Mt Lofty Summit - Restaurant & Tourist Centre

Just 20 minutes drive from Adelaide and set atop some of the most picturesque scenery in South Australia is the majestic peak of the Mount Lofty Ranges, the Mount Lofty Summit. At 727 metres above sea level, the Mount Lofty Summit Restaurant, Café/Bar and Tourist Centre offers spectacular panoramic and ever-changing views of Adelaide and it's coastline. It's a modern and impressive structure, bright and airy with floor to ceiling glass windows to allow guests to take in the full impact of the views by day and the city lights and stars at night.

We have a strong commitment to good food and service - the restaurant is fully licensed and open for lunch 7 days and A La Carte Dinner 5 nights-from Wednesday to Sunday. The venue is also available for functions on Monday and Tuesday nights.

Patrice Ricourt serves 'Modern Australian' food with an emphasis on flavour using fresh local produce, and for functions has an extensive selection of menus and dishes to choose from.

We have the style and flexibility to create an ideal environment for any successful occasion. Weddings are our specialty because of the romantic nature of the place and the historic value of the Mount Lofty Summit to thousands of South Australians - HOW MANY OF US HAVE HAD OUR FIRST DATE OR MARRIAGE PROPOSAL, OR A SPECIAL, SPECIAL REASON TO BE AT THE SUMMIT? The Summit Plaza overlooking Adelaide is the most breathtaking setting for a wedding ceremony.

The area is rich in aboriginal and European cultural history - in The Aboriginal Dreaming, Mt Lofty is known as Urebilla, a giant ancestral being who was slain in an ancient battle and whose fallen body forms the Mt Lofty Ranges - it is believed that Urebilla's enduring spirit gives life to every thing on the plains and valleys below.

Just down the road (a short walk) is Cleland Conservation - Wildlife Park where visitors have the opportunity to wander freely amongst the wildlife and can meet the cuddly koalas at one of the daily koala sessions.

There are also many varied walking trails around the Summit, through the bush and along the "Heysen Trail", to Cleland Wildlife Park (as mentioned) and to Waterfall Gully.

The popular morning walk form the city via Waterfall Gully works up an appetite for the arrival at the Summit (approximately 1 hour duration) for a fabulous breakfast of bacon and eggs, freshly baked pastries and proper coffee - (and other tasty things) 7 days a week.

The Mount Lofty Summit café / bar and outdoor dining facility opens every day at 9AM for breakfast and light meals and drinks and remains open until 10PM each night (except Monday and Tuesday when the whole venue closes at 5PM) unless it's booked for a private function.

The new outdoor dining facility on the plaza was completed August 2001 and incorporates a glassed-in space with 12 tables under 4 massive umbrellas for those fabulous sunny days and balmy evenings.

The Mount Lofty information centre is open every day from 9AM - 5PM (closed only on Christmas Day) and offers booking facilities for accommodation through-out the Adelaide Hills, all tourist information required by visitors to the Adelaide Hills and a souvenir shop to buy products made by local crafts people. Phone: (08) 8370 1054 Fax: (08) 8370 1053

The Mount Lofty Summit restaurant/café/bar or Summit Restaurant
Phone: (08) 8339 2600
Fax: (08) 8339 2608
Email - summit.restaurant@bigpond.com
Website for weddings - www.weddingsa.com/summit
Website for general information - www.postcards.sa.com.au

JUST TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE - AND OUR HISTORY

Directions - The Mount Lofty Summit is commonly known as the Mt Lofty Lookout. We get confused with Mt Lofty House - Country Manor (same road = Summit Road) and Windy Point at Belair (different hill - via Belair Road - we are Summit Road, via freeway and turn off at Crafers, past Mt Lofty House).

History - Ash Wednesday 1983 destroyed all that remained of the kiosk and parking facilities except the Fire Tower and The Obelisk and lay barren until 1997.

The Obelisk - known as Flinders Column, in honour of Matthew Flinders, Commander of The Investigator who sighted and named Mt Lofty, from Kangaroo Island - 12 March 1802.

Tablet unveiled by Lord Tennyson - 22 March 1902 - 100 Years after the sighting. The Obelisk is our logo-represented in a painterly form by prominent South Australian artist - Timothy John