Adelaide Hills Attractions

An attractive excursion is through the Adelaide Hills to Birdwood Mill, a historic mill idyllically situated on the Torrens River, with play and picnic areas.At Birdwood Mill is the National Motor Museum, the oldest exhibit featuring a Peugeot of 1897. Every two years is held the Bay to Birdwood Rally, in which veteran and vintage cars cough and splutter their way from Holdfast Bay up into the hills.

Northeast of Adelaide on the scenic Old Norton Summit Road are the steep crags - among them the Three Sugarloaves - of the Black Hills (466m). The wild and romantic gorges and waterfalls on Fourth Creek draw many visitors from the city.

Among the most popular destinations for excursions in this area are Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens where the high rainfall favors the growth of rhododendrons and ferns. Other features are a rock garden and artificial lakes.

Belair National Park was established in 1891 was the first large nature reserve in South Australia.Within the park is Old Government House, with a ballroom and a swimming pool.This was the summer residence of the governor of South Australia until 1880, when it gave way to a much grander house, Marble Hill, in a high and secluded situation in the hills 25km east of Adelaide. The new residence was destroyed in a forest fire in 1955 and thereafter was partly restored.

Brownhill Creek Recreation Park offers shady picnic spots within easy reach of the city and magnificent panoramic views.

An attractive excursion is to Windy Point Recreation Park in the hills. From the Lookout there are superb views, particularly at night.

Lobethal, like Hahndorf, was founded by German settlers. Situated in a sheltered valley in the Adelaide Hills, it is the center of an agricultural area. In the 19th C it also had woolen mills (tweed).There is much interesting material in the Lobethal Archives and Historical Museum.

The inland town of Strathalbyn (pop. 2600) was founded in 1839. As its name indicates, it has Scottish associations.The town has preserved a number of historic buildings, including the police station, the courthouse, St Andrew's Church and an old grain mill. There is an interesting Pioneer Museum.

On the northwestern slopes of Mount Lofty (726m) is Cleland Wildlife Park, where visitors can see many Australian animals and get a close view of koalas.