Join us each month as we showcase our amazing national parks with our Park of the Month program.
Park of the Month is a great way to gain a deeper understanding of our special natural places and to find new ways to enjoy them.
Each month there will be variety of events for everyone to enjoy, many of them are free. You can learn more about a park direct from the park ranger, have an adventure and explore a park in a different way with activities such as rock climbing, kayaking and mountain biking, chill out in nature with yoga and forest bathing, hear about the cultural history and join in conservation efforts to protect and conserve national parks for future generations.
October - Belair National Park
This month we’re celebrating Belair National Park as our Park of the Month.
Set in beautiful natural bushland, Belair National Park is just 25 minutes from Adelaide city centre. It is the ideal place to get active in the great outdoors. There are woodlands and lakes to explore, walking and mountain biking trails to suit all levels of fitness, plus tennis courts and cricket pitches available for hire.
This is South Australia’s oldest national park, and is home to Old Government House – a significant heritage building. Also in the park is State Flora, the oldest plant nursery in South Australia and still going strong today. The park remains one of the few relatively undisturbed areas of native vegetation in the Adelaide Hills region, making it an important refuge for native plants and animals.
For park of the month in October we have a packed program of events. Join Uncle Tamaru for a Kaurna Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony followed by a guided cultural walk. Relax and connect with nature with Yoga in the Park and get artistic and be part of our community nature weaving art installation. Try your hand at smartphone orienteering and your kids will love our beginner mountain bike skills sessions. We also have a numerous guided walks throughout the month, so there’s plenty options.
Events
Forest Bathing - Come and Try Belair National Park (Booked out)
Saturday 3 October
This nature connection event delivered by an occupational therapist in conjunction with the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia is an opportunity to come and try a version of Forest Bathing inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku. Forest Bathing is not about bushwalking or nature identification, or ‘thinking’. It is an opportunity to engage our 5 senses - listening, touching, smelling, tasting and seeing as we allow ourselves to just ‘be’ in nature. The experience involves guided ‘invitations’ to help us connect with nature, calm our busy minds, perhaps be playful and have some fun and is tailored to the needs of the group.
Come and try Nature Weaving in Belair National Park
Sunday 25 October
This is a fun event for anyone who would like to try their hand at nature weaving! Join the rangers and artist Rebecca McEwan in celebrating our engagement with nature during the COVID-19 pandemic, by weaving natural materials through a large tree weaving loom.
Ranger Guided Twilight Bird Walk
Tuesday 13 October and Wednesday 28 October
Join our rangers for a leisurely twilight stroll and take in the sights and sounds of the parks beautiful bird life. Twilight in the park is a hive of activity with the local birdlife looking for somewhere to roost for the evening. Our rangers will guide you on a walk around the Playford Lake before heading up Sir Edwin Smith Drive to see the square tail kite nest before returning to the Lake along the Brady Gully Track.
Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony and Guided Walk with Uncle Tamaru
Friday 9 October
Join Kaurna Elder, Uncle Tamaru for a special Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony and guided walk through the park.
Belair Forest Adventure with Wilderness Escape (Sold out)
Friday 9 October
Join Wilderness Escape for a full day of activities including orienteering, Portable low ropes, cubby building, boomerang making, billycart creation and racing, kite making, nature treasure hunt. This event is for children aged 5-12 years.
This event costs $25.00 each. Click for more information and bookings.
Ranger Guided Walks
Saturday 10 October and Saturday 24 October
Join our rangers for a guided walk around the Lorikeet Loop Trail. Wind your way past Old Government House and the State Flora Nursery, then stop for a rest at the playground – an ideal spot for family groups. Majestic old red and blue gums are the perfect habitat for lorikeets, rosellas and koalas. The wide gravelled surface is suitable for most abilities, and for strollers.
Friends of Belair National Park - The Professor Cleland Memorial Walk
Sunday 11 October
Expert guides Barb Raine, and ecologist James McGregor from the Friends of Belair National Park will be leading a gentle nature ramble of about 2 hours through the park.
This event is free, however vehicle entry fees apply to enter Belair National Park. Please visit the
Friends of Belair Facebook page for more information and to register your attendance.
Friends of Belair National Park – Guided Walks
Tuesday 13 October and Sunday 18 October
Join the Friends of Belair National Park for a guided walk in Belair National Park.
E-Bike Fun Day
Saturday 24 October
E-bike curious?! Keen to see what all the fuss is about?
Why not join Escapegoat Adventures for a special Ebike session. These sessions are aimed at the total beginner as your guide will teach you how to ride and use an ebike. With only 5 spots you are guaranteed lots of time on the bike with guiding and instruction.
This event is available for a special price of $60 per person and bookings are required. Price includes hire of the ebike, helmet, gloves, full guiding and instruction plus a free coffee at the Goat Shed Bike Hire and Café.
St Johns Grammar School and Kaurna Mural Unveiling
Saturday 24 October
St John’s Grammar School year 6 students and teachers will be unveiling a mural they’ve been working on in conjunction with local Kaurna representatives. The mural portrays animals and symbols significant to the Kaurna people.
Cherry Plantation Exploration with Hayley’s Hiking
Saturday 17 October
Pack a picnic, grab your family (including your well behaved doggy on lead) and join Hayley’s Hiking for a beginners level hike around the Cherry Plantation, Melville House, Amphitheatre, hidden lakes, adventure playground and picnic areas!!!
This event is free, however vehicle entry fees apply to enter Belair National Park. A vegan lunch is available for purchase. For more information and to register, visit the
Hayley’s Hiking Facebook pageCome and try Smartphone Orienteering
Sunday 18 October
Orienteering is a sport where competitors visit a number of points marked on the ground, controls, in the shortest possible time aided by a map and usually a compass, but now your smartphone! Belair National Park is home to two permanent courses and members from Orienteering SA will be on hand to get you started with this fun activity.
Junior mountain bike beginner skills
Sunday 18 October and Friday 30 October
This clinic will teach participants bike handling & control skills in a 90 minute skills clinic led by Head for the Hills coaches. The course will cover basic mountain biking techniques and include a guided ride so participants can put their new skills to use! The beginner clinic is designed for riders with little to no mountain biking experience but must be comfortable on 2 wheels and is recommended for children aged 9 -13 years.
This event is available for a special price of $10 each. Click for more information and to book.
Friends of Belair National Park – Come and try Bushcare
Saturday 17 October
Join the Friends of Belair National Park for the morning and try your hand at bushcare. Tools and gloves provided.
This event is free, however vehicle entries apply to enter Belair National Park. Please visit the Friends of Belair Facebook page for more information and to register your attendance.
Introduction to Trail Running
Wednesday 21 October
Join Trail Running SA for an introduction to trail running in Belair National Park. The 5km trail run at a social pace will travel along the Lorikeet Loop, and following Valley Rd up to Long Gully Volunteer Centre before returning alongside Minno Creek via the Railway Dam then back alongside Valley Drive to return to Main Pavilion. The run will cater to all speeds and information about the route can be found visit the Trail Running SA website.
This event is FREE, bookings are not required, however vehicle entry fees apply to enter Belair National Park. For further information visit the Trail Running SA website.
Yoga in Belair National Park
Saturday 17 October and Saturday 24 October
Join yoga instructor Jen Kokoska with this gently guided vinyasa yoga flow session. Unwind and rejuvenate immersed in nature at Belair National Park. This class is suitable for beginners as well as those students with a more regular practice.
This event is free, however vehicle entry fees apply to enter Belair National Park
Click for more information and to register for Saturday 17 October.
Click for more information and to register for Saturday 24 October.
Belair National Park Ranger Guided Accessibility Walk
Sunday 25 October
The rangers will guide you on a walk through Belair National Park using a number of carefully selected trails. The walk will use trails of varying standards with a mix of bitumen, compacted tracks with a few sections of loose gravel on top. There will be some ascent and assistance maybe required in places. We will cover a distance of approximately 6 km although there is option to only do half the walk and return to the starting point.
This event is free, however vehicle entry fees apply to enter Belair National Park.
Click for more information and to register.
Special offers
10% discount off plants from the Belair State Flora Nursery*
Visit the Belair State Flora Nursery during October 2020 and mention Park of the Month to receive a 10% discount on plants.
*Discount cannot be applied to already discounted stock.
Get inspired with our Insider Tips blog
Ranger tips: Belair National Park
5 treasures in Belair National Park
10 things to see and do at Belair National Park
Insider Guide - Belair National Park
What's coming up in 2020
Events and activities for each month are not released until close to the month, check back on the website or on the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia Facebook page to keep in the loop.
Host an event
We encourage community groups, schools, local business and tour operators to host engaging, fun and family-friendly events in parks as part of Park of the Month. Find out how you can host an event.
