Kuipto, the first of many forest plantations in the Mount Lofty Ranges, was established in 1898 to ensure a sustainable timber supply for South Australia.

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 Kuitpo.

Attempts at growing native timbers were largely abandoned as they proved too slow-growing.

Instead, the tree of choice became radiata pine, a California native, although many other timbers are still grown.