid at heart or anything), swings, see saws - there's hours of screaming and running around like a mad thing here, and then the kids can have fun on the playground too. :) There's fish in the water - mostly small minnows of some sort, but bigger fish can be spotted at times if you're feeding the ducks. Lots of trees provide shady areas for the picnic and bbq crowd - there's a few big structures and pavilions, too, if it's wet. BBQ's are electric and plentiful. Thorndon Park is used for a number of gatherings for the local community, including Campbelltown Proud Day, a celebration of all that there is in the local area, a big Christmas celebration starting with a parade and ending in fireworks and carols. This is one of my favourite spots for a stroll - many a time I stopped in on the way home from a hectic day in the office and had a wander right round the lake. Calm, peaceful and serene - a world apart from the kids playground on a busy weekend. Recommended.

This place is missing a 5th star as missing toilets! Another beautiful water world to make you need…read moreto go too. However it has pretty much everything else covered. There are lots of BBQ's, heaps of space, seating, shade, drinking fountains, lots of water area's / lakes with heaps of birds and ducks around so bring along some bread to feed them. There's walking or riding paths all the way around and through this reserve and it is really quite large. There's a reasonable playground area, fully fenced as well with more seating and shade over the Kew Drive side of the park. There is also a small block of shops right at the edge of the reserve. Nice place to spend a day and get a pizza or something from here if you don't want to bring a BBQ. Some awkward streets to get through but you can easily find parking around the park at various spots.

The reserve is great for a walk around, lots of wildlife and shade around the ponds. Not the best…read moreplayground in summer due to the metal slide which was extremely hot at midday on a day that was fairly mild

There are two things about Rymill Park that I particularly love. Firstly there's the kiosk where…read moreyou can get the best fruit toast anywhere in Adelaide and if you're lucky, Arnie the long time kiosk owner will make it for you. Secondly there's the statue of Alice in Wonderland designed by the amazing John Dowie. The statue may seem out of place to some in this inner city parkland but there is something a little magical about Rymill Park. As you get close to the lake and take in the bridge and the landing and the wonderfully relaxing surrounding. In so many ways I think a statue of Alice is entirely appropriate. If you have kids, taking them to Rymill Park to feed the ducks is always a great thing to do. Even if you don't have kids, grab your stale bread and head on down. Hire yourself a row boat and do your feeding from the middle of the lake. As many have eluded to there are problems with the water in the lake but I like to think of this as just another part of the changing face of a city park. Sometimes the lake looks stunning and other other times it looks like hell. The good news is the Adelaide City Council has just completed a refurbishment of the lake and the leaking problems have been fixed - they say things should be good for about the next 15 years so I'm not going to worry about it this week at least.

Unlike it's cousin across Rundle Street, this place is a great place to go at anytime of the year…read more(unless it's raining, then it probably isn't all that crash hot because, well, there isn't really any shelter, unless of course you count the trees, but I've never found trees to be all that wonderful in sheltering me from rain). During the Fringe a small section of the park (this one is actually pretty bit) is sectioned off for the overflow from the Garden of Unearthly Delights (and for those people who really can't be bothered waiting around for the crowds to disperse). However at other times it is a great picnic spot, and even has a little lake with rowboats and a kiosk. Oh, it you explore the place enough you will even find a statue of Alice from the Wonderland fame.