Upgrades at metropolitan Adelaide parks
Improving visitor access to popular national parks
Visitors now have easier access to some of Adelaide’s most popular national parks.
This includes increased car parking capacity at key sites, improved visitor experience and improved visitor safety.
Upgrades are now complete at Mark Oliphant Conservation Park in the Adelaide Hills and Chambers Gully – the popular entrance point to the Cleland National Park trail network – and Morialta Conservation Park in Adelaide’s east.
Find out more about these works, including a snapshot of the upgrades and delivery timelines.
Works at Morialta Conservation Park
Nestled 8 km east of Adelaide, Morialta Conservation Park is home to the popular Mukanthi Nature Play Space, which was opened in 2017.
The new nature play space rapidly drew in the crowds, putting pressure on the car park located adjacent to the site and forcing visitors’ vehicles to spill onto neighboring streets.
This prompted the South Australian Government to fund the upgrade of a temporary car park located near the Mukanthi Nature Play Space, sealing and connecting it to the existing sealed car park on Stradbroke Road.
The new car park provides visitors with safe and direct access to Mukanthi, making it easier for school groups and families to enjoy the play space and spend time exploring nature.
The car park comprises more than 100 clearly marked parking spaces (including 4 accessible spaces), 4 motorbike parks, a designated bus drop-off and pick up space, one entry driveway and two exit driveways. New walking paths guide visitors to the nature play space and beyond.
The car park was carefully designed to minimise unnecessary impact on the surrounding vegetation, and DEW ecologists chose 1650 local native plants to revegetate the area. These plants are now in pace and add to the beauty and biodiversity of the vegetation in the car park precinct.
Snapshot of upgrades
Project timeline
- November 2021
Designs complete
- March - April 2022
Works tendered
- August 2022
Construction works commence
- December 2022
New car park complete
Works at Mark Oliphant Conservation Park
An increase in visitation at Mark Oliphant Conservation Park in the Adelaide Hills in recent years has seen a greater demand on parking near the Scott Creek Road entrance at Longwood.
This prompted a range of upgrades to this entrance, including expanding and reconfiguring the car park area to cater for approximately 20 vehicles.
The nearby picnic shelter was refurbished and a new picnic table has also been installed. A short, accessible path has also been constructed to link the car park to the picnic area.
Park entry signage has also been improved to provide a more welcoming street presence, and new trailhead signage and improved wayfinding signage was also installed.
Snapshot of upgrades
Estimated project timeline
- October 2021
Designs to be completed
- November 2021
Works to be tendered
- January 2022
Construction works to commence
- April 2022
Project complete and open to the public
Works at Chambers Gully
Chambers Gully in the foothills of Adelaide is the starting point for many of the walking trails in Cleland National Park.
Work is now complete, with visitors now benefiting from improved trailhead signage, extra parking and additional visitor amenities at this popular spot.
Creating clearly defined car park spaces and installing wheel stops has maximised the number of available car parks.
Broader site works included installing 2 new benches and wayfinding signs along the Chambers Gully to Mount Lofty Summit Trail.
Snapshot of upgrades
Estimated project timeline
- December 2021
Designs complete
- June 2022
Works begin
- End of June 2022
Works complete
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Contact us
For more information about the Community Access to National Parks project, contact the project team.