There are six different grades of walk on the Friends of the Heysen Trail walk programme, catering for people of different fitness levels. Four of these operate during the walk season, generally from April to November when it is not Fire Danger Season.
When it is not walk season, generally during the summer Fire Danger Season, only the Summer Walks operate.
Walks are subject to you wearing appropriate clothing. Prime considerations are warmth and weather protection. Your safety and the safety of the walking group can be jeopardised by you wearing inappropriate clothing. In an emergency situation it can take hours to evacuate a sick or injured walker.
The Friends of the Heysen Trail recognises that some members may wish to be accompanied by their children on suitable walks. View our Walking with Children policy and commitments.
Leaders may not accept people for a walk who have not come appropriately dressed or prepared. These requirements generally do not apply to Summer Walks.
Trail Starter
The aim of these walks is to introduce people to bushwalking, for those who are not regular walkers and those who have not walked in a group previously or who want a shorter walk. TrailStarter walks are usually close to Adelaide, have a walk time of about 3 to 4 hours and will generally be not too physically demanding. Anyone undertaking these walks may have only a modest degree of physical fitness. These walks generally occur on Saturdays or Sundays.
Trail Walker
These walks are reasonably demanding and for walkers who have walked regularly in various terrain. They have a walking time of about 5 to 6 hours and will require a high degree of physical fitness. These walks generally occur on Saturdays or Sundays.
Refer to the Other Trails page for details of Trail Walker walks planned on named trails for the coming season.
Trail Rambler
These infrequent walks are for specialist events like bird watching and historical walks; and would by their nature be relatively short and informative. These walks are available to all levels of walkers.
End-to-End
These walks are for those wishing to walk some or all of the Heysen Trail. There are approximately sixty day walks involved, spread over six years. The southern walks, from Cape Jervis to Kapunda, are held on one Sunday per month during the walk season. Due to the greater travelling distances involved, from Kapunda northwards, the walk is held over a weekend.
These arrangements make it easy to walk the entire trail because the Friends of Heysen Trail work out many of the logistics.
These walks are reasonably demanding and for walkers who have walked regularly in various terrain. They have a walking time of about 5 to 6 hours and will require a high degree of physical fitness.
Refer to the End-to-End Walks page for more detailed information.
Extended
Extended Walk 2 used if we have more than one extended walk open for booking to allow separation of financial information
These are multi-day walks, usually a long weekend or a week long trip. Sometimes a few hours drive from Adelaide, sometimes interstate or overseas.
These trips often involve overnight stays in accommodation organised and paid for by the participant.
Refer to the Other Trails page for details of extended walks planned for the coming season.
Summer Walks
These walks are only for when it is not walk season. The walks are generally 1.5 to 2 hours mostly on Wednesday evenings, meeting at 6pm, followed by a meal, close to Adelaide. With increasing popularity of walks some may be in the morning with variable meeting times and longer than the evening walks.
These walks are for those who
- wish to maintain their fitness outside the walking season,
- may not be regular walkers,
- have not walked in a group previously, or
- want a shorter walk.
Anyone undertaking these walks may have only a modest degree of physical fitness. However read the walk description as some walks may be longer and more strenuous than others.