Belair National Park is a national park in Adelaide, 13 kilometres southeast of the city. It is South Australia's first national park, established in 1891 also making it Australia's second national park (after Sydney's Royal National Park), and the tenth in the world. Today, it doubles up as a national park and a state heritage area.

Understand

History

The Aboriginal people of the Kaurna tribe, whose settlement area stretched from Crystal Brook in the north to Cape Jervis in the south and inland to the Mount Lofty Ranges, originally dwelt in the area of what is now the national park. In 1837 the first Europeans crossed the area, and settled the area from 1840.

Flora and fauna

In the western part of the park, forest communities with the tree species grey box, white gum gum and red gum and as an understory of numerous grass species dominate. The spread of golden wattle and kangaroo thorn increased by repeated burning of vegetation. Overall, nature has suffered more in this area due to previous destruction. In the eastern area of the park there are open woodlands.

The national park provides a habitat for 15 species of native mammals, such as the pink-beaked echidna, ring-tailed bandicoot, brushtail possum, yellow-footed marsupial and the bandicoot. Red and grey kangaroos and koalas are also found.

About 130 bird species have been recorded in the national park so far, but many of them only pass through. Examples of regularly occurring species include white-faced Heron, Australian Wood Kestrel, Papuan Moorhen, Musk Lorikeet and Song Conure. In addition, six amphibian and 19 reptile species have been identified.

Visitor information centre

• 1 Belair National Park Information Office, Queens Jubilee Dr, Belair, ☏ +61 8 8278 5477. M-F 8:30AM–4:30PM, Sa Su 9AM–4:30PM. Just the park's visitor centre. Inquire here for information about walks and parking fees. (updated Dec 2021)

Get in

The Belair Line from the CBD

From Adelaide City head down south onto Unley Road. Follow that road and onto B29 until Lafers Road, where you'll then need to turn left. Once you've turned left, continue straight and then turn right and left until you're at the park.

There are frequent trains between Adelaide city and Belair Railway Station at the North-Western corner of the park. The full journey takes about 40min. Trains operate from early morning to late at night everyday including public holidays. Bikes can be taken on the train (for free on weekends and Monday to Friday between 9:01AM to 3PM and after 6PM).

Fees and permits

During the warmer months when the state follows DST, the park opens at 8AM and closes at 9PM and is closed on Christmas Day while during the colder months during standard time, the park opens at 8AM and closes at 7PM.

If you choose to enter via foot or via a bike, there are no fees. If you enter via car, there's a $12.50 fee, and $10 for concession holders. Fees can either be made at the information centre, or at the SA Parks website.

Get around

• 2 The Goat Shed. We-Fr 09:00-13:00, Sa-Su 09:00-16:00. Escapegoat Adventures offers bicycle hire from The Goat Shed located in the park. (updated Dec 2022)

See

The Old Government House, an important place in the park

• 1 Old Government House, Queens Jubilee Dr, Belair, ☏ +61 8 8178 0688, friendsofogh@outlook.com. First and third Sundays of every month except Christmas and Good Friday; 1–4PM. South Australia’s first official vice-regal summer residence and was used by the three governors of Richard Graves MacDonnell (1855–62), Dominick Daly (1862-68) and William Jervois (1877–80). gold coin donation. (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Lower Waterfall Lookout, Workanda Track. Lookout overlooking the lower waterfall at Workanda Creek. (updated Dec 2021)
• 3 Upper Waterfall Lookout, Yulti Wirra Track. Lookout overlooking the lower waterfall at Workanda Creek. (updated Dec 2021)

Do

There are numerous walking trails in the park. Each with different difficulty levels.

• Wood Duck Dawdle – A short and easy circuit around Playford Lake.
• Lorikeet Loop Walk – A 3-kilometre circuit walk from the main car park to the Adventure Playground.
• Valley Loop Walk – A 3 km (1.9 mi) circuit walk to Long Gully.
• Microcarpa Walk – A 4 km (2.5 mi) circuit departing from near Playford Lake.
• Waterfall Hike – the national park's most scenic walk. A 6.5 km (4.0 mi) circuit that visits the park's waterfalls and travels to the higher areas away from the recreation areas.
• Yurrebilla Trail – The first 5 km (3.1 mi) of the Yurrebilla Trail is in the national park. It begins at the Belair railway station and continues toward the Lower Waterfall before departing the park at the Sheoak Road boundary.

Eat and drink

• 1 Ice Cream King Trailer, The Valley Dr, Belair. What's better than to have an icecream after going out for one of the park's long or scenic hikes. (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Belair Kiosk, The Valley Dr, Belair. 10:30AM–3:30PM (weekends, public holidays and school holidays only). The primary kiosk in the park, having the needs of what you can expect to find in most ordinary park kiosks. (updated Dec 2021)

Sleep

• 1 Belair Caravan Park (Belair National Park Holiday Park), 101 Upper Sturt Rd, Belair, ☏ +61 8 8278 3540. Caravan park, and the only accommodation in the park. (updated Dec 2021)