New students at Adelaide University have been introduced to part of your Adelaide Park Lands, in a Guided “River Walk”.

As part of this year's Orientation Week, a crowd of 65 new students, plus six returning red-shirted student volunteers and Adelaide University Event Officer Cheryl Haynes gathered on the Barr-Smith lawns off Victoria Drive last Friday, 25 February.

The “River Walk" was so popular that, with numbers capped at 72, several latecomers had to be turned away.

Many of the students were new to Adelaide, arriving here to study at Adelaide University in a range of subjects. Orientation week is a special time for new students, enabling them to learn not only about the University, its facilities, heritage, and student clubs etc, but also about Adelaide.

APA president Shane Sody explained at the outset how Adelaide was the world's only city garlanded by Parks, then took the group on a two-hour walk, along both sides of the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari.

The “River Walk” followed this route:

The students saw the contrast between the manicured Grundy Gardens in Red Gum Park / Karrawirra (Park 12) and (after passing underneath the heritage-listed Albert Bridge) the re-wilded Mistletoe Park / Tainmuntilla (Park 11) on the other side of Frome Road.

Several times, cyclists trying to get through on the River Torrens Linear path had to patiently wait for the crowd to clear a path.

Despite temperatures in the mid-to-high 20s, the walkers were well-protected with free sunscreen and water supplied by Ms Haynes and the O-week volunteers.

APA holds Guided Walks on a regular scheduled basis, but this was the first one we’ve conducted, on request, for a group. If your workplace or club would like to book a Guided Walk with an APA Park Ambassador, please contact secretary@adelaide-parklands.asn.au