Section 4B: Monument Road Norton Summit to Newton

This trail section is the most rugged section of the Adelaide100® sections, with several large ascents and descents. This section starts near Norton Summit, on Monument Road, 1.7km east of the town of Norton Summit. The trail follows road reserves and roadsides before entering Morialta Conservation Park, passing numerous waterfalls and lookouts before descending into a gorge. This undulating section then enters Black Hill Conservation Park, ascending to the summit of Black Hill, before descending back down to suburban Adelaide, through Newton to Thorndon Park.

About this Section

The Adelaide100® trail in this section starts on the first small section of the Adelaide100® trail that was marked. That 1.7km section, along Monument Road was opened in 2016. Don’t be deceived by the word ‘Road’ in the name, it’s mostly a road reserve with no vehicle access.

Begin this section at the south eastern end of Monument Road, the furthest end from Norton Summit, where the road intersects Debneys Road. Monument Road is public property despite not always appearing so — it is unmade road reserve — be sure to keep to the Adelaide100® signposting to avoid wandering into the private properties that line both sides. Enjoy the native scrub and woodland and the small privately-maintained publicly-owned exotic garden. Ascending the open grassy approach to Norton Summit, look for the small cemetery on the south eastern side-visit and sense the history from the gravestones’ inscriptions. Climb the bank to the road verge.

The five-roads intersection of Norton Summit is rich with interest. Monument Road was so named after the monument you find here. The monument is dedicated to the locals who fought in the wars. The statue is Sir Thomas Playford, local cherry orchardist and Australia’s longest serving head of state. The historic building was the Council Chambers, when council areas were smaller and more numerous. The Scenic Hotel does meals certain days of the week. Its mirror image building opposite has a Bed and Breakfast.

Wind through woodland and scrub via the vehicular track off Colonial Drive. The trail passes Morialta Barns, a complex of stone buildings which included a coach house, a well house, a bake house, a dairy and stables - all surrounded by a stoned walled enclosure. The barns were part of an estate named Morialta that was built in 1847. The barns have been restored and are now a bed and breakfast.

Walking along the eastern-side road verge of Colonial Drive, the trail enters the upper reaches of Morialta Conservation Park. After the Belair National Park, Morialta Conservation Park is the next most visited Park in South Australia. Besides the upper eastern reaches of the Park, the Adelaide100® includes five lookouts, three waterfalls, the Giants Cave, Rocky Hill (418m) and the pleasantly quieter northern parts.

Exit to Montacute Road, go east 100m and step across Fifth Creek into the wild undulations of the Black Hill Conservation Park. Take the Orchard Trail - visit the waterfall escarpment along the way - around to the Orchard Track. Ascend to Black Hill Road, 485m. (The Black Hill Summit, at 467m, is inappropriately named.)

To the west 500m take the Nature Trail, following it all the way down to the Park exit and Addison Avenue. Visit the Wild Flower Garden at the top of Addision Avenue, near the Park exit.

Cross a creek footbridge on the way to Wadmore Park, a network of shared-use paths in lightly wooded open space. Follow the water-course of Fifth Creek to Manresa Court, Hamilton Terrace, and the Rezz Hotel and Thorndon Park.

When the Adelaide100® trail is completed, this section will be approx 25km long, and start in Basket Range, before joining the current open section from Monument Road on to Newton.

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Map Legend
Main Adelaide100® trail marked in blue
Main Adelaide100® trail
Optional spur/alternate route trails marked in red
Optional spur/alternate route trails
Start/Finish of Sections marked with black icons
Start/Finish of Sections
Points of Interest or Information marked with green icons
Points of Interest or Information
Walking Directions marked with orange icons
Walking Directions
Food and Refreshments marked with blue icon of cutlery
Food and Refreshments
Accommodation options marked with blue icon of bed
Accommodation options
Toilets marked with grey toilet icon
Toilets

Elevation Profile

Elevation profile of Adelaide100® Section 4B (Monument Road Norton Summit to Newton)
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  • Distance

    21km (1 day)

  • Start this section

    This Adelaide100® section starts at the south-eastern end of Monument Road, the furthest end from Norton Summit, where the road intersects Debneys Road.

    Link to location in Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/9TqSqiwawxcVkctGA

  • End this section

    End this section of the Adelaide100® trail at Thorndon Park, a reservoir and recreation park. The section ends at the pedestrian entrance to Thorndon Park reserve, opposite 20 Hamilton Terrace, Newton, opposite the Rezz Hotel.

    Link to location in Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/dCowy7LJ2TuHosBb8

  • Getting to and from the trail

     This trail section is through the Adelaide Hills, so is more remote and less well serviced by public transport.

    There are bus connections to the end of the trail at Newton, and where the trail reaches suburban Adelaide at Addison Avenue, Athelstone, but there are no public transport connections to the start of the section in Norton Summit.

    Check Adelaide Metro for bus services to the end of this section of trail.

    Some very limited car parking is available at the start of Monument Road. There is more parking available in Norton Summit, so if you have more than one vehicle park in Norton Summit and try to car pool down to the start on Monument Road.

    There is car parking available about ⅓ along this trail section, at the bottom of Morialta Conservation Park, accessed off Stradbroke Road, Rostrevor.

  • Terrain

    This is the most rugged section of the Adelaide100® trail, with several large ascents and descents.

    The trail here follows foot trails within national parks, as well as some roadside verge walking.

    Elevation at start: 504m
    Elevation at finish: 109m
    Minimum elevation: 109m
    Maximum elevation:  508m
    Total climbing: 728m
    Total descending: 1,127m

  • Need to know

    The trail is open year-round.

    Morialta Conservation Park and Black Hill Conservation Park are closed on days of Cat­astroph­ic Fire Dan­ger and may also be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger. These closures tend to only occur in warmer summer months, but can be as early as October, through to mid April. You can deter­mine the cur­rent fire dan­ger rat­ing of the Mount Lofty Ranges district by check­ing the Fire Ban Dis­trict map on the CFS website, or by phoning the CFS Bush­fire Infor­ma­tion Hot­line on 1800 362 361.

    There is some roadside verge walking near Norton Summit, so keep to eastern side and be wary of vehicle traffic.

    Dogs are permitted on some of the Adelaide100® trail, but often not in national parks or reserves. Dogs are not permitted in Morialta Conservation Park, Black Hill Conservation Park, or Thorndon Park Reserve. Assistance dogs are permitted in most public places and are therefore welcome. Assistance dogs must be appropriately restrained on a lead and remain under your effective control at all times.

  • Impassable creeks

    After periods of heavy rain, some creeks and rivers raise, and may not be able to safely cross. In this section, this crossings include:

    • When walking anti-clockwise/north, entering Morialta Conservation Park from Colonial Drive there is a creek crossing labelled “413 Cross Creek” which may be impassable after heavy rains. If so, you can walk further north along Colonial Drive and enter on Colonial Track.
    • When walking along Fifth Creek south of Manresa Court, labelled “430 Cross Creek”. The creek may be be impassable after heavy rain, in which case avoid this section of Fifth Creek. When walking anti-clockwise walk north from point labelled “429 Walkers Follow Creek” along Maryvale Road then west along Manresa Court. If walking clockwise, continue east along Manresa Court and then south along Maryvale Rd to point labelled “429 Walkers Follow Creek”

  • Refreshments

    The Scenic Hotel is located in Norton Summit, 1.7km from the start of this trail section. In 2022 the hotel was renovated and commenced opening six days a week.

    The Rezz Hotel is located at the end of this trail section, offering meals.

    There is a kiosk located just inside of Thorndon Park.

  • Toilets

    There are public toilets:

    • near the start of the trail section, at the Norton Summit CFS
    • about ⅓ the way through the trail section, at the main carpark/Morialta Falls Trailhead in Morialta Conservation Park
    • at the end of the trail section, just inside of Thorndon Park

  • Staying along the trail

    There are some boutique accommodation options along this trail section:

    • Hills Retreat, Norton Summit
    • Morialta Barns, Norton Summit
    • Morialta Bed & Breakfast, Rostrevor (about ⅓ the way through the trail section, 600m from Morialta Conservation Park and 2km off the trail)
    • Some Airbnb and similar in the suburbs of Rostrevor (near Morialta Conservation Park) and Athelstone (near the end of the trail section)

  • Places of interest

    When walking along the Monument Road reserve, on the open grassy approach to Norton Summit, look for the small cemetery on the south eastern side-visit and sense the history from the gravestones’ inscriptions.

    Explore some of the sites within Morialta Conservation Park, including the Third Falls, Second Falls, First Falls, Eagles Nest Lookout, Giants Cave and Deep View Lookout.

    Take a 400m detour in Black Hill Conservation Park to the summit of Black Hill at 467m elevation.

    Visit the Wild Flower Garden at the top of Addision Avenue, near the Black Hill Conservation Park exit.

Showcase

Walking along Monument Road, the first section marked of the Adelaide100
Walking along Monument Road, the first section marked of the Adelaide100
The Monument Road section of the Adelaide100® follows an old road reserve
The Monument Road section of the Adelaide100® follows an old road reserve
The Third Falls in Morialta Conservation Park
The Third Falls in Morialta Conservation Park
View of the First Falls in Morialta Conservation Park from one of the lookouts
View of the First Falls in Morialta Conservation Park from one of the lookouts
The view from Deep View Lookout in Morialta Conservation Park
The view from Deep View Lookout in Morialta Conservation Park
Walking along the Adelaide100® towards the Morialta Barns
Walking along the Adelaide100® towards the Morialta Barns
Morialta Barns
Morialta Barns
Walking through a less-walked section of Morialta Conservation Park
Walking through a less-walked section of Morialta Conservation Park
The view from the Summit Track, near Black Hill
The view from the Summit Track, near Black Hill
Walking down from Black Hill
Walking down from Black Hill
Walking through Wadmore Park
Walking through Wadmore Park
Walking through Wadmore Park
Walking through Wadmore Park

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Trail Map

View detailed trail maps by visiting the pages for each section above.

Open the map sidebar to view points of interest

Open the map sidebar to view/toggle sites of interest and planning tools.

Map Legend
Main Adelaide100® trail marked in blue
Main Adelaide100® trail
Optional spur/alternate route trails marked in red
Optional spur/alternate route trails
Start/Finish of Sections marked with black icons
Start/Finish of Sections
Points of Interest or Information marked with green icons
Points of Interest or Information
Walking Directions marked with orange icons
Walking Directions
Food and Refreshments marked with blue icon of cutlery
Food and Refreshments
Accommodation options marked with blue icon of bed
Accommodation options
Toilets marked with grey toilet icon
Toilets