Hikers warned to take 'gnarly' peri-urban parks seriously after rescue

Hikers are being urged to treat Adelaide's peri-urban conservation parks with greater respect after a recent rescue operation involving three teenagers lost in Onkaparinga River National Park. Rod Quintrell, director of Walking SA, described some of these areas as "gnarly" and prone to catching unprepared individuals off guard.

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It gets gnarly very quickly.

The teenagers were found on the Sundew Track after dark, highlighting the rapid shift in conditions within parks adjacent to the city's southern suburbs. Onkaparinga River National Park has a history of search and rescue incidents, including a rock climber's serious fall last year. While parts of the park, like the Onkaparinga River Recreation Park, are relatively flat and easy, venturing into the national park reveals steep gorges and challenging terrain.

Morialta Conservation Park, to the east of Adelaide, has also seen incidents, including a hiker rescued with hypothermia in 2021 and fatal accidents involving walkers and a rock climber in recent years. Quintrell likened the park's progression from a children's playground to treacherous, slippery terrain with high drop-offs.

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But then you get into the national park, and it's a beautiful steep gorge, with rock climbing and all sorts of stuff, so it can be a little bit surprising.

Further south, Deep Creek Conservation Park presents some of the state's steepest and most inaccessible terrain. A paramedic once spent a seven-hour round trip, including an overnight stay, to assist hikers with an ankle injury. Quintrell noted that many people who claim to be fit underestimate the physical demands of these parks. He believes there's been a national increase in hikers getting into difficulty, partly due to a surge in interest during COVID-19 lockdowns, which may have led some to overestimate their capabilities on more challenging trails.

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And the amount of people, if you ask them if they're fit, it's a sort of nebulous question.