Go green in the city

It is not just honey lovers who will want to check out the city’s 6km Native Bee BnB trail. We all know how threatened our bee species are – including the 300 native species found across Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills – so checking out the native bee hotels installed across the parklands is a guaranteed feel-good experience. There are plenty of other natural attractions to enjoy on this stroll from G.S. Kingston Park-Wirrarninth to Mistletoe Park-Tainmuntilla, including wetlands and thriving bush tucker plants.

Enjoy a Fido-friendly walk

Given the proven mental health benefits of companion animals – not to mention the simple joy they bring – we are all for pet-friendly paths. The 8km North Adelaide Scenic Dog Walking Trail is a surefire winner for both you and your four-legged friend. Starting at North Adelaide Dog Park on Robe Terrace, this circuit winds through green parks and pathways past the zoo and Pinky Flat before wending its way back via Wellington Square.

One of the most magical things about walking along a river is that it doesn’t matter what the weather is. The steel-grey ribbon of water you follow on an overcast day is as delightful as the sunshine-spangled blue that beckons you on a clear morning. The River Torrens-Karrawirra Parri is Adelaide’s oasis, lined in various spots by reed beds and river red gums, and home to a range of bird life from colourful lorikeets to families of ducks.

It is no secret that olive oil is packed with health-giving compounds; less well-known is the fact that in the 1800s the City of Adelaide planted thousands of olive trees in the city’s parks, exporting the resulting olive oil all the way to London. Take a walk through the gnarled survivors in the heritage-listed olive grove near Melbourne Street shops, where the sound of the breeze rippling through the silver leaves sends a shiver of pleasure up your spine. You can even get a free permit to harvest some of the olives yourself.

Swap the gym for the green

Committed to your daily workout? Then take it outdoors in Victoria Park/Pakapakanthi and fill your lungs with fresh air as you put your body through its paces. Start with a circuit or two of the running loop, then hit the fitness stations. As you exercise your lower and upper body in turn, let the sights and sounds of nature provide a soundtrack far more stimulating than techno beats blasting at full volume.

Image credits: South Australian Tourism Commission, and Adelaide Economic Development Agency