Set in beautiful natural bushland, Belair National Park is just 25 minutes from Adelaide city centre. It is the ideal place to get active in the great outdoors. There are woodlands and lakes to explore, walking and mountain biking trails to suit all levels of fitness, plus tennis courts and cricket pitches available for hire.

This is South Australia’s oldest national park, and is home to Old Government House – a significant heritage building. Also in the park is State Flora, the oldest plant nursery in South Australia and still going strong today. The park remains one of the few relatively undisturbed areas of native vegetation in the Adelaide Hills region, making it an important refuge for native plants and animals.

The Kaurna Aboriginal people have lived in the area for thousands of generations. The Kaurna people referred to the area now known as Belair as Piradli, which means ‘baldness’. This was in reference to the area’s appearance when looking south from the Adelaide Plains – ‘bald like the moon’. The description provides an insight into the fire stick farming activities of the Kaurna people.

Aboriginal peoples have occupied, enjoyed and managed the lands and waters of this State for thousands of generations. For Aboriginal first nations, creation ancestors laid down the laws of the Country and bestowed a range of customary rights and obligations to the many Aboriginal Nations across our state.

There are many places across the State that have great spiritual significance to Aboriginal first nations. At some of these places Aboriginal cultural protocols, such as restricted access, are promoted and visitors are asked to respect the wishes of Traditional Owners.

In places where protocols are not promoted visitors are asked to show respect by not touching or removing anything, and make sure you take all your rubbish with you when you leave.

Aboriginal peoples continue to play an active role in caring for their Country, including in parks across South Australia.

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