Winter is the perfect time to rug up and enjoy nature, and there’s no better way to fully immerse yourself in the great outdoors than packing the tent and spending a few nights sipping hot chocolate around a crackling fire, before falling asleep under the stars.
The Adelaide Hills offers a number of peaceful camping spots where you can unwind and wake up to nothing but the sound of wildlife.
Here are some of our favourite camping spots to try this winter.
1Kuitpo Forest
Managed by Forestry SA, Kuitpo Forest is a mix of native forest reserves and commercial forestry plantations and offers a range of activities for the whole family.
A 20-minute drive from Mt Barker or an hour from Adelaide, Kuitpo Forest offers a more authentic camping experience (don’t expect showers or camp kitchens!) with plenty of nature-based activities, from hiking, biking and horse riding to orienteering.
There are five shared-use loop trails in the forest, ranging from 1km to 12km and accommodating walkers, bike-riders and horse-riders.
The 1200km Heysen Trail, 130km Willunga Basin Trail and the 269km shared-use Kidman Trail also pass through the forest and can be easily accessed from some camp sites.
If you’re up for an adrenalin-fuelled adventure TreeClimb also opened at Kuitpo Forest in 2023, offering tree-top courses, including zip lines, swings and rock climbing.
Chookarloo camp site is Kuitpo Forest’s most accessible and arguably most popular, nestled among eucalypt woodland with access to the 1km Chookarloo Walk and the Heysen Trail.
Those who want to bring their horses can camp at Jack’s Paddock, which has eight horse yards and two campsites, while avid hikers can stay at the Rocky Creek walk-in camp accessed from the Heysen and Kidman trails.
All of these camp grounds are open from April to November and camp fires are allowed from May through October.
forestrysa.com.au
2Belair National Park
Right on the fringe of Adelaide, Belair National Park offers everything from walking and mountain biking trails to tennis courts, cricket pitches and an adventure playground.
Operated by the State Government’s National Parks and Wildlife Service, the park has a large network of walking and shared use trails, ranging from 1km to 13km in length.
Some trails wind through native woodlands or pass by the Playford Lake, the historic Old Government House or the Upper and Lower Waterfalls.
The Microcarpa Loop Trail offers an easier mountain biking option, while the 13km Adventure Loop Trail is considered intermediate.
Shared use paths also accommodate horse riders.
If you want to make use of the sporting facilities, you’ll need to book in advance, but the newly upgraded Adventure Playground is freely accessible and includes three slides, a rope climbing pyramid, swings, a rock climbing wall and monkey bars.
The park is also home to Old Government House, a Victorian home that was used as the summer residence of some of SA’s early Governors.
Guided tours of the house and gardens operate a couple of times a month.
Camping is not allowed within the park, but the adjacent Belair National Park Holiday Park offers powered and unpowered sites and a bush camping area.
If you’re new to camping or prefer a little more comfort, the park also offers hot showers, barbecues a camp kitchen and other accommodation options, including ecotents and airconditioned cabins.
Belair National Park is about 25 minutes from both Mt Barker and Adelaide.
parks.sa.gov.au/parks/belair-national-park
3Woodhouse Adventure Park
If you’re keen for some more structured activities during your outdoor adventure, Woodhouse Adventure Park might be the place for you!
Owned by Scouts SA, the park offers a range of activities, from its famous Challenge Hill obstacle course to disc golf, orienteering and outdoor laser skirmish.
The property spans 54ha and includes a large unpowered camping field, which accommodates tents, camper trailers and vans.
Camping Adventure Passes give you access to a camping spot as well as adventure activities.
For those who’d prefer just a little bit more luxury, the park offers “affordable glamping”.
There are also a small number of “rustic chalets” (AKA cabins) and dormitory-style accommodation for larger groups.
Woodhouse Adventure Park is a 20-minute drive from Mt Barker or 25 minutes from Adelaide.
The park is open year-round.
woodhouse.org.au
4Mt Crawford Forest
Like Kuitpo Forest, Mt Crawford Forest is managed by Forestry SA for wood production and conservation.
The 12,367ha forest has two camp grounds, Chalks and Rocky Paddock, which both offer basic bush camping facilities.
There are also two walk-in camp sites for Heysen Trail hikers.
A number of walking trails, including the Heysen Trail and the Kidman Trail, pass through the forest.
Mt Crawford Forest is also close to the Fox Creek Bike Park, located in the Cudlee Creek Forest Reserve, which offers a BMX jumps park and more than 50km of downhill, gravity, cross country and all terrain tracks across more than 800ha.
Meanwhile, those who want to try their luck panning for gold or precious stones can do so, with a permit, in the Mt Crawford Forest’s dedicated fossicking area.
This area has previously yielded gems such as opal, garnet, beryl, kyanite and tourmaline.
There are also easy, moderate and scatter orienteering courses, and maps and information are available on the Orienteering SA website, or at the Mt Crawford Forest information centres.
Camping is allowed from April through November and wood fires are allowed from May through October.
forestrysa.com.au
