Onkaparinga River National Park

Onkaparinga River National Park is a protected area in South Australia that covers the floodplain of the Onkaparinga River east of Main South Road.

It was purchased in 1973-77 by the State Planning Authority and later transferred to the Department for Environment and Heritage in 1982. The park was established to provide open space for recreation, protect the natural ambience of the area, and act as a buffer between urban and rural land. The park is divided into the Onkaparinga River Recreation Park and the Onkaparinga River National Park.

Before European settlement, the lower reaches of the Onkaparinga River were inhabited by the Kaurna Aboriginal people. The river's name is derived from the Kaurna name for chief. Settlers started farming in the area, leading to the displacement of the Aboriginal people. The town of Noarlunga (now Old Noarlunga) provided services, with transport of farm produce downriver to Port Noarlunga.

The park's vegetation has been perturbed by human activities, but remnants of the original flora remain. The most unspoilt area is the Hardy Scrub section of the reserve. Remnant eucalypts are the most conspicuous native species in the reserve, with invasive grasses also present. The gorge has been revegetated over the years, and direct seeding is the latest method employed to restore native vegetation. The park is home to a variety of insects, butterflies, and dragonflies, as well as kangaroos.

Onkaparinga River National Park offers numerous scenic bushwalking trails, including the Giles Conservation Walk, Sundews Lookout