For our second visit to Black Hill as part of InDaily‘s series highlighting SA’s lesser-known tracks, we checked out the Black Hill Summit Hike and extended it to include Ghost Tree Gully Track.

It was a particularly wet and foggy morning, which is my favourite time to go walking.  The weather can’t always be perfect, and some light rainfall during your walk can create a peaceful ambiance and give a completely different perspective of your surrounds.

If you have the time, take a wander through the landscaped Wildflower Garden, which dates back to the late 1940s.

Trail: Black Hill Summit Track and Ghost Tree Gully Track.

Access: 25 minutes from the Adelaide CBD; on-street parking available on Addison Road.

Rating: Moderate – be prepared for some steep, rocky sections. Take extra care, as recent rainfalls have resulted in rocky and uneven ground.

Features:  The walk mostly follows narrow track with bush cover that is quite light, giving open views from both sides of the trail.  Keep this in mind during the warmer months, as there is little to no shade most of the way.

From the entrance at the end of Addison Road, we took a slight right to start the Summit Trail.  This is rocky from the start, and quickly becomes a steep track.  Upon reaching the summit, we had a slight Blair Witch moment when we spotted an odd pile of rocks in the middle of a clearing, surrounded by a thick layer of fog.  We placed our rock precariously on top of the pyramid and quickly moved on.

Staying on Black Hill Track, we continued past the Summit Trail on our left, taking a left onto Banksia Track and then again onto Ghost Tree Gully Track.  If you want to shorten your walk, there is a connecting link from Ghost Tree Gully Track taking you back to the Summit Trail – look for Ghost Gum Summit Trail Link on your left.

We continued on Ghost Tree Gully Track to extend our walk, and got to meet one of the local residents (see below) up close and personal.  The wet weather didn’t seem to bother this koala one bit, as he nestled quite comfortably in the low branches of a tree.

Photo: Jodie Vidakovic

This section of track was much flatter, giving you the chance to break into a jog if you’re up for it.  Follow this through to Joann Track and take a left, then left again onto Tetragona Trail. This will bring you back to your starting point.

If you have the time, wander through the Wildflower Garden. This landscaped area has wide paths which would be great for young ones to explore.

Length: Approximately a 7km loop.

Time: About two hours at a moderate pace.

Tip: Download the Avenza PDF Map app so you can access interactive maps when you need them.  The app allows you to download National Parks SA maps and uses your device’s built-in GPS to plot your real-time location within the park onto a map.  You can also download your Black Hill Conservation Park map here, and keep up to date with latest park alerts.

‘Blair Witch’ moment at the Summit. Photo: Jodie Vidakovic

Narrow, undulating trails. Photo: Jodie Vidakovic

Photo: Jodie Vidakovic

Photo: Jodie Vidakovic

Native flora. Photo: Jodie Vidakovic