Lincoln National Park trails
Guide updated · grades and open status change — verify Parks SA
Start with a clear sealed-road short walk vs 4WD / Memory Cove decision. Stamford Hill covers a first hour; Investigator sections and Wanna dunes are a different day. Distances, grades and times below are planning ranges — always confirm on Parks SA and park alerts. Weather, seasonal roads and closures change.
Decide before you lace up
- Easy coastal: Stamford Hill to Surfleet, or Cape Donington to September Beach.
- First-hour icon: Stamford Hill Hike — 1.6 km return to the Flinders Monument.
- Longer / 4WD / wilderness: Donington Loop, Investigator sections, Wanna dunes, Memory Cove — one extra only, water packed, official alerts checked.
Stacking two hard walks on the first visit is how days fall apart. Pick the table row that matches your energy, then open the full trail guide for getting-there detail.
Memory Cove
Scruzin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Start with these three
Memory Cove · Scruzin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Stamford Hill
moderateParks SA: one of the 40 Great Australian Short Walks. Climb Stamford Hill to the historic Flinders Monument for views over Boston Bay, Port Lincoln, the park and offshore islands. Return the same way. Moderate inclines, good surface, about 45 minutes.
- Grade
- Hard hike · moderate inclines · good surface
- Time
- ~45 min return
- Distance
- 1.6 km return
View guide →
Stamford Loop
moderateParks SA: hike up Stamford Hill for the Boston Bay panorama, then continue down via the Investigator Trail past historic woodcutter ruins (near checkpoint 6) back to the car park. Same start as the short hike; more elevation and variety.
- Grade
- Hard hike · 2 hr loop
- Time
- ~2 hr
- Distance
- 5.7 km loop
View guide →
Donington Loop
moderateParks SA: explore Donington Peninsula — offshore islands, granite outcrops and sandy beaches. Populations of Australian sea-lions and long-nosed fur-seals inhabit Donington Island near the lighthouse. Start at the lighthouse (checkpoint 15) or September Beach campground (checkpoint 16).
- Grade
- Moderate hike · 2 hr
- Time
- ~2 hr
- Distance
- 6.2 km
View guide →
Quick comparison (planning only)
| Walk | Effort | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stamford Hill | moderate | ~45 min return | First visit, a timed climb with a view, Great Australian Short Walks |
| Stamford Loop | moderate | ~2 hr | Fit first-timers who want the monument plus Investigator Trail history, not a second peninsula |
| Investigator Trail | hard | 10 hr · 12 hr · 9 hr for the three published treks | Experienced, self-sufficient walkers using Parks SA section times — not a casual day walk |
| Donington Loop | moderate | ~2 hr | Full-day peninsula visitors who want islands, granite and beaches without a 4WD |
| Stamford–Surfleet | easy | ~1 hr | Families and anyone who wants granite coast without the Stamford Hill incline |
| Donington–September | easy | ~30 min | Short rocky-coast link between lighthouse and campground |
| Wanna Dunes | hard | ~5 hr | Fit walkers who want dunes, limestone cliffs and Sleaford Mere — with a 4WD access plan |
Easy
Stamford–Surfleet
easyParks SA: ideal coastal walk along Stamford Beach, past scenic granite headlands with Boston Island in the distance. A short detour from checkpoint 9 to Surfleet Point offers views. Start at Stamford Hill base car park (checkpoint 7) or Surfleet Cove campground (checkpoint 10).
- Grade
- Easy walk · family coastal
- Time
- ~1 hr
- Distance
- 2.7 km
View guide →
Donington–September
easyParks SA: short, easy hike through coastal heath. Refreshing sea views and rocky coastline. About 30 minutes, 1 km. Starts at Cape Donington lighthouse (checkpoint 15) or September Beach campground (checkpoint 16).
- Grade
- Moderate · short coastal
- Time
- ~30 min
- Distance
- 1 km
View guide →
Moderate
Stamford Hill
moderateParks SA: one of the 40 Great Australian Short Walks. Climb Stamford Hill to the historic Flinders Monument for views over Boston Bay, Port Lincoln, the park and offshore islands. Return the same way. Moderate inclines, good surface, about 45 minutes.
- Grade
- Hard hike · moderate inclines · good surface
- Time
- ~45 min return
- Distance
- 1.6 km return
View guide →
Stamford Loop
moderateParks SA: hike up Stamford Hill for the Boston Bay panorama, then continue down via the Investigator Trail past historic woodcutter ruins (near checkpoint 6) back to the car park. Same start as the short hike; more elevation and variety.
- Grade
- Hard hike · 2 hr loop
- Time
- ~2 hr
- Distance
- 5.7 km loop
View guide →
Donington Loop
moderateParks SA: explore Donington Peninsula — offshore islands, granite outcrops and sandy beaches. Populations of Australian sea-lions and long-nosed fur-seals inhabit Donington Island near the lighthouse. Start at the lighthouse (checkpoint 15) or September Beach campground (checkpoint 16).
- Grade
- Moderate hike · 2 hr
- Time
- ~2 hr
- Distance
- 6.2 km
View guide →
Hard
Investigator Trail
hardLong-distance network named for HMS Investigator / Flinders 1802. Parks SA publishes three treks: Cape Donington–Pillie/Taylor’s 30.7 km / 10 hr; park entrance–Cape Donington 36 km / 12 hr; Pillie–entrance via Sleaford Mere 26.3 km / 9 hr. Full-circuit 80–90 km figures are third-party — do not treat them as official.
- Grade
- Long-distance sections · treks
- Time
- 10 hr · 12 hr · 9 hr for the three published treks
- Distance
- Official sections: 30.7 km · 36 km · 26.3 km (not an official full-circuit figure)
View guide →
Wanna Dunes
hardParks SA: low mallee to a panorama over the park. Brian Clarke Hut (bushwalker shelter) at checkpoint 23. Massive wind-sculpted dunes, exposed Southern Ocean beaches and limestone cliffs. 14.3 km, about 5 hours. Starts from the car park just south of checkpoint 22.
- Grade
- Hard hike · 5 hr
- Time
- ~5 hr
- Distance
- 14.3 km
View guide →
Walks FAQ
Tap a question to expand the answer.
What is the best first walk in Lincoln National Park?
Stamford Hill Hike — 1.6 km return, about 45 minutes, sealed-road start. Memory Cove and Wanna dunes are different access classes. Always verify with Parks SA.
How hard is the Investigator Trail?
It is a long-distance network of linked sections, not a casual lookout. Parks SA publishes section times (for example Cape Donington–Taylor’s about 30.7 km / 10 hours). Navigation, water and self-sufficiency required. Third-party full-circuit km figures are not official.
Can I do Stamford Hill and Memory Cove on the same first afternoon?
Usually a bad pairing. Memory Cove needs a booking and a key from Port Lincoln VIC, 15 vehicles a day, 4WD. Stamford is a sealed-road short walk. Pick one.