Small group
Cleland and Hahndorf
Koalas and the village
- Length8 hours
- At Cleland2 hours
- GroupUp to 8
Your stop on the map
An Adelaide Hills tourist drive by way of Mount Lofty
Quick summary
An Adelaide Hills tourist drive from the city climbs to Mount Lofty Summit, then takes in Cleland Wildlife Park, the botanic garden and the villages on the way to Hahndorf.
Before you go
See 18 route stops
Hahndorf and the hills, place by place
Pick a route and tap a pin or a stop: you get its note and a Google Maps link.
More than 710 metres above sea level; free entry, paid parking.
Google MapsOpen 9.30am to 5pm daily; one of few places in the world to hold a koala.
Google Maps97 hectares of cool-climate garden; parking machines take cards only.
Google MapsThe largest of the 7 waterfalls in Cleland National Park.
Google MapsA hills village on the site tour's route to Hahndorf.
Google Maps
The site tour starts and ends here; the driver meets you inside by the bus bays.
Google MapsThe six-lane South Eastern Freeway climbs into the hills here on its way to Melbourne.
Google MapsThe freeway exit for Mount Lofty; the link trail to the summit starts opposite the bus stop.
Google MapsMarket Sunday is the fourth Sunday of the month, the third in December.
Google MapsThe giant waterwheel still turns at the old Bridgewater Mill.
Google MapsAustralia's oldest surviving German settlement, 28km south-east of Adelaide.
Google MapsIts community library is a visitor information outlet for the hills.
Google Maps
Galleries, a museum and a shop, open daily 10:00 to 17:00.
Google MapsContinues the first licensed hotel in Hahndorf, founded in 1839.
Google MapsTrading since 1863, when it opened as the Union Hotel.
Google MapsBuilt in 1890, with a bell imported from Germany.
Google MapsPick-your-own strawberries from November to April.
Google MapsA winery at the edge of the village, known for Austrian grape varieties.
Google Maps
Mapping data © OpenStreetMap contributors
This Adelaide Hills tourist drive climbs from the city to Mount Lofty Summit, takes in koalas at Cleland and a cool-climate garden, then rolls through Stirling and Bridgewater to Hahndorf.
Editorial team, hahndorftour.com · Updated November 8, 2026 · Takes 8 min
Quick look
- The summitMore than 710 metres high and free to enter; parking fees apply.1,2
- How farMount Lofty Summit is 15km or a 20 minute drive from the city.3
- WildlifeCleland opens 9.30am to 5pm; adult entry AUD 35.80.4,5
- The gardenMount Lofty Botanic Garden covers 97 hectares.6
- Fire daysParks and the garden can close on extreme fire danger days.7,8
Planning a loop through the hills
A self-drive tour of the Adelaide Hills works best as a loop: up to Mount Lofty for the view, across the summit ridge to the parks, then down through the villages to Hahndorf and back to the city on the freeway. The summit is 15km or a 20 minute drive from the city centre, so the first stop comes almost before you have settled into the car.3 Everything after it is a short hop between villages and gardens.
The quickest way up is the South Eastern Freeway, with signposted exits for Mount Lofty at Crafers, then Stirling, Bridgewater and Hahndorf.9 For a slower climb, Adelaide Hills Tourism points drivers to Greenhill Road, Norton Summit Road or Gorge Road.10 On a clear morning they are steep, green and quiet, before the cyclists and day-trippers fill them, and every bend opens a new view back over the plains to the sea.
Watch for riders on these roads. Cycling is a passion in the hills, and the law says to leave riders at least 1 metre on roads signed 60 km/h or lower; on faster roads the gap grows to 1.5 metres.11 Mount Lofty is a real climb even for professionals: on day 3 of the 2027 Tour Down Under the riders tackle it twice, a 4.4-kilometre climb averaging 4 per cent with a steepest pitch of 14 per cent.12
Stops compared
Mount Lofty and the hills stops at a glance
| Stop | Entry | Hours | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Lofty Summit | Free, paid parking | Gates from 6:00am | View to the coast |
| Cleland Wildlife Park | Adult AUD 35.80 | 9.30am to 5pm | Hold a koala, 13+ |
| Botanic garden | Ticketed parking | From 8:30am | Card-only machines |
| Waterfall Gully | Free | Open daily | Weekend parking tight |
| Bridgewater Mill | Restaurant | Check ahead | Waterwheel still turns |
Fees and hours as the parks service, the garden and the park list them; check before you go, especially on fire danger days.2,20,5,4,31,32,33,34,16
Mount Lofty Summit and the view
Mount Lofty Summit rises more than 710 metres above sea level and draws more than 350,000 visitors a year.1 The lookout faces back over the city skyline to the coast, and on clear days the view reaches Kangaroo Island and Yorke Peninsula.18 It is also a popular spot for sunset, so if your loop runs late, turn it around and finish here.19 Of all the drives to do in Adelaide, the climb to this lookout is the one that most rewards a clear day. Entry is free, but parking fees apply.2 Bring a jacket even in summer, because the wind across the top can be sharp.
The car park gates open at 6:00am and close at 11:00pm from October to March and at 9:00pm from April to September.20 The gift shop, which doubles as a visitor information outlet run by the parks service, opens 9:00am to 5:00 pm daily, closed Christmas Day.21,22 The lookout is accessible, with accessible parking and toilets, and there is public transport to the summit from the city.23,24 Ask at the shop for trail maps before you set out on foot.
Dogs are not allowed in the park, so leave the family dog at home or plan around it.25 The summit sits in Cleland National Park, which closes on Catastrophic Fire Danger days and may close on Extreme Fire Danger days.7 Check the rating before you set off in summer. On a hot, windy day the view is hazy and the parks can shut; on a cool autumn morning it is crisp all the way to the gulf, and the cafe is warm.
Walks from the summit
You do not have to walk far to feel the bush. The Discovery Walk below the lookout takes 40 mins over 1km, with seats along the way to sit and take in the view.26 It is the right size for a family or anyone who simply wants to stretch their legs between stops on the drive. Early morning is the best time for birds, and late afternoon gives the softest light on the plains below, so time it to suit your camera as much as your legs.
Walkers who want more have choices. The Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty Hike takes about 2 hr 30 mins over 4.5km one way and has steep sections, so times vary a lot.27 The Crafers to Mt Lofty link trail takes 2 hr 30 mins over 4.5km and starts opposite the Crafers bus stop, avoiding the busy roads.28 The Steub Trail runs from Cleland Wildlife Park to the summit and back in 3 hours over 7km, on a gentle grade.29
The longest common choice, the Adventure loop, takes 3 hr 30 mins over 10km on rough, steep ground.30 For any of these, carry water, wear proper shoes and tell someone your plans. Mobile coverage in the park can be patchy, especially low down in the gullies.38 If you are driving the loop, the easiest pattern is to park once at the summit and do the short walk, then save the big hikes for another day.
Shape your loop
Which hills stops should you put first?
Start with the thing your group will talk about afterwards, then fill in around it.
If I want the big view
Mount Lofty Summit
More than 710 metres up, with views to the coast on clear days.1,18
If I want to see koalas
Cleland Wildlife Park
If I want gardens and colour
The botanic garden
97 hectares, with autumn colour peaking towards the end of April.6,37
If I want a proper hike
Waterfall Gully to the summit
2 hr 30 mins over 4.5km one way, with steep sections.27
If I do not want to drive
A small-group day
8 hours with 2 hours at Cleland and lunch in Hahndorf.
Let someone else drive
Tours that cover the summit and the villages
Site tour
Hills half day
Summit, farm and village
- Length4 hours
- Summit stop15 minutes
- In Hahndorf1.5 hours
Full day
Hills and the river
Summit, mill and a cruise
- Length8 hours
- Cruise3 hours
- Mill stop15 minutes
Cleland Wildlife Park
Cleland Wildlife Park is 20 minutes from the city centre on Mount Lofty Summit Road, Crafers.50 It opens every day from 9.30am to 5pm except Christmas Day and catastrophic fire days, with last entry at 4.30pm.4 Many animals roam free in its 35-hectare grounds, and there are very few enclosures: most animals live in natural habitat.51,52 Adelaide Hills Tourism counts some 130 native species there.35
Adult entry is AUD 35.80, children pay AUD 20.00 and those under 4 go free; concession is AUD 28.60 and a family ticket AUD 94.00.5,53,54,55 Car parking is free, paths are accessible, and wheelchairs and prams can be hired.56 Prices change, so check the current fees with the park before you go. Allow at least a couple of hours: the animals are spread through bushland rather than packed into cages, and the joy of the place is in wandering slowly between them.
Cleland ranks among the few places anywhere that let visitors hold a koala.48 The Hold a Koala session is for guests aged 13 and over, needs booking and runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays.31,36 If those days do not fit, the free-roaming kangaroos and the walking trails still make a good hour, especially early, when the animals are most active. The road gate on Mount Lofty Summit Road towards the park is open from 7:30am to 5pm.57
The loop in order
A day's drive from the city to Hahndorf
Start of the climb
Waterfall Gully
A short path to the first falls pool.13
Top of the range
Mount Lofty Summit
The lookout over the city and the coast.1
Mid-morning
Cleland Wildlife Park
Free-roaming animals; opens 9.30am.4
Late morning
Botanic garden
Lakeside Loop and the gullies.14
Lunch
Stirling or Bridgewater
Afternoon
Hahndorf
Main Street, then home by the freeway.17
Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
Mount Lofty Botanic Garden spreads across 97 hectares of steep gullies on the eastern side of the summit.6 It is about a 25-minute drive from the city centre, by the M1 and the Crafers exit.58 Spring brings magnolias, rhododendrons and camellias, and in autumn the garden turns scarlet and gold, with the colour peaking towards the end of April.59,37 Summer visitors head for the shade of the fern gully, a cool escape on a hot afternoon.
It opens every day. From May to September the hours are 8:30am to 4.00pm; from October to March they are 8:30am to 4.00pm on weekdays and 8:30am to 6.00pm at weekends and on public holidays.33 Parking is ticketed and the machines take credit and debit cards only, not cash.32 No bus serves the garden directly: stop 30E on Piccadilly Road is about 1km from the lower entrance.60 The garden is hilly, so plan your route from the car park you use.
The flat 1km Lakeside Loop is the easy choice, with eight plant-themed artworks along it.14 The Boundary Loop climbs higher for the views over 3km of medium to steep inclines.61 Free guided walks leave the lower car park every Thursday at 10.30am.62 Dogs, bikes, drones and alcohol are not allowed in the garden, and it closes on extreme or catastrophic fire danger days.63,8 A picnic by the lake is the classic way to end a visit.
Video
Mount Lofty Summit and Cleland National Park on foot
Aussie Jetsetter on YouTube · The video only starts loading on your tap.
Each year more than 350,000 people visit the peak which rises more than 710 metres above sea level
Before you drive
A checklist for the hills loop
Check the day4
Waterfall Gully
Waterfall Gully lies 8km east of Adelaide at the foot of the range, and its fall is the largest of the 7 waterfalls in Cleland National Park.64,49 A 300m bitumen path leads up from the car park to the first pool below the falls, which is easy for most visitors though the gradient is noticeable.13 The fall is best after winter rain, when the creek is running hard and the gully smells of wet stringybark.
This is also where the popular hike to the summit begins, so the car park is busy. The parks service warns that parking may not be available at weekends because the site is so popular.34 Come early on a weekday, or link it into the loop by walking down from the summit and getting a lift back up. The parks service lists picnic areas, a kiosk and toilets at the gully, so it works as a breakfast stop before the climb.65
If you are driving the loop with limited time, Waterfall Gully fits best at the start, on the way up from the city, before you head to the summit. It adds a short walk and a cool, shady creek to a day that is otherwise spent on ridges and in villages. Pair it with the summit lookout and you have seen the range from bottom to top in a single morning, and the rest of the day belongs to the villages.
Down through Stirling, Bridgewater and on to Hahndorf
From the summit, drop into the villages. Stirling has a hotel that has been trading for more than a century, with a bistro, a wood-fired pizza bar and a patisserie.15 Its market runs on the fourth Sunday of the month, the third in December, and from September to April Stirling Laneways fills the same Sundays from 09:00 to 15:00.39,66 In Crafers, a family bakehouse turns out pies, pasties and bread each day.67 Either village makes a good coffee stop.
Bridgewater is the next village down. Its giant waterwheel still turns at the Bridgewater Mill, now a restaurant.16 The Bridgewater Inn sits beside Cox Creek, next to the Heysen Trail, and makes a good lunch stop if you have walkers in the car, with its creek-side beer garden.68 From there the road runs on to Hahndorf, the German village at the end of the loop, about half an hour from the city by freeway.17
If you have the time, the Adelaide Hills tourist attractions go on beyond Hahndorf. Melba's Chocolate Factory in Woodside is a working factory in a heritage-listed complex 40 minutes from Adelaide, and next door Woodside Cheese Wrights has made cheese since 1994.69,70 Back on the freeway, the city is a short drive away, so you can stay in the hills until the light starts to go and still sleep in the city.
FAQ
Common questions, answered fast.
Is Mount Lofty Summit free to visit?
Yes, but parking costs.
Entry is free, and parking fees apply at the summit car park.2
What time does the summit car park close?
9:00pm or 11:00pm.
The gates close at 11:00pm from October to March and at 9:00pm from April to September.20
Can you hold a koala at Cleland Wildlife Park?
How much is entry to Cleland Wildlife Park?
How long is the hike from Waterfall Gully to the summit?
About 2 hr 30 mins.
It covers 4.5km one way with steep sections.27
Can you take a dog to Mount Lofty?
Does the botanic garden close on hot days?
On extreme fire danger days.
It closes when the fire danger rating is extreme or catastrophic.8
Sources
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- South Australian Tourism Commission · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- Cleland Wildlife Park, Department for Environment and Water · Opening hours ↩
- South Australian Tourism Commission · Cleland Wildlife Park ↩
- Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium · Mount Lofty Botanic Garden ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium · Plan Your Visit, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden ↩
- Adelaide Hills Tourism (Visit Adelaide Hills) · Getting Here and Around ↩
- Adelaide Hills Tourism (Visit Adelaide Hills) · Trails and Itineraries ↩
- Visit Adelaide Hills (official regional tourism organisation) · Getting here and around ↩
- Santos Tour Down Under · Your guide to the 2027 Santos Tour Down Under stages ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Waterfall Gully ↩
- Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium · Walking Trails, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden ↩
- South Australian Tourism Commission · 4 day Adelaide Hills Itinerary ↩
- Adelaide Hills Tourism (Visit Adelaide Hills) · History and Heritage ↩
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- South Australian Tourism Commission · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- South Australian Tourism Commission · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- Adelaide Hills Tourism (Visit Adelaide Hills) · Visitor Information ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Mount Lofty Summit ↩
- Cleland Wildlife Park, Department for Environment and Water · Hold a Koala ↩
- Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium · Plan Your Visit, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden ↩
- Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium · Plan Your Visit, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Waterfall Gully ↩
- Visit Adelaide Hills (official regional tourism organisation) · Iconic experiences ↩
- Cleland Wildlife Park, Department for Environment and Water · Hold a Koala ↩
- Visit Adelaide Hills (official regional tourism organisation) · Iconic experiences ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Waterfall Gully ↩
- Visit Adelaide Hills (official regional tourism organisation) · Iconic experiences ↩
- Department for Environment and Water, Government of South Australia · Hahndorf State Heritage Area
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- Department for Environment and Water, Government of South Australia · Hahndorf State Heritage Area heritage trail brochure (State Heritage Branch, PDF)
- Department for Environment and Water, Government of South Australia · Hahndorf State Heritage Area heritage trail brochure (State Heritage Branch, PDF)
- South Australian Tourism Commission · The Beerenberg Family Farm
- Visit Hahndorf SA (hahndorfsa.org.au, official Hahndorf guide) · Hahndorf Hill Winery
- South Australian Tourism Commission · Cleland Wildlife Park ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Waterfall Gully ↩
- Cleland Wildlife Park, Department for Environment and Water · Cleland Wildlife Park ↩
- South Australian Tourism Commission · Cleland Wildlife Park ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Cleland Wildlife Park ↩
- South Australian Tourism Commission · Cleland Wildlife Park ↩
- South Australian Tourism Commission · Cleland Wildlife Park ↩
- South Australian Tourism Commission · Cleland Wildlife Park ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Cleland Wildlife Park ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Waterfall Gully ↩
- Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium · Plan Your Visit, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden ↩
- South Australian Tourism Commission · Mount Lofty Botanic Garden ↩
- Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium · Plan Your Visit, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden ↩
- Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium · Walking Trails, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden ↩
- Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium · Walking Trails, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden ↩
- Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium · Plan Your Visit, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Waterfall Gully ↩
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia · Waterfall Gully ↩
- South Australian Tourism Commission · Stirling Laneways ↩
- South Australian Tourism Commission · Crafers Bakehouse ↩
- South Australian Tourism Commission · Bridgewater Inn ↩
- South Australian Tourism Commission · Melba's Chocolate And Confectionery Factory ↩
- South Australian Tourism Commission · Woodside Cheese Wrights ↩
Further reading