Visiting the Park

Facilities

The park gates open from 8 am to sunset all year round, except Christmas Day.

Information Centre

The Information Centre is located 200 metres from the western entrance of the park and is open from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm during the week, and 9 am to 4.30 pm on weekends and Public Holidays.

See Park brochure (450Kb PDF).
See fees and charges

DEH Sturt District Office

For booking information you can contact the booking office on (61 8) 8278 8279. You may book a facility up to 12 months in advance either by phone, or at the booking office between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm Monday to Friday. Cash payments, cheques and postal orders should be made payable to:

Booking Office
Department for Environment and Heritage
Southern Lofty District
PO Box 2
Belair SA 5052
Australia

No refunds are given due to inclement weather.

See Conditions of Booking Contract (50Kb PDF).

Car Parks

All tennis courts, picnic grounds, sporting ovals and pavilions have formal parking areas located in close proximity to facilities. Informal car parking areas are located throughout the park.

Food

Picnicking near Playford Lake

The Belair Country Club is located within Belair National Park, and provides dining facilities for visitors to enjoy.

See Mobile Ice-cream Van/Barbecues (50Kb PDF) information

Water

Drinking water is available at five large shelter bays and most of the barbecue shelters. Karka Pavilion has a water tap on its outer perimeter. Main Oval Pavilion has water and a kitchen facility for large events.

Shelter

There are eight large shelters for exclusive use which can be reserved through the booking office, five with large, free barbecue facilities. Main Oval Pavilion and Karka Pavilion may be hired and provide excellent shelter for large groups. Smaller shelters (Arbors) are available at various locations usually associated with the hiring of a tennis court.

Power

Electric power points are available in the Main Oval Pavilion. Requests to use a generator in the Park must be submitted in writing to:

Department for Environment and Heritage District Ranger - Sturt
PO Box 2
Belair SA 5052
Australia

Gas Barbecues

Gas barbecues are available at 13 sites around the park, free of charge and eight picnic grounds with barbecues that can be hired. You are encouraged to use this facility and return to your picnic site to allow others to use the facility. When a Fire Ban is declared for the Mount Lofty Ranges, Belair National Park may remain open. In this event, ALL gas and solid fuel fires including barbecues are not permitted. The existing gas barbecues may not be used without CFS approval (Schedule 10). For further information on Schedule 10 and park closure please contact the booking office on 8278 8279. At all other times Gas barbecues only are permitted in the park.  Some gas barbecues are provided for public use.

Tennis Courts

A total of 54 tennis courts, ten picnic grounds, two sporting ovals and two pavilions are available for hire. The tennis courts, located within natural and semi natural bushland settings are found throughout the park. See example below.

Tennis court 59

Tennis Court 59

• Description: Single court located within a semi-natural bushland setting.
• Surface: Good surface, however is prone to collecting debris.
• Associated facilities: Shelter and parking available.

See fees and charges
See Map of the Park (450Kb PDF).

Reserved Picnic Areas

There are ten picnic areas and two ovals which you can reserve for your exclusive use.

General Public Picnic Area

Willows picnic area

Numerous informal public picnic areas can be found throughout the park, tucked away off the sides of the roads, nestled in the surrounding vegetation. Few of these areas have facilities, however some may be located a few minutes walking distance to toilets and barbecues.

See fees and charges
See Map of the Park (450Kb PDF)

Sporting Ovals

Two sporting ovals are located in the western section of the Park. Both offer magnificent settings close to and/or associated with facilities such as shelter, barbecues and toilets. See example below.

Parks Festival 2000 on Main Oval

Main Oval

• Description - Large grassy oval with rail perimeter; has football goals as well as a summer cricket pitch.
• Associated facilities - Parking available. A large pavilion nearby, with kitchen area, power and toilets located nearby.

Note: This oval can get soft under foot when wet.

See fees and charges
See Map of the Park (450Kb PDF)

Pavilions

Two pavilions are available for large group gatherings and functions. Main Pavilion has associated kitchen, shower and toilet facilities, while Karka Pavilion has associated toilet facilities nearby.

See Fees and charges
See Map of the Park (450Kb PDF)

Toilets

Seventeen toilet blocks are located throughout the park.

Recreational Pursuits

Walking and Nature Observation

There are five defined and marked walking/hiking trails that provide opportunities to explore the park's features. The Wood Duck Walk is a 15 minute loop around Playford Lake suitable for less mobile patrons and providing on-site information about the sites common water birds. The Waterfall Hike is the park's most demanding trail of 6.5 km (approx three hours).

See Walking and Nature Observation sheet (50Kb PDF).

Play Tennis

Picnic 

Shared Use Trail

Walkers, cyclists and horse riders can use the shared use trail within the park. The trail comprises fire tracks, bitumen roads and the previous Valley Road dual walking trail. Visitors are asked to share the trail with each other to enjoy participating in their activity in a natural area.

Bike riding in the park

Bike Riding in National Park Reserves

Bike riding is allowed in Belair National Park. All push bikes including mountain bikes are classed as vehicles under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. This means that all bicycles must keep to the sealed, public access roads at all times.

All bike riders must give way to pedestrians. As you approach pedestrians and walkers, advertise your arrival by ringing your bell. Please observe the 40 km speed limit for all vehicles in the Park. Beware of motor vehicles and other park users such as horse riders and wildlife.

Horse Riding

You can ride your horse in the park on the designated roads and horse trail.

The Tom Roberts Horse Trail has been included in a new shared use trail system to be opened in July 2005. You can follow the signed Tom Roberts Trail until then.

Remember your horse is classified as a 'vehicle' under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. Please give way to pedestrians at all times and as a matter of courtesy, please remove any faecal matter.

Walk the Dog

You can walk your dog in the park provided it is restrained on a leash no longer than three metres at all times. Please remember to remove any faecal matter.

Orienteering

Orienteering activities are allowed in Belair National Park in designated areas. For anyone wishing to undertake orienteering activities in the park please contact the Sturt District office at least six weeks before the proposed event. Applications received less than six weeks prior to the event being held may not be approved.

What's On

Tours of Old Government House 

Old Government House

Old Government House lies in the heart of Belair National Park. It was built on the Government Farm as the official vice-regal summer residence from 1860 to 1880, and was used by Governors MacDonnell (1860 - 1862) and Daly (1862 - 1868).

See Old Government House brochure (1.2Mb PDF).

For further information contact:

The Friends of Old Government House
Belair National Park
PO Box 2
Belair SA 5052
Australia
Phone: (61 8) 8278 5477

Belair Nursery

Plant Nursery

The State Flora Nursery (Belair Park Nursery) is located near Old Government House within the park at a site that has an historical association with government forestry and reafforestation initiatives. A wide range of native Australian plants, garden products, books, pottery, landcare items and Australian gifts are for sale. Planted garden beds and professional advice are other features of this unique nursery.

Trading Hours:

Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays 10 am to 5 pm
Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.

The park may be closed on days of a Total Fire Ban and the nursery is not readily accessable at such times.

For further information contact the nursery on (61 8) 278 7777.

Children's Activities

Have fun at the playground

An adventure playground is located in Belair National Park. The playground is suitable for children of all ages.

Parents can relax and enjoy themselves here while the children go off and play on the playground equipment or other features such as dead tree logs, tunnels and a wooden fort.

Picnicking facilities are available here, making this area one of the major family attractions in the park.

Caring for the Park

Help protect our national parks by following these guidelines:

See The National Parks Code (50Kb PDF).

If you are not sure about what you can and can't do in the Belair National Park, please contact us before your visit. For a legislative overview concerning rules and regulations in national park reserves, view the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 and Regulations.