O'Halloran Hill Recreation Park

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Closures and safety

This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may also be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.

You can determine the current fire danger rating by checking the Fire Ban District map on the CFS website.

Check the CFS website or call the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline 1800 362 361 for:

• Information on fire bans and current fire conditions
• Current CFS warnings and incidents
• Information on what to do in the event of a fire.

Listen to your local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety.

Visitor information, bookings and park management:

Black Hill Natural Resources Centre
Phone: (+61 8) 8336 0901
Email: DEW.AMLRBlackHillOffice@sa.gov.au 

Emergency contacts:

Medical, fire (including bushfire) and police emergency situations
Phone: Triple Zero (000)

Police Assistance
Phone: 131 444 for non-urgent police assistance

National Parks and Wildlife Service SA – After-hours duty officer
Phone: 0427 556 676 

Injured wildlife:

Within the park
Please contact Black Hill Natural Resource Centre on (08) 8336 0901 or the after-hours duty officer on 0427 556 676 (outside of business hours)

Outside of the park
Please contact a local wildlife rescue group

O'Halloran Hill Recreation Park is located 16km south of Adelaide. Access is via Majors Road at Seaview Downs.

Pedestrian access points are situated along Davenport Street, Ridgefield Avenue, Greenfield Road and Fowler Street.

The park is also accessible via the bicycle veloway on either side of the Southern Expressway. 

• Park maps

Assistance dogs are permitted in most public places and are therefore welcome in South Australia’s parks and reserves. Assistance dogs must be appropriately restrained on a lead and remain under your effective control at all times while in a park or reserve.

As per the dogs in parks and reserves policy, if the dog is not an accredited assistance dog, they must be trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate that disability and meet standards of hygiene and behaviour appropriate for a dog in a public place. However, refusal may be given if the person with the disability is unable to produce evidence the dog is an assistance dog with the appropriate training.

Before taking your assistance dog into a park that does not normally allow dogs, it is highly recommended that you contact us so we can provide you with the latest information on any potential hazards within specific parks that may affect your dog. Please contact the park via the contact details provided under the contact tab or contact the visitor service centre via email or on Facebook, or you can live chat with a customer service representative on the website Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Dogs are welcome in this park.

Please ensure you:

• Keep your dog under control and on a lead no more than two metres in length.
• Stick to designated walking trails.
• Bring disposable bags to clean up your dog’s faeces (please be aware there are no bins in national parks).

Discover other parks you can walk your dog in on our find a park tool or read 12 dog-friendly walks in Adelaide Parks by Good Living for inspiration.

There are no facilities in the park. Please ensure you carry sufficient water, food and supplies for your entire visit. It is also a good idea to let a responsible person know of your intended movements and when you expect to return.

• Explore what other nature and outdoor activities are available in this area on the South Australia Tourism website.  

• Mobile phone coverage is good in most areas of the park.

• Parks management plans
• Trails SA
• SA Marine Parks

• Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Dead wood plays a vital role in providing shelter for animals and adding nutrients to the soil.

Plants

Nearly the entire vegetation of the park has been cleared in the past and very little natural vegetation remains.

Important stands of Grey Box eucalypts are found throughout the park and include vegetation communities which are poorly represented throughout the Adelaide hills.

Other species include:

• Golden Wattle
• Bull Oak
• Melaleuca species
• Grevillea and Hakea
• River red gum.

Various organisations and volunteers have undertaken tree planting, enabling the area to develop into an important and attractive urban bushland resource. 

Animals

As the revegetation of the park continues and matures, more species of woodland and grassland birds are being recorded. Many species of reptiles thrive in the open grasslands of O'Halloran Hill Recreation Park. There is a small population of western grey kangaroos that call O'Halloran Hill home. There is also the occasional koala passing through the area. 

Flora and fauna species lists

To download flora (plants) and fauna (animals) species lists for this park, use the 'Create Simple Species List' tab under 'Flora Tools' or 'Fauna Tools'  in NatureMaps. 

Aboriginal peoples have occupied, enjoyed and managed the lands and waters of this State for thousands of generations. For Aboriginal first nations, creation ancestors laid down the laws of the Country and bestowed a range of customary rights and obligations to the many Aboriginal Nations across our state. 

There are many places across the State that have great spiritual significance to Aboriginal first nations.  At some of these places Aboriginal cultural protocols, such as restricted access, are promoted and visitors are asked to respect the wishes of Traditional Owners.

In places where protocols are not promoted visitors are asked to show respect by not touching or removing anything, and make sure you take all your rubbish with you when you leave.

Aboriginal peoples continue to play an active role in caring for their Country, including in parks across South Australia. 

• DEW Park management
• DEW Aboriginal partnerships

The park is located just south of the Eden fault line. Underlying rock formations are from the Precambrian Umberatana Group.

A bluestone quarry near South Road is still visible and was used for many of the old structures in the city of Adelaide. Both north-west and north-east sections of the park are characterised by deeply divided gullies with steep side slopes.

Nearly 90% of the land was cleared in the early days for grazing and cropping. The ruins located in the south-east corner are the remains of a large Pea Farm built in the late 1800's. The farm later supplied the US Army forces with peas during WW2.  

Please note there are no formally maintained walking trails in this park, walkers are encouraged to follow the numerous fire access tracks located in the park.

Generally both cyclists and walkers give way to horses, and cyclists give way to walkers.

Bushwalking is a fantastic way to connect with nature, keep fit and spend time with family and friends. South Australia's national parks feature a range of trails that let you experience a diversity of landscapes.

You can cycle your way through the park on the bicycle veloway and specific bike trails on offer in this park.

Learn more about cycling in SA's parks, including other parks offering cycle tracks, trail classification and read the trail user code of practice for important points to remember when planning your bike ride.

• Cycling and mountain biking in parks
• Park and trail maps

Easy

• Easy as (1.2km)

• This introductory level MTB descending only trail is perfect for novice riders, children and beginners looking for an introduction to in-sloped Turns (Berms) and rock Features with B-Lines. Its climbing pair is “Upstart”, which makes for a perfect beginner loop.

• Upstart (1.95km)

• An introductory climbing trail (Dual direction for walkers and runners). Perfect for novice riders, children and beginners and featuring switchback climbing turns and basic obstacles for practicing climbing skills.

• Futures and options Pt 1 (710m)

• An easy trail to link the car park to the western bike park trails.

• Haarsmas Vision (710m)

  This trail celebrates the simple enjoyment that anyone of any skill level can find when riding a bike in this park. Pete Haarsma (d. 2018) was a long term member of the Friends of O’Halloran Hill, who contributed much of his time to the trails in this park.

• Sylvanian Families (650m)

  Take your family for a spin around this flowy forest trail.

• Wiggles (600m)

  This flat wiggly loop can be reached from the park track network, or via the intermediate Quick Link trail.

• Grom Flow (1.3km)

  This descending flow trail was built for the youngsters. Big berms and rollers will make for a grin 

 Intermediate

• Uprising (830m)

• This intermediate climbing trail is perfect for riders wanting to return to the west node trailhead and features tight corners and great views of the Spencer Gulf and Glenelg.

• Dam revamp (840m)

• An open, flowing intermediate descending only trail featuring berms, jumps and multiple line options. Riders can choose to ride out to the end of “Easy As” or climb back to the west node trailhead.

• Flat pedal city (550m)

• This foot-out flat-out trail leads to the intermediate/advanced descent junction and features small optional gaps.

• Blue luge (720m)

• An intermediate descending only trail, perfect for MTB enthusiasts and riders looking to progress from easier trails. This trail features fast, bermed corners and rock features.

• Vincenzos Golf (2.0km)

  A 2000m intermediate climbing trail (dual direction for walkers and runners). Navigate switchback climbing turns and rocky obstacles while enjoying views over Gulf St Vincent.

• Winding Wraith (700m)

  This 700m remnant of the original trail network spirits you from Rock XCarving to Fifty Shades of Clay.

• Quick Link (350m)

  It would be a long way back to the carpark if we forgot to include this 350m connector.

• Frogger (850m)

  The big green frog has been looking across the Southern Expressway for some time now. This 850m trail will take you past his vantage point.

• Fifty Shades of Clay (3.4km)

  This cross country trail has enough naughty fun to be the basis of an actually good novel. Maybe even a film series.

 Advanced

• Shapeshifter (690m)

• This O’Halloran Hill favourite has had a makeover. Older style hand built downhill features and rock sections are strewn throughout. Descending only.

• Flight club (850m)

• A very difficult and fast bike park style descent with large berms, jumps, gaps and transitions. This trail is only suited to advanced riders and is ideal for practicing slopestyle riding.

• Rock XCarving (1.25km)

  This advanced cross country trail includes technical and very steep rock sections. It’s recommended that you take the trail from east to west.

You can ride along the fire access tracks within the park.

Please note access can be difficult as there is no facility to park a horse float or holding area available.

Generally both cyclists and walkers give way to horses, and cyclists give way to walkers.

• Does your furry friend have clean hooves?

Camping is not permitted within this park.

• Use Find a Park to discover which parks you can camp in.

Want to help?

To find out how you can help in this park or nearby, please visit Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges – Volunteering.

Want to join others and become a Park Friend?

To find out more about Friends of Parks groups please visit Friends of Parks South Australia.

You could join others to help look after a park. You can take part in working bees, training and other events.

Every national park is different, each has its own unique environment, it is important to be responsible while enjoying all the park has to offer.

Please ensure that you:

• keep your dog on a lead at all times and check if there are areas of the park where dogs are not allowed
• do not feed birds or other animals, it promotes aggressive behaviour and an unbalanced ecology
• do not bring generators (except where permitted), chainsaws or firearms into the park
• leave the park as you found it - there are no bins in national parks, please come prepared to take your rubbish with you.  
• abide by the road rules (maintain the speed limit)
• respect geological and heritage sites
• do not remove native plants
• are considerate of other park users.

• Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Dead wood plays a vital role in providing shelter for animals and adding nutrients to the soil.

Generally both cyclists and walkers give way to horses, and cyclists give way to walkers.

Ensure that you:

• when hiking, wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen
• be aware of weather conditions and avoid walking during the hottest part of the day
• make sure you have appropriate weather proof clothing
• carry enough water to be self-sufficient
• please be respectful of other users at all times
• stay on the designated trails and connector tracks for your own safety, and prevent the spread of declared weeds to other areas in the park
• ensure someone knows your approximate location and expected time of return
• take appropriate maps.
• Walk, hike or trek - what's the difference?

Trail Users Code of Practice

To protect the surrounding environment and to ensure the safety of all riders and shared trail users, please be aware of the international Trail Users Code of Practice when using shared trails. Important points to remember include:

• plan your ride
• comply with all signs
• ride only on formed tracks/trails
• share the trail - obey give way rules
• avoid riding in wet, muddy conditions
• ride lightly and leave no trace or rubbish
• control your bike within your limits
• clean your bike to avoid the spread of weeds or plant diseases
• carry sufficient food and drinking water
• respect the rights of others
• tell others about the code

Can I have a fire or barbecue?

• Wood fires and solid fuel fires are prohibited throughout the year.
• Gas and liquid fuel fires are permitted in designated area only, other than on days of total fire ban.
• Ensure you are familiar with the fire restrictions for this park.

Closures and safety

This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may also be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.

You can determine the current fire danger rating by checking the Fire Ban District map on the CFS website.

Check the CFS website or call the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline 1800 362 361 for:

• Information on fire bans and current fire conditions
• Current CFS warnings and incidents
• Information on what to do in the event of a fire.

Listen to your local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety.

Why does my dog need to be on a lead?

If your dog is off lead, it is more likely to impact on native wildlife and other visitors in a park and be at risk itself.

Risks to wildlife:

• Dogs off tracks will leave a scent in the bush that will keep wildlife away.
• Uncontrolled dogs may frighten wildlife and disrupt their natural behaviour.
• Some dogs will kill or injure wildlife.

Risks to other park visitors

• Dogs may be aggressive to other park visitors.
• Even friendly dogs can knock people over causing injury.
• Some people want to enjoy parks without dogs.

Risks to your dog

• Poison baits may be laid to control foxes. Baits can be fatal to dogs.
• Even if your dog is friendly, other dogs may not be.
• Your dog can catch parasites (such as fleas and ticks) from wildlife.
• Snake bites are a real risk in natural areas such as parks.
• Wildlife such as kangaroos and koalas will defend themselves if threatened by a dog and can cause significant injury to or the death of your dog.

Come and enjoy this park for free. 

This park is not included in the park pass system. 

• Which parks are included in the park pass system?

There is no camping or accommodation available within this park. 

There are no other fees or permits associated with this park.