Kuitpo Forest
A working pine and native forest with trails, picnic spots and treetop adventure
A 3,600-hectare ForestrySA reserve of softwood plantations and remnant native bushland in the South Mount Lofty Ranges, criss-crossed by walking, mountain bike and horse trails 45 minutes from Adelaide.
A forest to lose yourself in
Kuitpo Forest is one of the largest publicly accessible forests on the northern Fleurieu, sprawling across the South Mount Lofty Ranges between Meadows and Willunga. It is a working forest - the towering rows of radiata pine are managed by ForestrySA for sustainable timber - but it also protects significant pockets of original native vegetation along its creeks, and the whole reserve is laced with walking, cycling and horse-riding trails.
Walks, rides and treetop fun
Popular spots include the Forest Information Centre on Brookman Road as a starting point, the Chookarloo and Mount Panorama picnic and camping grounds, and the Knott Hill area for views back over the ranges. The Heysen Trail and Lavender Federation Trail both pass through the forest. Families with older kids should look at TreeClimb Kuitpo, a treetop high-ropes and zipline park run inside the forest.
Visiting notes
Day use is free; bookings and small fees apply for the campgrounds and TreeClimb. The Forest Information Centre at 495 Brookman Road, Kuitpo is open 10am-12pm Friday and Saturday and is the best place to pick up trail maps. Bring water, watch for forestry vehicles on the gravel roads, and check fire danger ratings in summer - the forest closes on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger.
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Last verified 3 days ago
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Sources
- Kuitpo Forest - official source - www.forestrysa.com.au (accessed April 2026)
Image credits
- Kuitpo Forest Reserve by Mike Wilson , CC0 via Wikimedia Commons