Mount Lofty Summit Walk, Adelaide, South Australia

An obelisk built by stonemason, Thomas Charles Hockridge in 1885 sits proudly on top of Mount Lofty. Erected in honour of Matthew Flinders who from Kangaroo Island first discovered and named Mount Lofty in 1802.

There are two walking track options to reach the summit. We chose the Adventure trail a 5 kilometre strenuous up-hill track from the Waterfall Gully Carpark.

After a false start, which lead us in the opposite direction heading back towards the carpark we doubled back, found the correct track and were on our way. The track traverses for 5 kilometres, dirt tracks and fire trails then eventually connects with the original track closer to the summit for an epic practically dead-straight up-hill slog before reaching the top in a climax of burning calf muscles, beetroot red faces and sweat-stinging eyes that are half blinded by the beaming white obelisk at the top, called Flinders Column, glaring back at us in the bright afternoon sun. Once at the top we opted to descend via the 4 kilometre original track that is now mostly sealed, but still very very steep. I'm not sure what was harder going; up or down... The walk to the summit was energising and being serenaded by sweeping views over Adelaide city and the surrounding suburbs felt like an achievement and was well worth the burning calf muscles. Admittedly we could have driven to the summit, but where's the adventure in that...