Anstey Hill Boundary Walk

The Anstey Hill Boundary Walk is an 8.7 km circuit around the outer fire tracks of Anstey Hill Recreation Park, about 16 km north east of Adelaide. Dogs are welcome on a lead no longer than two metres and entry is free. The catch is the gates: vehicle access closes at 7pm, or 9pm in daylight saving, and the whole park shuts on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and on Christmas Day.

Leash status

On lead at all times, on a lead of two metres or less, under National Parks and Wildlife Service SA rules. Stick to the designated walking trails, because anything outside a marked trail system is treated as a hard hike, with loose surfaces and exposed rock. There are no bins anywhere in the park, so whatever you pick up you carry out.

The walk

AllTrails logs the boundary circuit at 8.7 km and moderate, around two and a half to three hours at a dog's pace. It strings together the wide perimeter fire tracks, with steep punchy climbs, loose gravel and long exposed stretches, taking in the Newman's Nursery ruins and views over the Adelaide Plains to Gulf St Vincent. The park service does not signpost a trail by that exact name, so you are building the route from the designated tracks. If 8.7 km is too much, the signed Yellow-tail Loop covers the best of it in 6.2 km on wide fire track, and the Little Quarry Loop near Gate 1 is 650 metres of hard-packed level gravel that suits an old dog.

Max: The park service is blunt about this one. Fox baits are laid here and they kill dogs, snake bite is a real risk in the warmer months, and kangaroos and koalas will defend themselves against a dog badly enough to end it. Short lead, not a long line.

Water and shade

Carry everything your dog will drink. There are toilets at Gate 1 near Ellis Cottage with a dog water bowl attached to the facilities, and picnic shelters around the Little Quarry Loop, but the boundary tracks themselves are open and hot from mid-morning with almost no shade. On anything approaching a hot day, this circuit is the wrong choice.

Getting there and parking

Popular access gates sit off North East Road near the old Tea Tree Gully village, Perseverance Road and Range Road South. Gate 1 on Perseverance Road is the main car park and the one with toilets and accessible parking. Adelaide Metro runs buses along North East Road if you would rather not drive.

More walks nearby

Yellow Track Loop is the shorter option inside the same park, while Gate 18 and Gate 6 come at it from the other side. For an off-lead run afterwards, Ashley Avenue Dog Park is close, and Shelley Street Cafe is the local coffee stop.

When to go

Go early, and in winter or spring when the wildflowers are out and the climbs are not punishing. An autumn sunset from the ridgetop trails is the local pick. Skip hot days altogether given the exposure, and note the vehicle gates close at 7pm, or 9pm in daylight saving, so time your finish. Best for fit dogs and owners ready for a real climb on a two-metre lead.

More Adelaide foothill routes are in our SA trails guide, and the Tea Tree Gully page has the local dog-friendly listing.