Morialta Conservation Park has a stunning scenery, enhanced by rocky ridges, waterfalls, creeks. The park lies on either side of Morialta Gorge and Fourth Creek. The park is situated by Black Hill conservation park on the north, Norton Summit road on the south, Rostrevor suburb on the west and farm land on the east.
The name Morialta is derived from the Kaurna language and means “ever flowing water”. The park is known for its three waterfalls. With its numerous walking trails, combinations of narrow rocky tracks and wider fire tracks, the waterfalls and the stunning cliffs and rock formations, Morialta is popular with hikers, trail runners and rock climbers.
The long distance Heysen and Yurrebilla walking trails meander their way through the park.
Morialta loop walk-figure of eight
The walk has 2 distinct loops. and is challenging.
From lower car park you will walk along the road to upper car park, from where turning left, you climb to Deep View lookout. Following Rocky Hill track and Moores track you will descend to Fox Dam.
From Fox Dam, following the track you reach Montacute Road, from where you need to turn back and climb Hikers’ Hill (Chapman’s track). You will end up at the intersection with Moores Track , Rocky Hill track completing the first loop. Turning left, take Centre track for a short distance and then Pylon Track and via Third Falls you will return to the car park.
Good level of fitness is required as the track is classified hard and involves steep hills down and up.
Hiker’s hill is one of the steepest and hardest in the area, but you can stop as many times required. The challenge will be rewarded in the end with great scenery and accomplishment of a hard walk. The ice cream van was a nice surprise at the end.
Distance= 15 km
Climb =578 m
There are 2 climbs one grade 2 (8.2% gradient) and the other one grade 3 (7.2% gradient)
Time =5 hours and 30 minutes
Start : Car park off Stradbroke Road
Morialta walk from Colonial Drive
For a different view of Morialta, start the walk at the back entrance to Morialta Conservation Park on Colonial Drive, Norton Summit. There are no signs but there is a stile which leads into the park at this point.
The walk has a distance of 12 km and takes about 3 hours and is moderately challenging with almost 400 meters ascent.
From the style on Colonial drive, head to Colonial Track, crossing the small creek. Continue walking on Colonial Track, turning left on Moore road. Reaching the intersection of Moore road with Rocky Hill track, Chapman track, turn left on Rocky Hill track. Follow the rocky track, turning right on Yurrebilla trail, then Centre track. Ignoring the side tracks, follow Centre track, then Stringybark trail, Fall trail to Third Fall.
After admiring the views at the Third Fall and compulsory photos, return back to take the Heysen trail and Third Falls track to Moore road to return to the start of the walk via Colonial track or Colonial drive.