Hallet Cove Glacier Hike, South Australia - A Walk Through Ancient Ice and Time

Wander * Explore * Discover
Apr 30, 2023
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Hallet Cove Glacier Hike, South Australia - A Walk Through Ancient Ice and Time

The Hallett Cove Glacier Hike is one of South Australia’s most fascinating coastal walks, offering a rare opportunity to explore geological features shaped by glaciers more than 270 million years ago. Located within Hallett Cove Conservation Park, this short but information-rich circuit reveals why the area is recognised as the best record of Permian glaciation in Australia and is considered internationally significant.

Starting near the beach, the walk combines coastal scenery with remarkable geological storytelling, making it just as rewarding for curious walkers as it is for nature lovers.

Hallett Cove Glacier Hike Overview

Distance: 2 kilometres - Time: Approximately 1 hour - Grade: Grade 3 (moderate)

This well-maintained circuit walk is clearly marked and suitable for most walkers with a reasonable level of fitness. While not long, there are steps, uneven surfaces and some inclines along the way.

Starting the Walk

We began the hike from the car park near the Boatshed Café at Hallett Cove Beach, which is a convenient starting point with nearby facilities. From here, the track leads into Hallett Cove Conservation Park, transitioning between bitumen paths, natural surface trails and boardwalk steps.

The route is easy to follow, and throughout the walk you’ll find interpretive signs that explain the geological features you’re seeing — turning the hike into an outdoor classroom that brings ancient landscapes to life.

A Landscape Shaped by Ice

The cliff tops you walk along were once the base of a vast glacial lake, formed when glaciers melted during the Permian period. As the ice retreated, it left behind boulders, sands and layered sediments that are still clearly visible today. Standing here, it’s remarkable to think that this now-coastal environment was once frozen under thick sheets of ice, long before dinosaurs walked the earth.

The Sugarloaf

The undisputed highlight of the hike is The Sugarloaf, an iconic geological formation and one of the most photographed features in the park. Located within an area known as The Amphitheatre, the Sugarloaf tells a powerful story of glaciers, erosion and time.

If you look closely, you can clearly see the distinct coloured sediment layers that make up the formation:

Base layer: A dark red layer formed by sediments deposited at the bottom of the ancient glacial lake
Middle layer: A pale, almost white layer of sand that replaced the ice as the glacier melted around 280 million years ago
Top layer: A darker layer created by soils carried down by creeks and rivers from the surrounding land and the Mount Lofty Ranges.

These layers create the Sugarloaf’s striking appearance and offer a visible timeline of geological change.

The Amphitheatre

Surrounding the Sugarloaf is The Amphitheatre, a naturally sculpted bowl created by millions of years of erosion. The exposed rock layers here represent multiple periods of sediment deposition.

You’ll notice:

A top white band of calcrete, formed as limestone hardened near the surface
A thin, hard sandstone layer beneath
Red and purple-mottled sediments below that
Deeper layers of glacial deposits at the base

Together, these layers show how ice, water and time have continually reshaped the land. The process hasn’t stopped either — erosion and deposition continue today as soils are washed or blown into the sea.

Why the Hallett Cove Glacier Hike Is Worth Doing

The Hallett Cove Glacier Hike is far more than a scenic coastal walk. It’s a rare chance to walk through one of Australia’s most important geological landscapes, where ancient ice, shifting seas and erosion have left visible evidence of Earth’s deep past.

With its clear signage, manageable distance and dramatic setting, this walk is perfect for anyone interested in nature, photography, science or simply experiencing something truly unique near Adelaide.