Updated in October 2026, this Mount Lofty Summit guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
Mount Lofty Summit is a lookout and visitor complex at the top of the Mount Lofty Ranges in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Parking is now a flat $5.80 per vehicle for the whole day, which is higher than the $3 to $5.40 quoted in older guides. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the current parking rate and the summit opening hours.
Quick facts: Mount Lofty Summit
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Lookout open daily. Visitor Information Outlet 9am to 5pm daily. Summit Restaurant and Café 9am to 4pm weekdays, 8am to 4.30pm weekends. |
| Ticket prices | Free entry ($0). Car park: $5.80 per vehicle for the day. |
| Address | 266 Mount Lofty Summit Road, Crafers SA 5152 |
| Nearest transport or parking | Summit car park beside the lookout. Adelaide Metro bus 823 runs from Crafers Park & Ride. |
| Typical time needed | About 30 minutes to 1 hour |
Mount Lofty Summit opening hours
The summit lookout is open daily. Vehicle gates to the car park have set opening times, so check current gate times before a sunset or evening visit.
Facilities at the summit have their own hours:
- Visitor Information Outlet and Gift Shop: 9am to 5pm daily, including weekends and public holidays. It is closed on Christmas Day.
- The Summit Restaurant and Café: 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 4.30pm on Saturday and Sunday. The kitchen closes earlier, at 2.30pm on weekdays and 3.30pm at weekends.
- Public holidays: the café opens 9am to 3.30pm. It is closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
The café can change its hours at the manager’s discretion. There are no seasonal changes to the summit and visitor outlet hours.
Five great things to do while you’re in Adelaide
- Kayak with dolphins – at the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary.
- Take wildlife-packed day tour to Kangaroo Island.
- Combine an Adelaide Hills tour with a lunch cruise on the Murray River.
- Enjoy a tasting tour of four Barossa Valley wineries – with a gourmet lunch.
- See incredible sunsets on a twilight cruise from Glenelg.
Mount Lofty Summit ticket prices
Entry to Mount Lofty Summit is free. The only charge is for parking in the summit car park.
- General entry and lookout: free.
- Car park: $5.80 per vehicle. This flat rate covers the whole day and applies 24 hours a day.
- Walking trails: free. The Waterfall Gully to Summit hike, the Heysen Trail and the trail to Cleland Wildlife Park all start or finish at the summit.
- Cleland Wildlife Park: entry fees apply at the park, but not at the summit.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
How to get to Mount Lofty Summit
The summit is 15 km east of Adelaide city centre, about a 20-minute drive. It rises more than 710 metres above sea level.
- By car: follow Mount Lofty Summit Road to the summit car park, which is in front of the café and visitor centre.
- By bus: take an Adelaide Metro bus to Crafers Park & Ride, then change to bus 823 to the summit. The service runs on a limited timetable, so check Adelaide Metro for current times.
- On foot from Waterfall Gully: a popular 4.5 km hike that takes about 2 hours 30 minutes one way.
- On foot from Cleland Wildlife Park: the Steub Trail is a gentler 3.5 km walk one way through native woodland.
- By bike: the Crafers to Mount Lofty link trail is a shared-use trail for walkers and mountain bikers.
Parking at Mount Lofty Summit
The summit car park is run by Wilson Parking and costs a flat $5.80 per vehicle for the day. You can pay through the Wilson Parking app or at the payment machines.
The car park has accessible parking spaces and a bus parking area. It is directly in front of the café and visitor centre.
How long to spend at Mount Lofty Summit
Plan about 30 minutes to 1 hour for the lookout, the visitor centre and a coffee. Allow longer for a meal or a walk. Walkers who plan a trail from the summit should collect a map and ask staff for trail advice before they set out.
The Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty hike is 4.5 km one way and takes about 2 hours 30 minutes. Walkers who finish at the summit need a plan for the return trip, such as a bus or a lift.
Accessibility at Mount Lofty Summit
The summit lookout is accessible. The summit complex has accessible parking spaces, accessible toilets and baby change facilities.
The Visitor Information Outlet and the café are part of the summit complex, next to the lookout and car park.
Dogs are not permitted at the summit. Assistance dogs are welcome.
What to see at Mount Lofty Summit
The summit gives panoramic views across Adelaide’s city skyline to the coast. More than 350,000 people visit the peak each year.
The Visitor Information Outlet and Gift Shop has interactive touch screens, maps, walking trail advice and South Australian souvenirs. Staff can suggest other places to visit in the region.
The Summit Restaurant and Café serves breakfast and lunch with views over the Mount Lofty Ranges. The summit is also a popular place to watch the sunset.
Three walking routes lead from the summit. The Waterfall Gully hike descends to Waterfall Gully. The Heysen Trail is a long-distance walking trail that passes the summit. A walking trail through native bushland leads to Cleland Wildlife Park.
The summit is inside Cleland National Park, which has walking and cycling trails through bushland.
The Visitor Information Outlet has the latest maps and walking trail advice. Free interactive park maps for the walking and bike trails can also be downloaded in the Avenza Maps app, which works without a network connection. Google Street View covers some trails in the area, so walkers can preview a route before they leave home.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Check the car park gate times before a sunset visit. The café kitchen closes by 2.30pm on weekdays. |
| Crowds | The summit receives more than 350,000 visitors a year, so allow time to find a space. |
| Layout | The car park, café, visitor centre and lookout are close together. Trails to Waterfall Gully and Cleland start nearby. |
| Entry process | No ticket is needed. Pay for parking through the Wilson Parking app or at the machines. |
| On-site logistics | Take water and sun protection for the walks. Dogs are not allowed, and the visitor outlet sells maps and souvenirs. |
Frequently asked questions about Mount Lofty Summit
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Mount Lofty Summit free to visit? | Yes. Entry is free. Parking costs $5.80 per vehicle for the day. |
| Is Mount Lofty Summit suitable for children? | Yes. The lookout is accessible, and the summit has baby change facilities and a café. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Mount Lofty Summit? | No. No booking is needed for the lookout, the visitor centre or the walking trails. |
| Is Mount Lofty Summit open on Sundays? | Yes. The lookout is open daily, the visitor outlet opens 9am to 5pm and the café opens 8am to 4.30pm. |
| Are dogs allowed at Mount Lofty Summit? | No. Dogs are not permitted. Assistance dogs are welcome. |
Things to do near Mount Lofty Summit
- Mount Lofty Botanic Garden: a 97-hectare cool-climate garden about 1.3 km from the summit, with walking loops, gullies and a lake.
- Cleland Wildlife Park: a wildlife park and tourist attraction since 1967, linked to the summit by the 3.5 km Steub Trail.
- Waterfall Gully: the foot of the popular hike to the summit, 4.5 km one way.
- Cleland National Park: a bushland park about 22 km south-east of Adelaide city centre, which includes the summit and Waterfall Gully.
- Heysen Trail: a long-distance walking trail that passes through the summit area and the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden.
Alternative attractions
- Windy Point Lookout: a lookout on Belair Road in Belair, a short drive from Adelaide city centre, with views of the city lights and Gulf St Vincent.
- Mount Barker Summit: a 513-metre peak with panoramic views, about a 40-minute drive from central Adelaide. A 500 m return walk reaches the summit from the car park.
- Mengler Hill Lookout and Sculpture Park: a lookout over the Barossa Valley, just over an hour’s drive north-east of Adelaide.
- Greenhill Recreation Park: a quiet park in the Adelaide Hills with views across Adelaide.
- Belair National Park: a national park in the Adelaide foothills with short walks, including the Lorikeet Loop Walk.
More Adelaide travel
Other Adelaide travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan your visit to Adelaide Gaol.
- What to expect at the Gorge Wildlife Park.
- Learn the secrets of Penfolds Grange at the Penfolds Magill Estate in Adelaide.
- Adelaide Himeji Garden visitor guide: What to expect in Adelaide’s Japanese garden.
- Why driving and fishing are better than swimming at Sellicks Beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
