Uraidla park, on Greenhill Road in the main street is small, shady and the perfect spot to stop for…read morea picnic, or just a toilet stop. Not to be confused with Uraidla's other parklands on Swamp road, Uraidla Park consists of a carpark, picnic tables, a playground and public toilets. According to local oldies, the park was originally a caravan park.

It can be a little confusing, the park that it, because it is actually part of a much larger…read moreconservation park. As such, I would suggest that it is probably the park that is located in the Gully, and it probably ends at the second falls, not that there is any indicated as to where this park ends and Cleland begins. Mind you, this park, or at least the gully, certainly doesn't feel like your typical national park, in that the trees here make it feel much more like England. On the other hand, this place is the best place to start your trek up to the top of Mount Lofty, probably because there is a car park here. On the other hand, there isn't a kiosk, just a fancy restaurant.

Like many others, what struck me about Waterfall Gully is its proximity to the Adelaide CBD. I'd…read morespent years in Adelaide before ever coming here, and I was surprised at how close a natural treasure like this could be situated so close to the hustle and bustle of the city without any overlap. This is one of the reasons I hold Adelaide in such high regard, as you only have to travel ten minutes from the city to find yourself in an oasis such as this. The waterfall is grand and magnificent, and a short walk up to the top will give you a a breathtaking view of the flora (and the carpark) below. However, for the greatest view, one must traverse the walking trail all the way to Mount Lofty. It's no easy feat, and I've experienced my fair share of wanting to turn back. Though it starts off quite pleasant, the climb soon becomes steep and relentless, and simply grounding yourself on the rocky path is a challenge. However, the reward once reaching Mount Lofty is worth it, and you can enjoy a coffee or lunch at the cafe before making your way back down. The scenery on the drive in and out of Waterfall Gully is also picturesque, with age old architecture and rolling hills in the background. I even spotted some deer once on the drive out! Keep your eyes peeled.

Great spot to check out views of Adelaide. Great spot for pics. Good for tourists. There's a nice…read moregift shop where I bought some stuff, but beware this gift shop is a little bit overpriced and you will find cheaper souvenir shops in Australia elsewhere. The stuffed animals are especially overpriced.

Start at the top or at the bottom and work your way in the opposite direction, then rinse and…read morerepeat. This is one of my favourite walks, it's probably a 17%+ incline in places and gets your heart rate up in no time. Up and back is just over 7.5kms and takes a little over and hour at a good pace. The track is mostly sealed and if not sealed,miss well graded and easy to walk on. Early morning is the best (quietest) time I've found and it's also when the kangaroos are out and about on the track. If you don't mind a few crowds and slow walkers, head there on the weekend. Whenever you go, there's a cafe at the top and bottom which make the perfect places to stop and recover before heading back.

A great example of multipurpose public space, a bushfire refuge and a strange yet functional…read moreexample of communism and bureaucracy. Like so much of our public land, the Uraidla And Districts Soldiers Memorial Park is on land donated to the community many many years ago. The big difference about this park is it remains community owned. The main positive of this is, unlike other public spaces, the park can not have sections sold off of it to generate short term income for the council of the day. The park is truly multipurpose, incorporating football, netball, tennis and cricket, as well as many community events including the annual Uraidla and Summertown Show and Sustainability Fair. Also, during bushfires the adjacent RSL building serves as a Country Fire Service command centre with the oval being used by emergency helicopters and vehicles. As one of the only 'bushfire safer' refuges in the area the park is of great emergency response significance. All of these groups activiely work together to keep the park maintained and functional. Sections of the park are also available for hire by the public for events and weddings, as are the show buildings, including the main hall and kitchen. The grounds themselves are well maintained (as they aren't dependant on the council) and are always undergoing improvements where ever possible thanks to the time donated by enthusiastic members of the community. Thanks to this, there are few places better to be in the Adelaide Hills on a summer's day than under a tree in the Uraidla and Districts Soldiers Memorial Park.

This playground seems a little disjointed. There's a very small toddler playground near the tennis…read morecourts and a larger playground under shade cloth that is designed for older children. There's a rotunda area that you could set up with table and chairs although there is a table/chair in the sun just outside of the rotunda. There is also a BBQ in that same area. There is a lot of space here so if you brought bikes, they would definitely get some use, although the area is quite hilly so little ones might need to be supervised. The shaded playground is a great set up. There's a lot of different equipment for older children and would suit Primary School aged children. In my view, it's a shame the two playgrounds aren't closer together, at least on the same hill. There are toilets at the beginning of the park...not too far for little children to walk but it is right next to the car park. I'm not sure what Burnside Council has against putting in drinking fountains, but here's another playground without one. *Dogs allowed* *BBQ* *Rotunda* *Tennis Courts* *Shaded playground for older children* *Toilet block*