5 national parks to have a BBQ in Adelaide

Does an afternoon among the gumtrees, maybe seeing a kangaroo or two and hearing the laugh of a kookaburra, with the smell of a barbie and the taste of a tinny, sound glorious?

Then look no further than these national parks in Adelaide, where you can spend an arvo cooking some bangers on the bbq in the bush – and still have easy access to a dunny.

So pack your picnic gear, food and drinks and head to one of these 5 spots:

1. Cobbler Creek Recreation Park – north

Cobbler Creek Recreation Park Recreation Park, 19 km north of Adelaide, has all the facilities you’ll need for a great day out.

There’s barbecues, shelters, toilets, drinking fountains, and bike tracks, and the kids will love the raptor-themed Kites and Kestrels Playspace with its sandpits, flying fox, climbing structures and traditional play equipment.

Enter via the corner of Bridge and Smith roads, Salisbury East, and set up your picnic for the day.

2. Onkaparinga River Recreation Park – south

Venture 35 km south of Adelaide to Onkaparinga River Recreation Park. Enter via the main entrance on River Road and you’ll find a barbecue set-up with picnic tables and toilets.

Remember to bring along your kayak or canoe – there is a launch nearby.

3. Morialta Conservation Park – east

Morialta Conservation Park Conservation Park is just 10 km east of the city and has lots of areas with barbecues and toilets, plus the ever-popular Mukanthi Playspace.

Head to the Stradbroke Road Picnic Area to set up for a relaxing afternoon with friends and family.

4. Belair National Park – south

There are lots of picnic areas with barbecues and nearby toilets in Belair National Park, 13 km south of Adelaide. Many of the picnic areas can even be booked online, as well as tennis courts, ovals and pavilions for group events.

There are also free barbecues and picnic tables next to the Adventure Playground at Playford Lake, alongside the Wood Duck Walk and between Willows and the Karka Pavilion.

5. Para Wirra Conservation Park – north

About an hour’s drive northeast of Adelaide is Para Wirra Conservation Park.

The park has the huge Gawler View Picnic Area, which has barbecues, toilets and shelters and Adelaide’s only Natureplay Forest.

The young and young-at-heart will find plenty to explore, including climbing trees, the dry creek bed, rope and sand play, a tunnel run, a rocky amphitheatre, and the ever-popular and long flying fox.

The Lake Picnic Area is also a great spot to set up for the day – with its barbecues, tables and beautiful lake view, what’s not to love?

If you’re planning a summer barbecue in a national park, always check theNational Parks websitefor fire restrictions and the CFS website forfire ban information.

You might also like to lap up the warm weather by venturing further afield and visiting a park along the coast. Check out6 parks perfect for beach-loversfor our top picks.

Main image: Belair National Park

This story was originally posted in January 2018.