Adelaide's 'Gnarly' Parks: Surge in Rescues Prompts Urgent Safety Warnings for Bushwalkers

Recent emergency rescues in Adelaide’s peri-urban conservation parks have sparked fresh warnings for outdoor enthusiasts to respect the state’s deceptive natural landscapes. The alerts follow several high-profile incidents where bushwalkers found themselves in severe difficulty just outside the suburban fringe.

Recent Rescues Highlight Local Dangers

Over the weekend, emergency crews were called to the Onkaparinga River National Park on Sunday evening after three teenagers became lost on the Sundew Track after dark. The park, situated adjacent to Adelaide’s southern suburbs, is a known hotspot for rescue operations. In October last year, a 60-year-old rock climber suffered a 15-metre fall in the same park, sustaining serious injuries.

Further south at Deep Creek Conservation Park, located roughly an hour and a half's drive from Adelaide, another rescue unfolded on Wednesday afternoon. A man fell 15 metres down a cliff near Blowhole Beach, requiring a rescue helicopter. The park is renowned for having some of the steepest and most inaccessible terrain in South Australia, coupled with incredibly dense scrub. The difficulty of the terrain was previously highlighted in 2020, when an injured hiker's ankle forced a paramedic to hike a seven-hour round trip and camp overnight with the group.

Expert Warns Against Underestimating Terrain

Walking SA director Rod Quintrell cautioned that Adelaide's nearby wilderness can mislead walkers. "It gets gnarly very quickly." Mr Quintrell noted, explaining that the transition from easy trails to hazardous terrain can catch people off guard. Referring to Onkaparinga, he said, "The Onkaparinga River Recreation Park down the bottom is nice and flat. It's got the river going through, and it's all pretty and easy enough," but added, "But then you get into the national park, and it's a beautiful steep gorge, with rock climbing and all sorts of stuff, so it can be a little bit surprising."

Mr Quintrell, an experienced guide who still conducts training and tour groups, noted that people often overestimate their physical preparedness. "I've been a guide for years. I still do tour groups. I still do training," he said. "And the amount of people, if you ask them if they're fit, it's a sort of nebulous question." He explained that many will claim, "Of course I'm fit. I can walk", only to discover that traversing local hills "is actually way different to what they thought they were signing themselves up for."

The Risks of Morialta and Social Media Influence

To the east of Adelaide, Morialta Conservation Park presents similar challenges. In 2021, a 20-year-old hiker suffering from hypothermia was rescued there. The park has also been the site of fatal falls in 2022 and 2025, alongside a 2020 incident where a fallen rock climber had to be winched to safety. Mr Quintrell warned that the park's initial family-friendly spaces mask the challenges further up. While the trail starts with a playground and progresses to the first waterfalls, the route quickly changes. "Then you get to the first falls, and it's still fun and games, and then you go up," he said, adding, "There are high drop-offs, it's slippery with big waterfalls, and it's way more gnarly country."

A nationwide spike in lost and stranded hikers—including a recent rescue in Kosciuszko National Park involving an artificial-intelligence-powered drone—has been partly attributed to a post-lockdown surge in bushwalking interest. Mr Quintrell noted that while the influx of walkers since COVID-19 is positive, social media has added pressure to visit picturesque locations. "It was great, and those who stuck at it have gotten more ambitious and, you know, social media has pushed people to look for some beautiful spots," he said. "But sometimes it looks like the abilities or the skills don't quite match the ambition."

He also observed that social media posts often hide the true physical toll of these hikes, with photos taken only after hikers have rested. He remarked that people often post photos once "their face wasn't red" or "Or they'd finally stopped crying and then said, 'Look at me up here. This is the best thing in the world, and here I am'," Mr Quintrell said.

Authorities Urge Better Preparation

A spokesperson for SA Police identified several common factors leading to emergency callouts, primarily highlighting a failure to understand personal physical limitations. Other common issues include a lack of safety and recovery equipment, insufficient food and water, inadequate communication systems, and a lack of backup GPS or paper maps.

"We would recommend taking a personal EPIRB or beacon if going into unknown or unfamiliar territory and to let a friend or relative know of your intended destination and arrival times," the police spokesperson advised. They also urged walkers to monitor weather via the Bureau of Meteorology and utilize smartphone apps such as Emergency+ or what3words.

Additionally, hikers are urged to account for the season and time of day, noting that winter darkness falls rapidly inside deep gorges. A spokesperson for the Department for Environment and Water reinforced that visitors must take responsibility for their own safety by keeping to marked trails, obeying ranger advice and warnings, and remaining behind safety barriers. The department pointed out that informational signage is provided at trailheads, with further details hosted on the National Parks and Wildlife Service website.

The Value of Outdoor Recreation

Despite the risks, bushwalking remains highly popular, with hundreds of thousands visiting South Australia's parks annually. State initiatives are also encouraging younger generations to engage with nature, such as a recent program offering public year 7 students a free three-night outdoor-focused camp.

Mr Quintrell supported encouraging safe exploration of the state's natural assets. "Preventative health and the rest of it says that we have all this beautiful nature on our doorstep, we have the right weather most of the time, why not access it?" he said. "And then, if you are going to access it, what do our people need to know?"