Mt Bold Reservoir lookout

Mt Bold Reservoir lookout offers a scenic escape in Mitcham, around 45 minutes south of Adelaide. The Razorback Road viewing platform looks across the dam wall and towards the Mount Lofty Ranges, making it a worthwhile stop for photographs, quiet sightseeing and a picnic with a broad view over the water. A separate lookout area near the dam wall provides a closer perspective and is open from 9am to 4pm. On most days, visitors can walk across the dam wall and return.

The surrounding Mount Bold Reservoir Reserve covers more than 5,500 hectares and is largely made up of stringybark woodland, with Manna Gum woodland, swamps and creeks adding variety to the landscape. More than 160 native animals live in the reserve, including the Southern Brown Bandicoot, so the area also suits visitors interested in wildlife and birdwatching. Dogs are not permitted, apart from assistance animals, to protect drinking-water quality and local wildlife.

For a longer visit, the reserve has more than 13 kilometres of walking, running and hiking trails. The unsealed, Grade 2 Lookout Trail is a 1.4-kilometre return walk with gentle hills leading to a viewing platform. More experienced bushwalkers can tackle the Grade 5 Forest Loop or Wedgetail Trail, which pass through pine plantation and native vegetation and include very steep, difficult sections. The 5-kilometre Forest Loop returns to the car park, while the 9-kilometre Wedgetail Trail links with the Kidman and Heysen trails, as well as routes towards Onkaparinga National Park and the Willunga Basin Trail.

There is more to the site than its views. Mount Bold is South Australia’s largest reservoir, built during the 1930s to support Adelaide’s growing water supply. From 1938 to 1961, it also generated electricity through a small hydro-electric plant. Today, it remains part of the state’s drinking-water system, with water released to help maintain levels at Clarendon Weir before being diverted to Happy Valley for treatment. The reserve is generally open from 7.30am to 5pm in standard time and until 8pm during daylight saving, but it closes on Total Fire Ban Days and during operational activity. It suits solo walkers, couples, families and groups who are prepared to bring their own picnic and check access conditions before setting out.