I've an engineering friend whose dream is to one day make it to space. It's places like the River Torrens that make me realise the redundancy of his dream. It may sound cruel to shoot down a man's aspirations, but trust me when I say this is the sort of friend who deserves to get shut down now and again. Every group has one. If there is too much of the world - too many beautiful places - to see and explore in one lifetime, why the flying fox would you want to shoot up to look at the stars, which you can see perfectly well from down here? The River Torrens is probably Adelaide's most beautiful locale. I say 'probably', because I'm petrified of commitment (even if it's merely a declaration), and because beauty if subjective, and all that. But every time I realise we have a place like this in Adelaide, it excites me for what the rest of the world holds. read more

24/12/2011 The River Torrens is amazing and I think is the single most beautiful thing about Adelaide. You can only just look at my choice of my display photo for my Yelp profile, to understand why it's on top of my list of 5-star places to go to in Adelaide. No words will come close to describing it. But if I had to choose a phrase of my own, it would be "lovers' and joggers' paradise in the heart of Adelaide". Who comes here, you might ask? The joggers, young lovers cuddling up, wedding couples all nicely dressed, older adult couples just wanting some quality time walking together, bike riders, more serious-looking cyclists, exhausted students in need of a break, nappers, rowers, sexy sportspeople working out, boxers, bike riders, book readers, geeks, and tourists galore spend time around the river on a daily basis. I just wish they cleaned up or prevented the pollution of this once-pristine River. I personally find a personal escape from all the hard work of life, jogging around River Torrens via a warm early afternoon, with my handy towel and water bottle. It's the most inexpensive way to be one with nature and to get fit at the same time. read more

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I've started walking along the River Torrens, and every time I find something new to smile about. It's such a gorgeous place with trees, wide river banks, and plenty of wildlife. It's got a great walking/riding track, if you walk further up closer to North Adelaide it's pretty hard to believe you're so close to the city. I've even been walking back and seen a giraffe poking up from the Adelaide Zoo. There aren't many walking paths that feature their own giraffes. Along the Torrens there are barbecues and picnic spots, and if you're near Elder Park you can enjoy the paddle-boats or the newer Adelaide Ballzup. I love this place, I really, really do. So why is it missing that extra star? Sometimes the River Torrens is a bit like Lilly Allen's LDN. Everything appears all lovely, and gorgeous, and wonderful. But then you look carefully and you notice it's not all roses. The river can stink, especially if you're out on a paddleboat and you get a little too close to the large fountain. You'll also notice various things floating in the river from time to time, that surely shouldn't be there. Walking at night doesn't always feel like the safest thing in the world, with a few too many secluded spots. Overall this picturesque spot deserves more attention from everyone, but gee wouldn't it be great if they could sort out the water issue. P.s. I'm still not entirely convinced that there isn't a lake monster of some description living in the River Torrens... read more

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We've all heard the rumours... "I heard that one year when the Torrens was accidentally drained they found prams and cars and such";OR "I heard that the rowing teams extend their training by one week because they know their squad needs that extra week to build up tolerance from the water each summer." But that grey, brown and sometimes green river that runs through our city is built into our history and they city's character. And like the odd, slightly smelly second uncle that winds its way around a family function, sometimes making the kids giggle and other times freaking them out a little, so too does the Torrens through Adelaide. It's not Sydney's clear blue harbour, but if you look at most rivers around the world we could be doing a lot worse. At least we don't have Brisbane's sharks and it isn't brown as Yarra silt, it is bookended on either side by our grassy banks, instead of highways, and provides a beautiful cycling path from lower Adelaide Hills to the beach (the Linear Trail). If you avoid the swans in spring, and don't go for walks after a couple of hot days in the city, you can enjoy a perfectly delightful walk or free bike ride along the Linear Park trail, or play nookie with a loved one by the footbridge near the uni or even lock away your love with a padlock on that bridge. And now you can even walk across a beautifully lit up bridge near the Adelaide Oval at night and look back over little ole' Adelaide city. Just don't swim in it, you fools! read more

River Torrens - View of the Torrens - Lakes Near Me - Adelaide, SA

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Ahhh the Torrens, I have 23 years worth of opinions of you... There have been many beautiful bike rides, picnics along your banks, from the city to the beach and you are a a gem - so accommodating and lovely company! There have been dark times, however. There was that time when you were drained and empty for the world to see your inner most secrets - and it wasn't pretty. Car wrecks, prams, walking frames and god knows what else made up your basis. Not cool. You also smelled really bad at this time. On another occasion a friend swam across you for a bet. A week later he was struck down with a mystery illness and bedridden for weeks...which was awkward. He's okay now though. Currently the area that runs through the CBD is going through an update - with a new bridge and whatnot. Unfortunately this has meant that some of the drinking fountains have been removed around this area - mega disappointing on hot days. All that aside, you're still pretty nice - a little bit of work to be done, and maybe reign your swans in - those little brats can be awfully bitey! read more

Iconically South Australian, the River Torrens is a picturesque and peaceful part of Adelaide, providing a perfect spot smack bang in the CBD for events and general fun times. It's central, you can always find a car park, and it's pretty much *the* spot for picnics, bike rides, long lazy walks, community events, family days out, the Moon Lantern festival etc etc... It's also home to familiar sights most of us who grew up here have a soft spot for, from the black swans gliding along its surface, the primary-coloured paddle boats, to the Pop-eye making its regular trip along the waterway. It's also very quiet: there is always a spot to set up without anyone nearby, and unlike other parks and rivers around the world you don't see beggars or buskers or dealers or whatevs. The river and its surrounding banks are wholesome and family-friendly. read more

The River Torrens may look beautiful, and it does, and it may be a great place to go along for a jog, and it is, but it's surely gross as well. Getting away from the really beautiful part behind the University of Adelaide, every other part of the river smells really bad, and doesn't look nearly as nice. I've done the Mothers Day walk along here, and it's been a great experience. I love that there are a number of events throughout the year where simply walking around the river can help raise money for certain things. They really need to clean up whatever is in this river though. Who knows how many bins, cars, bodies etc you could find under there, and I don't want to know. I always think that whoever takes the plunge to dive into the Torrens is a brave, brave man. And an idiot. read more