Visiting Mount Lofty Summit

About Mount Lofty Summit

At 710 metres, the summit gives a sweeping view over the Adelaide Plains to the gulf, with the Flinders Column marker and a café. The steep Waterfall Gully trail climbs about 4 km from the waterfall at its base, and Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is nearby.

Tip: Walk up from Waterfall Gully in the morning before the heat, and have someone collect you at the top or walk back down.

Plan your visit

• Time needed: 2–3 hours with the walk.
• Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
• Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
• Where: Adelaide Hills.

Best time to visit Mount Lofty Summit

Mount Lofty Summit is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:

• March: 26°C (79°F) highs, about 4 rainy days, very busy crowds.
• February: 29°C (84°F) highs, about 3 rainy days, very busy crowds.
• April: 23°C (73°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds.

For the view at golden hour: in mid-March the sun sets at about 19:35 local time (calculated for Adelaide).

When to visit Adelaide has the full month-by-month picture.

Fit it into your trip

Our 3-day Adelaide itinerary visits Mount Lofty Summit on day 3, together with Adelaide Botanic Garden and Adelaide Zoo.

• No. 10 of the 16 sights in our Adelaide things-to-do list.
• Day 3 of the 5-day plan.
• Listed in free things to do in Adelaide.
• One of the picks in outdoors in Adelaide.

Near Mount Lofty Summit

Also in Adelaide Hills, so you can walk between them:

• Cleland Wildlife Park — 2 hours, mid-priced
• Morialta Conservation Park — 2–3 hours, free

If you like Mount Lofty Summit

• Adelaide Oval — North Adelaide, 2 hours
• Glenelg Beach and Jetty — Glenelg, Half a day
• Adelaide Botanic Garden — East End, 1.5–2 hours
• River Torrens and Elder Park — Riverbank, 1 hour

Staying near Mount Lofty Summit

Where to stay in Adelaide compares every area by price and who it suits.

Questions travellers ask