The Fire Danger Season has finished in the Flinders (north of Wirrabara so the trail there is open.) South of Wirrabara the trail remains closed. Read more

The fire danger season for the Mount Lofty Ranges Fire Ban District (between Kings Beach (WSCW) and Tanunda in the Barossa Valley) has been extended by two weeks to 14 May. Read more

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Bowman Park to Mt Zion(Mills Rd) to Wirabarra

Bowman Park to Mt Zion(Mills Rd) to Wirabarra

Name: Bowman Park to Mt Zion(Mills Rd) to Wirabarra
Start: 2019-10-19T00:00:00+10:30
End: 2019-10-20T00:00:00+10:30

Sat 19 to Sun 20 Oct 2019

This event has passed

Walk name/location

Walk grade

Description

NOTE - If you wish to walk on only one day, please contact the FOHT office (once bookings have opened) to register for that day's walk. The online registration system will only allow you to register for both days.

This weekend heralds the beginning of our journey north into the Flinders Ranges.

Please note the order of these walks will be reversed to enable an earlier finish on Sunday prior to everyones drive home.

Please remember to take plenty of water for each walk now that the weather is warming up, especially on Saturday as it is a long demanding walk with few opportunities for the support vehicle to access the trail.

SATURDAY 19th OCTOBER

A fantastic and testing walk commences with a steady climb along Mills Rd up to Beetaloo Creek campsite.From here the trail heads up to the ridgeline for an approx. 12 klm up & down trekking to the Bluff(it just doesn't seem to get closer). After leaving the Bluff the trail continues another few kilometres on the ridgeline to where we exit down Bluff Road onto Wirrabara Forest Road for the final 3 kilometre trudge back to the cars.

Throughout the walk there are some spectacular views to the east over Beetaloo Valley & beyond, and to the west over Spencer Gulf.In every sense a tough but rewarding walk.

SUNDAY 20th OCTOBER

Beginning with a pleasant walk along the Crystal Brook after leaving Bowman Park, criss-crossing the brook between often steep sides and many rocky outcrops, before passing through a narrow gorge to Hughes Gap & the nearby storage tanks for the Morgan-Whyalla pipeline. From there the walk follows a series of country roads, often providing wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.

Dinner on Saturday night will at the Laura North Hotel from 6.15-6.30pm.

The theme for the evening will be the seventies. Take inspiration from the Music, Dress or Events of the era to celebrate another wonderful season of walking along the Trail.

Start

Saturday 19 October 2019

End

Sunday 20 October 2019

Walk Leaders

Dom Henschke
Marlene Henschke
Helen Morgante
John Babister
Christopher Gower

Map legend:

Walk section along Heysen Trail shown in red:
The rest of the Heysen Trail shown in blue:

Map & GPS Files

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View full featured Interative Map of the Heysen Trail.

Download map data

Download GPX file for a GPS unit.
Download KML file for Google Earth/Maps.
Download full-featured GPX and/or KML files of the Heysen Trail.

Mapsheet

Mapsheet 5B, Hiskeys Hut to Wirrabara Forest

Find out more about Mapsheets

Guidebook maps (2006-2014)

Northern Guidebook, chapter 2 map 4,
chapter 2 map 5,
chapter 2 map 6.

Meeting Location

Meeting location details will be provided after you have registered for this event.

Details: Information withheld

Event Fees

Event fee: AUD $20.00
(under 18 years of age AUD $2.00)
Golden Boots cards: Accepted
Bus: AUD $40.00

Walk Specifics (Saturday)

Start time: 8.30am(sharp)
End time: 3.30-4.00pm
Walking from: Mt.Zion, Mills Rd.
Walking to: Wirrabara Forest
Distance: 22klms

Risks (Saturday)

Hazards: Some Steep and slippery climbs descents during the course of a demanding walk.
Requirements: Good quality footwear and clothing, rainjacket, hat, sunscreen, walking poles, morning tea, lunch and plenty of water.
Experience: Trailwalker

Walk Specifics (Sunday)

Start time: 8.30am(sharp)
End time: 2.00pm
Walking from: Bowman Park.
Walking to: Mt.Zion, Mills Road
Distance: Approx. 16klms

Risks (Sunday)

Hazards: Main road crossing at Hughes Gap. Also need to be careful when walking along the roads from Hughes Gap to the finish at Mills Rd as they are popular 4WD routes.
Requirements: Good quality footwear and clothing, rainjacket, hat, sunscreen, walking poles, morning tea, lunch and plenty of water.
Experience: Trailwalker

Nearby Campsites and Accommodation Options

This list is generic and is derived from the Walk Selector for this walk section. Your walk leader may be suggesting a different or specific town or accommodation option to be based at.

In This Section

On or within 2km of this Heysen Trail section.

Near This Section

More than 2km off of the Heysen Trail section.

Further Afield

Beyond this Heysen Trail section.

Walk grade: End-to-End 11

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.

Appropriate Clothing

All 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. Leaders may not accept people for a walk who have not come appropriately dressed or prepared.

View details of appropriate clothing at heysentrail.asn.au/appropriate-clothing

Hot Weather Policy

In the event of hot weather, the decision to proceed with or cancel a walk is made by the Walk Leader(s), having regard to risk factors such as local weather conditions, trail accessibility, vehicle support, and the physical capabilities of walkers in the group. In some circumstances, the Walk Leader may decide to amend, modify or shorten a scheduled walk. If a single-day End-to-End walk is cancelled, walk fees will be refunded. Refunds do not apply to weekend-away walks and multi-day events.

Severe Weather Policy

Be aware that walks are automatically cancelled when the forecast weather for the day of the walk is for severe storms with damaging winds as per the 7pm ABC News on the day prior to the walk. Refer to abc.net.au/news/weather or bom.gov.au/sa.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

If unforeseen circumstances arise and you are no longer able to participate in the walk, please cancel your registration as soon as possible using the Manage Walk Registrations facility on your Account page.

Alternatively you can notify the office by 2.15pm on the last business day before the walk. Walk leaders do not have access to messages left on the answering machine after this time. If your Walk Leader has provided their mobile phone number you may be able to contact them prior to the walk (subject to phone service availability).

View the full details of our Cancellation & Refund Policy at heysentrail.asn.au/cancellations

Privacy Policy

We value your right to privacy and take measures to protect personal information we may hold about you. Your personal information will only be used for official purposes.

View full details of our Privacy Policy at heysentrail.asn.au/privacy

Consent to Use of Image

I consent to photographic / video images and/or sound recordings of me being taken at the Friends of the Heysen Trail activities and being used for promotional purposes by and for the Friends of the Heysen Trail.

Delivery Policy

Memberships, walk and event registrations and Golden Boots passes are tickets. If you purchase a Golden Boots pass details of your pass purchase will be recorded. If the Golden Boots pass has expired when you register for walk events, you will be prompted to purchase another pass.

View full details of our Shipping & Delivery Policy at heysentrail.asn.au/shipping

Security

Our website is encrypted via a secure connection, you can tell this from the padlock symbol near the browser address bar.

Secure payment transactions are enabled via NAB (National Australia Bank Ltd). We do not retain or store your credit card details.

View full details of our Security Policy at heysentrail.asn.au/security

Orchards near Wirrabara Forest

View Section 39, Mt Zion to The Bluff Lookout

Bowman Park to Mt Zion(Mills Rd) to Wirabarra

Sat 19 to Sun 20 Oct 2019

Walking to the Bluff and Wirrabara Forest

View Section 39, Mt Zion to The Bluff Lookout

Bowman Park to Mt Zion(Mills Rd) to Wirabarra

Sat 19 to Sun 20 Oct 2019

Details

Walking to the Bluff and Wirrabara Forest

View Section 39, Mt Zion to The Bluff Lookout