Pingle Farm Trail

The Pingle Farm Trail follows the Onkaparinga River estuary past the stone ruins of an 1860s farm, and dogs are allowed if you follow a firm rule: on lead at all times, using a lead no longer than two metres, and only on the marked trails.

The walk

The trail sits inside Onkaparinga River Recreation Park, on the Port Noarlunga South side of the river. It is flat, on gravel and dirt with some uneven patches, and winds through wetland, saltmarsh and low scrub.

Kangaroos are common here, and so are waterbirds. That is why National Parks and Wildlife Service SA keeps dogs leashed.

Water and shade

There is no water on the trail and very little shade across the floodplain. Carry water and a bowl for the dog, and skip hot afternoons.

Bins and some bag dispensers are at the trailhead and car parks off River Road, and sparse once you are out on the bush sections. Sections can turn muddy or flood after heavy rain.

Pair it with

Back in Port Noarlunga, The Flour Store is an easy coffee stop after a morning on the estuary.

Pick a cool day, as the open floodplain gets hot. It is a good pick for dogs who find off-lead parks too hectic.