It can be a little confusing, the park that it, because it is actually part of a much larger conservation 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. read more

See all

Like many others, what struck me about Waterfall Gully is its proximity to the Adelaide CBD. I'd spent 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. read more

See all

Knowing the tranquillity of these waterfalls is just a short drive away is amazing. This place as absolutely beautiful at all times of the year, and it is a great place to get some excersize. Take a picnic and hike your way up the hill and relax, or for more adventurous people, there are many walking trails. It's lovely to sit and watch the waterfalls, the constant falling water which never stops, is an awesome force of nature. read more

Waterfall Gully - Some rainfall down the side of the hill in the garden. - Local Flavor Near Me - Waterfall Gully, SA

See all

Adelaide is pretty lucky to have 2 waterfalls just 15 minutes drive and then a further 5 minute walk from the city. Arguably, these waterfalls are a bit small fry when you compare them to the likes of Victoria Falls and even Edith Falls in the NT but for Adelaide these are perfectly adequate for standing under and pretending you're in a shaving commercial. There seems to be a bit of miscommunication between Waterfall Gully and the Mt Lofty climb. So be sure to clarify with your Adelaide friend when they ask whether you want to climb Waterfall Gully that all they mean is the 10 minute uphill walk to the Second Falls (not the hike from hell up Mt Lofty). Open until 9pm in summer and 5pm in winter it is a great spot for a picnic or a coffee at the local cafe, Utopia. But note that you can literally get the walk up and back from First Falls to Second Falls in 30 minutes up and back so don't bother packing the scroggin' or putting on those hiking boots. read more

For those who get a high off nature like myself, Waterfall Gully is a tranquil setting among a true reflection of Australian bush land. When it comes to walking trails here in Adelaide I think I have them all covered, and Waterfall Gully is undoubtedly the mother of them all. Not to mention it is only a short distance (maybe only ten minutes) away from the Adelaide CBD. Absolutely Crazy. There are a few options that are faced upon arrival at Waterfall Gully, however two in particular will ultimately spur your interest. The first is leisurely enjoying the waterfalls before sitting back with a coffee or a (pricey) meal at the restaurant Utopia. If you choose this option you will sit whilst admiring the stunning views from First Falls. The second option is a 3km trek to Mt Lofty summit. This option takes you through nature at its finest, and gives you some pretty good calf muscles too. If you do not like bugs nor enjoy seeing snakes, maybe its best to turn a blind eye when hiking up the trail. Especially in the summertime.... read more

See all

As Penny mentioned, Waterfall Gully is only a short distance from the CBD, by car!!!! Contrary to the info on the official website and trail map, it's not easily accessible by public transit. Tack on 4km each way if you still want to attempt accessing the Gully by bus. I did. Car-less? You're much better served going to Morialta Falls, where the H30 bus drops you off a hop skip and a jump from the trailhead. The scenery there is as good or better, but it doesn't have the climax of the Mount Lofty summit. Completing the 3.5km (each way) trail to the summit of the Mount Lofty Ranges (elevation gain 500m) is a nice achievement and the views are a nice reward. You and I aren't the only people to think that! This trail is the definition of a beaten path... Expect to take between 45min - 1.5hour up depending if you're a rabbit or a turtle. And expect a grind, it's particularly steep near the start and near the top. Take a water bottle (you can refill at the top) and some snacks. Popular with runners who sometimes like to play chicken with the setting sun. read more

The walk from here to Mt Lofty is, well, kinda hard if you're not perfectly fit. It's doable (I mean, I've done it, just), but it's going to wear you out. The first time I came here, it was expressly for the walk up Mt Lofty, but these days, I often come here just for a walk around in a nice place. It really is beautiful. There are parts of it that remind me of Cateract Gorge in Launceston. Maybe it's just having something so beautiful so close to town. read more

Waterfall Gully and the walk associated with it, is one of the nicest locations/walks in Adelaide. The scenery is stunning, the uphill walk can be a good test to develop fitness and the views are breathtaking. There are several small waterfalls across the area and there is a cafe at the base of the walk. Walking to Mount Lofty takes a good 90 mins to 120 mins however can be a very rewarding experience. It is not too far from Adelaide to, meaning you can (like I have done before) get a group together and head there for an afternoon. I am yet to experience the views at sunset, however I imagine they would be beautiful. It is quite peaceful on the walk and you get to encounter some wildlife too, which is pretty cool. According to a calorie tracking pedometer, I burnt 901 calories (kilocalories if you want to be scientifically accurate) (which is around 3700 kilojoules) from the walk. If you are looking for a challenge or just to embrace nature and maybe get a nice view, Waterfall Gully is the place to go. read more

Love it here! The waterfall flows the most in Autumn and Winter and is of a decent size. I wish I could swim in the water, that would definitely be the cherry on top of the metaphorical cake! There's a path at the bottom of the waterfall that leads to various hiking routes including the popular Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty Summit Hike. If you don't wish to go on a hike you can walk up some steps and stand at the top of the waterfall which provides a really nice view of both the water and it's surroundings. There's a café located really close to the waterfall that people can purchase food from and watch the waterfall. There's also a carpark that people can par their cars and a public toilet people can use if they wish. The only downfall is that public transport doesn't go to waterfall gully and the closest stop is 30 minutes away. It would be so awesome if their could be a bus that could head to waterful gully once a week so then people like me that don't have a car yet can go on hikes every weekend. If you love photography then you'll love waterfall gully as you'll be in photo opportunity heaven! If you want a wicked photo I suggest you hike up to mount lofty and take a photo of the sunsetting! If you want to hike one of the various paths then be mindful that their could be snakes so where pants perhaps or steel cap boots. By the way, I have seen photo's of wildlife found in the tree's along the hiking paths of mount lofty. The carpark is not undercover and there's no admission / parking fee. All in all, a great, peaceful and well kept place that is worth seeing. read more

I'm a huge fan of nature, and yep Waterfall Gully's as good as it gets round these parts. Whenever I come here (only about once a year) with a friend/workout buddy, we always do the trek up the path to the summit. And of course back down after a well-earned coffee and cake. I feel oh so proud of myself for even making it to the top (and you will too), until the supreme athlete types run (yep RUN!) past you on your way. And then those same fitness freaks lap you running back past you on their way down (meanwhile you're still on the upward path). Also, this is not for the faint-hearted or extremely unfit, even with many seat stops along the trek. I made the almost fatal error of taking an overweight colleague here once. Between the mild asthma attacks, fears and belief that a heart attack was imminent, followed by cries for me to call to have her airlifted out, f#@* it was bad! It's funny in hindsight, but we were both freaking out at the time and lucky to make it back by nightfall. In a nutshell - get some nature into ya! read more

Took our international visitors form the Netherlands to Waterfall Gully, at first glance it was nice. 3 of us waited at the bottom while the others decided to climb to Mt Lofty, was there a place for us to wait and have a coffee NO! With so many people around the cafe was not open, and a lot of people were there as we started the wait for the return of our friends, many people commenting on the lack of refreshments, and car parking. On closer inspection of our surrounding we started to notice a lot of weeds and large growth along with rubbish. I also need to express my horror at the toilets that were dirty and the smell was awful. We decided to give up our car park and drive back to the bottom where we had noticed a cafe on a corner. The service was amazing we ordered a coffee and a sausage roll each, a plate came out with a lovely salad on it with a crispy sausage roll, and the coffee was good. The cost was very reasonable. We then waited and returned to pick up our friends. I as a resident of Adelaide was rather embarrassed. read more