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Commercial pine plantation in Kuitpo Forest

Kuitpo Forest (pronounced kai-po) is situated about 40 km south-east of Adelaide CBD. Established in 1898, Kuipto Forest was the first of many forest plantations in the Mount Lofty Ranges, planted at the turn of the 20th Century to ensure a suistanable timber supply for South Australia. The forest serves as both a community forest and a commercial venture. Kuitpo is one of the more popular plantation forests; it is regularly frequented by locals and tourists alike, as an escape to nature. It is equipped with many walking trails, and a ForestrySA interpretive centre provides insight into both the forest ecology and the history of Kuipto. The Heysen Trail runs through the forest, popular for any South Australian hiker, as well as being popular for bike rides, camping and picnics.

The Kuipto Forest Reserve covers an area of some 36 square kilometres, the majority of which is softwood plantation. Attempts at growing native woods were largely abandoned as they proved too slow-growing. Instead, the tree of choice became radiata pine, a California native, although many other woods are still grown. Native forest is found in small areas with the designated forest but also in nearby conservation parks, such as Mount Magnificent Conservation Park and Kyeema Conservation Park. Most of the remaining surrounding area is farm land, mainly for cattle.

Travel to the area from Adelaide is relatively fast and easy. A tourist route begins at a turnoff from South Road at O'Halloran Hill, onto Chandlers Hill Road. From here signs direct the visitor through Clarendon to Meadows. The area is also approachable from the south through Willunga.

• ForestrySA