Hale Conservation Park
More information
Click the button below to view more information.
Characterised by its diverse landscape and steep rocky ridges, this park is home to some of Australia’s more secretive mammals and conserves the oyster bay cypress pine.
Challenging walking trails provide spectacular views of the South Para Valley and reservoir. The trail to the South Para River passes from the highlands to the river crossing, while the trail to the north eastern boundary of the park follows the creek line to emerge in grasslands on the outskirts of Williamstown.
Open daily.
Closures and safety
This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may also be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.
You can determine the current fire danger rating by checking the Fire Ban District map on the CFS website.
Check the CFS website or call the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline 1800 362 361 for:
- Information on fire bans and current fire conditions
- Current CFS warnings and incidents
- Information on what to do in the event of a fire.
Listen to your local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety.
Visitor information, bookings and park management:
North Lofty District Office — Black Hill Conservation Park
Phone: (+61) 7133 7300
Email: DEW.NPWSNorthLofty@sa.gov.au
Emergency contacts:
Medical, fire (including bushfire) and police emergency situations
Phone: Triple Zero (000)
Police Assistance
Phone: 131 444 for non-urgent police assistance
National Parks and Wildlife Service SA – Emergency After Hours Duty Officer (voice messages only, text messages are unavailable to be received)
Phone: 0427 556 676
Injured wildlife:
Within the park
Please contact North Lofty District Office — Black Hill Conservation Park on (+61) 7133 7300 or the duty officer on 0427 556 676
Outside of the park
Please contact a local wildlife rescue group
A walk in Hale is generally best done in spring, when there are plenty of flowers and some water in the creek.
For a few weeks in winter, the glorious flame heath flowers across much of the park, with its red blooms providing impressive photographic opportunities.
Hale Conservation Park is located 60km north east of Adelaide.
Access is via Mt Pleasant Road.
Dogs are not permitted in this park.
Discover which parks you can walk your dog in on our find a park tool or read 12 dog-friendly walks in Adelaide Parks by Good Living for inspiration.
Assistance dogs are permitted in most public places and are therefore welcome in South Australia’s parks and reserves. Assistance dogs must be appropriately restrained on a lead and remain under your effective control at all times while in a park or reserve.
As per the dogs in parks and reserves policy, if the dog is not an accredited assistance dog, they must be trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate that disability and meet standards of hygiene and behaviour appropriate for a dog in a public place. However, refusal may be given if the person with the disability is unable to produce evidence the dog is an assistance dog with the appropriate training.
Before taking your assistance dog into a park that does not normally allow dogs, it is highly recommended that you contact us so we can provide you with the latest information on any potential hazards within specific parks that may affect your dog. Please contact the park via the contact details provided under the contact tab or contact the visitor service centre via email or on Facebook.
Flora and fauna species lists
To download flora (plants) and fauna (animals) species lists for this park, use the ‘Create Simple Species List’ tab under ‘Flora Tools’ or ‘Fauna Tools’ in NatureMaps.
Visit the Walking Trails Support Group for maps, leaflets and walking notes produced by park volunteers.
- Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Dead wood plays a vital role in providing shelter for animals and adding nutrients to the soil.
Aboriginal peoples have occupied, enjoyed and managed the lands and waters of this State for thousands of generations. For Aboriginal first nations, creation ancestors laid down the laws of the Country and bestowed a range of customary rights and obligations to the many Aboriginal Nations across our state.
There are many places across the State that have great spiritual significance to Aboriginal first nations. At some of these places Aboriginal cultural protocols, such as restricted access, are promoted and visitors are asked to respect the wishes of Traditional Owners.
In places where protocols are not promoted visitors are asked to show respect by not touching or removing anything, and make sure you take all your rubbish with you when you leave.
Aboriginal peoples continue to play an active role in caring for their Country, including in parks across South Australia.
The underlying rock at Hale Conservation Park is aldgate sandstone, deposited about 800 million years ago as sand and pebbles in alluvial fans developing at the foot of an escarpment that lay to the west. This occurred within a huge depression known as the Adelaide Geosyncline. At this time a shallow sea lay to the east covering what is now eastern Australia.
About 500 million years ago this sandstone was heated and compressed as a result of movements in the earth’s crust. This changed clay particles, deposited with the sand, into mica. (The walk passes old diggings with large mica flakes.) At the same time mineral-rich fluids were injected along cracks in the sandstone to form quartz veins and pods of mixed minerals called pegmatites, which may yield gemstones such as beryl.
Bushwalking is a fantastic way to connect with nature, keep fit and spend time with family and friends.
South Australia’s national parks feature a range of trails that let you experience a diversity of landscapes. Our trails cater for all levels of fitness and adventure and our classification system makes it easy to select an experience suitable for you.
- Walk, hike or trek — what’s the difference?
- Bushwalking safety
- Bushwalking minimum impact code
- Visit the Walking Trails Support Group for maps, leaflets and walking notes produced by park volunteers. .
Grade 4 — Suitable for most ages and fitness levels
Hale Walk (2 hrs, 4km circuit)
Start at Warren Road Trailhead. This walk is best done in Spring when there are plenty of flowers and some water in the creek. Look out for birds, termite mounds and associated Echidna scratchings, changes in rock or vegetation type and large tree-stumps, which suggest how big the trees were before they were cut for timber in the nineteenth century.
There are no designated mountain biking trails in this park.
Camping is not permitted within this park.
- Use Find a Park to discover which parks you can camp in.
Want to help?
To find out how you can help in this park or nearby, please visit Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges – Volunteering.
Want to join others and become a Park Friend?
To find out more about Friends of Parks groups please visit Friends of Parks South Australia.
You could join others to help look after a park. You can take part in working bees, training and other events.
The international Trail Users Code of Conduct is to show respect and courtesy towards other trail users at all times.
Ensure that you:
- when hiking, wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen
- be aware of weather conditions and avoid walking during the hottest part of the day
- make sure you have appropriate weather proof clothing
- carry enough water to be self-sufficient
- please be respectful of other users at all times
- stay on the designated trails and connector tracks for your own safety, and prevent the spread of declared weeds to other areas in the park
- ensure someone knows your approximate location and expected time of return
- take appropriate maps.
- Walk, hike or trek — what’s the difference?
Can I have a fire or barbecue?
- Wood fires, solid fuel, gas fires and liquid fuel fires are prohibited throughout the year.
- Ensure you are familiar with the fire restrictions for this park.
Closures and safety
This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may also be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.
You can determine the current fire danger rating by checking the Fire Ban District map on the CFS website.
Check the CFS website or call the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline 1800 362 361 for:
- Information on fire bans and current fire conditions
- Current CFS warnings and incidents
- Information on what to do in the event of a fire.
Listen to your local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety.
Every national park is different, each has its own unique environment, it is important to be responsible while enjoying all the park has to offer.
Please ensure that you:
- leave your pets at home
- do not feed birds or other animals, it promotes aggressive behaviour and an unbalanced ecology
- do not bring generators (except where permitted), chainsaws or firearms into the park
- leave the park as you found it — there are no bins in national parks, please come prepared to take your rubbish with you.
- abide by the road rules (maintain the speed limit)
- respect geological and heritage sites
- do not remove native plants
- are considerate of other park users.
- Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Dead wood plays a vital role in providing shelter for animals and adding nutrients to the soil.
Come and enjoy this park for free.
This park is not included in the park pass system.
There is no camping or accommodation available within this park.
There are no other fees or permits associated with this park.
