A new accessible pathway along Adelaide’s southern beaches - the Witton Bluff Base Trail - is now fully completed and open to the public.
Offering breathtaking views of the dramatic coastline between Christies Beach and Port Noarlunga, the 1.1km trail is a key component of the State Government’s Coast Park vision – a world-class network of pathways that stretches along 70km of metropolitan shoreline.
The second and final stage of the $9.3 million Witton Bluff Base Trail links Christies Beach to a boardwalk which was completed and opened late last year, as part of the first stage of trail works.
Jointly funded by State and Federal governments and the City of Onkaparinga, the trail provides access for people of all abilities, encourages the community to stay healthy and active, and offers a new drawcard for visitors, providing a new opportunity for the local economy.
The bluff’s ageing seawall has also been reshaped, reinforced and raised, through the installation of more than 20,000 tonnes of rocks and the inclusion of a new crest that will help reduce erosion caused by waves 
and overtopping seawater.
In recognition of the Onkaparinga coast’s cultural significance to the Kaurna people and the Tjilbruke dreaming track, First Nations artworks – created by senior Kaurna man, cultural authority, and Tjilbruke story holder Karl Winda Telfer – will be installed along the new trail in the form of two Tjilbruke Dreaming Track Message Sticks.
Onkaparinga’s 31km coastline forms nearly half of the Coast Park vision, with the State Government working closely with the council for more than two decades to make this vision a reality. To date, 18.9km of the council’s section of Coast Park has been completed.
The trail
’s official opening was complemented by the reopening of the Port Noarlunga jetty earlier this week, which was closed for repairs in May due to storm damage.
Alex Fores, owner of Christies Beach business The Macaron Bar, said he was excited for the new trail to open.
"It’s the perfect addition to showcase everything our vibrant Christies Beach community has to offer and will encourage more people to explore and enjoy the local area," he said.
City of Onkaparinga CEO Phu Nguyen said the trail provided a "stunning and accessible place for the community to stay active".
"Building a trail like this in a complex and dynamic coastal environment isn’t easy, so today’s celebration is testament to the power of a strong community voice, collaboration and leadership – of what we can achieve when we all work together," Mr Nguyen said.
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