The rainy season in Adelaide has arrived. On rare sunny days, we especially feel like going hiking. There is an excellent hiking route just half an hour’s drive from the city. Not only does it feature coastal boardwalk hiking, but you can also see Australia’s famous archaeological site “The Sugarloaf” — massive colourful fossils resembling cakes!
The scenery here is very unique. Half of it is the coastline, with only a little white sand on the beach, and almost all of it is colourful pebbles. The other half is like volcanic bald hills. This place is also very famous for its geology, recording the stripes of glaciers about 200 million years ago. It is of great archaeological value and is also a very important record internationally!
- Be sure to walk to the Sugarloaf (once you enter, go downhill, then climb up to the right to see the Sugarloaf).
- The sun is very intense. Remember to apply sunscreen.
- The park has many different trails. It takes about 2-3 hours (at the fastest pace) to complete the park.
- There is a café called Bootshed Cafe where you can sit next to it and enjoy the sea view.
- There is a playground there, which is also suitable for kids to play.
Hiking
If you enjoy hiking, it’s highly recommended to do the full route. The overall landscape includes not only the sea, mountains, and beaches but also colourful rock formations. The entire route is equipped with wooden boardwalks, making climbing easy. It takes approximately 2-3 hours.
How long does it take to walk Hallett Cove Boardwalk?
The Sugarloaf
If you only want to see the beach and Sugarloaf, you can park directly at the beach. Arriving one hour before sunset allows you to witness the most beautiful view of Sugarloaf and the sunset on the beach, taking about 1 hour.
Parking
Navigate to Hallett Cove public toilet (the closest parking spot to Hallett Cove Beach and The Sugarloaf)
Public transport access
Take the Seaford train directly to Hallett Cove Beach. If completing the entire hike, you can return by taking a train from Hallett Cove Station without retracing your steps.