Yellow Track Loop

The Yellow Track Loop runs about 6.3 km on wide fire tracks through Anstey Hill Recreation Park at Tea Tree Gully, roughly 16 km northeast of Adelaide. It is one of the South Australian parks where dogs are welcome, with a single condition that matters: stay on the marked trails.

The walk

Allow close to two hours for the circuit. The grade comes from a handful of steep pitches rather than sustained climbing, and the surface is loose gravel in places with full sun exposure on the open sections. The ruins of Newman's Nursery sit on the route, and the loop meets the rest of the park's track network at several gates, so you can cut it short if needed.

Leash status

The National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia manages Anstey Hill, and dogs must be on a lead no longer than two metres, kept to the designated walking trails. That restriction matters here: the park carries koalas, kangaroos and black cockatoos, and the off-track ground is exactly what it exists to protect. No bins are provided, so carry the bags back out with you.

Water

Bring your own. There is no reliable water along the loop, and the exposed fire tracks dry a dog out quickly through the warmer half of the year. Toilets and some facilities sit near the main entrances rather than on the circuit.

Max: this loop is shared with mountain bikers on fast fire-track descents. A short lead and a habit of stepping to the uphill side will save you both a fright.

Getting there

The quarry car park at the main entrance is the usual start, with more parking and toilets near Gate 1 off North East Road. By bus, Adelaide Metro route 557 stops at 51N on North East Road and route 542 stops at stop 52, about 700 metres from the entrance.

More walks nearby

The Anstey Hill Boundary Walk covers the other edge of the same park, and the Gate 6 entry at Vista is a different way in. Afterwards, Tea Tree Gully Coffee Shoppe and Shelley Street Cafe are easy dog stops back in the suburb.

When to go

Early morning is the best window, particularly from spring through autumn when the exposed sections heat up fast. After rain the loose surface gets slippery on the steeper pitches. Views over the Adelaide Plains are the payoff at the top.

More options are on the South Australia trails guide and the Tea Tree Gully destination page.