The Fire Danger Season has finished in the Flinders (north of Wirrabara and the trail is open. Elsewhere 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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Mt Little Station – Parachilna Gorge

Sat 13 to Sun 21 Aug 2022

This event has passed

Details

Walk name/location
Mt Little Station – Parachilna Gorge
Walk grade
End-to-End 11
Description

For our last week on the Trail having commenced our journey on Sunday 1st May 2016 and after enduring the forced hiatus due to COVID in 2020, we will finally finish at the Parachilna Gorge Trailhead on Saturday 2oth August 2022.

Expect another wonderful week of walking commencing from where we left off in June at Mayo Gorge heading along creeklines past Red Range campsite onto a long though relatively comfortable walk to the finish at Moralana Scenic Drive. From there through Black Gap to the climb up to Bridle Gap and into Wilpena Pound, and then on the following days onto Bunyeroo, Trezona and Aroona past many significant geological and historical sites, and up and down a few undulations on the way. Before our last day on the Trail walking to Parachilna Gorge and a well deserved short celebration at the Trailhead, a time for some drinks and photos.

This is a multi-day walk. Registration requires payment of the FULL BUS FEE. Accommodation and meals are not included.

Accommodation will be based at Rawnsley Park.

Those registering are invited to travel on the bus, at no extra cost, from Adelaide to Rawnsley Park and return to Adelaide. If you intend to travel on the bus from and to Adelaide, PLEASE ADVISE in the COMMENTS SECTION when registering. Please REMEMBER should choose to travel on the BUS to Rawnsley Park kindly complete a Rapid Antigen Test that morning.

The bus is capable of taking up to 20 passengers and their luggage.

Those traveling on the Bus are asked to pack all clothing, food etc into suitcases, eskies, cardboard boxes or plastic containers, to ensure that luggage can be stacked one on top of one-another without fear of it being squashed.

If you choose to drive your own vehicle to the base location at Rawnsley Park you are still required to pay the FULL EVENT/BUS FEE. Please note there are no other Fee options for this event.

Group meals are planned for Tuesday 16 August (BBQ at the camp ktichen at the Rawnsley Park Caravan Park, please bring your own meat/drinks and a salad or desert to share) and Saturday August 20 ( Our Celebration Dinner at the Woolshed Restaurant). The 'Dinner YES/NO' question in the registration relates to the Celebratory Dinner.

Complete details for these two Events will sent out in the FINAL NOTE for Walkers in the week prior to the weeks walking.

An EARLY REGISTRATION LINK will be offered to all regular End 2 End walkers on Thursday 30th June, three weeks prior to the public opening of registration for the event.

Please Note: Upon registering you will be advised of a TRAINING walk you may like to join as preparation for our week of walking  in August. There no fee for this walk.

The information about this walk will be included in the Meeting Location section of the Registration Confirmation email for the Mt Little station to Parachilna Gorge walk.

Start
Saturday 13 August 2022
End
Sunday 21 August 2022
Walk Leaders
John Babister
Dom Henschke
Helen Morgante
Andrew McDonald
Christopher Gower
Marlene Henschke

Map legend:

Walk section along Heysen Trail shown in red:
The rest of the Heysen Trail shown in blue:
Map & GPS Files
Map view options
View map in full screen format.
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.
Mapsheets

Mapsheet 8A, Mernmerna Creek to Black Gap;
Mapsheet 7D, Mount Elm Camp Site to Mernmerna Creek

Find out more about Mapsheets

Guidebook maps (2006-2014)
Northern Guidebook, chapter 5 map 3,
chapter 5 map 4,
chapter 5 map 5,
chapter 5 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 $60.00
(under 18 years of age AUD $6.00)
Golden Boots cards
Accepted
Bus
AUD $420.00
Meal details

The Dinner to celebrate our completion of the trail will be held on Saturday 20th August at the Woolshed Restaurant adjacent to the Administration Centre at Rawnsley Park. The Dinner will cost $69.00 per head for Two Courses with payment to be made on arrival at the restaurant. Alcohol is at your own cost. If you choose to bring your own alcohol a corkage fee will apply.

The dress for the dinner is ‘Op Shop formal’ as previously agreed upon during the June week.

There will presentations during the dinner.

Walk Specifics (Saturday)
Start time
The Bus will depart from the ADELAIDE BUS DEPOT on Franklin Street in the City at 8.15am sharp. The Bus will be available to load from 8.00am. A pick up in Strathablyn or at Crafers is available provided prior arrangements are made via John Babiister.
End time
Arrive at Rawnsley Park approx. 2.30pm.
Walking from
Adelaide.
Walking to
Rawnsley Park.
Distance
420 klms.
Risks (Saturday)
TBA
Walk Specifics (Sunday)
Start time
7.30am.
End time
4.00-4.30pm
Walking from
Mt.Little Station.. After returning through Mayo Gorge the trail follows the wide pictureque Mernmerna Creek to a short detour over asaddle on a ridgeline then joins a track which takes us past ruins of old shepherd's huts before continuing along Slaty Creek to the Red Range campsite. From there it is an easy walk with gentle undulations, along creeklines and through native pine woodlands, offering spectacular views of the Elder Range and M Aleck. The terrain gets a little stony in the area of Umberutna ruins bfore winding down towards and around Mt Idle.
Walking to
Moralana Scenic Drive.
Distance
32 klms including a 2 klms walk into the Trail.
Risks (Sunday)
Hazards

After the at times rocky walk into the Trail there are some tricky areas as the trail wends its way along the creek beds. A long walk that requires good quality footwear. There are no exit points on this walk.

Requirements

GOOD QUALITY FOOTWEAR IS ESSENTIAL ( as should you develop blisters you will be saddled with them for the entire week ). Suitable clothing, raincoat ,hat, sunscreen, walking poles, gaiters, morning & afternoon tea, lunch and at least 3 litres of water.

There will be a short break for afternoon tea during this walk to boost everyone for the final kilometers of the walk.

Experience

Trail walker. Please ENSURE you have completed some longer training walks in preparation for this walk. Your feet need to be conditioned for a lengthy day.

Walk Specifics (Monday)
Start time
8.30am
End time
2.30pm
Walking from
Moralana Scenic Drive.. This is one of the special walks of the Heysen, staring with a delightful creek walk through Black Gap before climbing the Wilpena Pound Range to Bridle Gap (where a look back provides spectacular views of the Elder Rangee. Then entering the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park it is a pleasant stroll across Wilpena Pound finishing at Wilpena Chalet for refreshments.
Walking to
Wilpena.
Distance
16klms.
Risks (Monday)
Hazards

A steep, rocky and at times slippery climb to Bridle Gap. Again there are no easy exit points along this walk.

Requirements

Good quality footwear and clothing etc and morning tea, lunch and at least 2 litres of water.

Experience

Trail walker.

Walk Specifics (Tuesday)
Start time
8.30am
End time
3.00-3.30pm
Walking from
Wilpena. This pretty walk is entirely within the Ikara Flinders Ranges National Park with much of the day spent following the Wilcolo Track between the ABC range and the towering peaks of Wilpenpa Pound.
Walking to
Bunyeroo.
Distance
Approx. 20 klms.
Risks (Tuesday)
Hazards

An undulating walk along a bush track and dirt road. Watch out for cyclists as part of the walk is along the Mawson Trail. Limited exit points.

Requirements

Good quality footwear and clothing etc, morning tea, lunch and at least 2-3 litres of water.

Experience

Trail walker.

Walk Specifics (Wednesday)
Start time
A REST DAY. There is a possibilty that a walk at Wilkawillina will be organized for those not requiring a REST DAY. It will require a car shuffle to be undertaken by those involved. The walk would be around 12klms and take around 5 hrs to complete.
Risks (Wednesday)
TBA
Walk Specifics (Thursday)
Start time
8.30am.
End time
2.00pm. May depend on the time spent observing points of geological interst along the way.
Walking from
Bunyeroo. In this section walkers climb from Bunyeroo Valley up to Yanyanna Hut, passing several vavtage points along the way that provide superb photo opportunities of the ranges behind. Heading north along Yanyanna Track the trail passes old huts at Elatina and Middlesight before entering the geologically significant Trezona area.
Walking to
Trezona
Distance
15 klms.
Risks (Thursday)
Hazards

Undulating and hilly with some rocky sections. Also beware of cyclists as the Mawson Trail shares some of the trail with the Heysen.

Requirements

Good quality footwear and clothing etc., morning tea, lunch and 2-3 litres of water.

Experience

Trail walker.

Walk Specifics (Friday)
Start time
8.30am.
End time
3.00pm
Walking from
Trezona. Commences with a pleasamt walk along Brachina and Enorama creeks past the Golden Spike and other significant sites, before climbing to cross the ABC Ranges, where spectacular views of the Heysen Range unfold. The walk finishes at the ruins of the Haywards homestead Aroona.: Aroona
Walking to
Aroona Hut.
Distance
Approx. 15klms plus an optional side trip ( 3.5 klms in total ) up to Red Hill Lookout. Well worth the extra time and effort.,
Risks (Friday)
Hazards

Undulating and rocky at times. Another typical Flinders Ranges type walk.

Requirements

Good quality footwear and clothing etc.,morning tea, lunch and plenty of water. Maybe a snack for climbing Red Hill.

Experience

Trail walker.

Walk Specifics (Saturday)
Start time
8.00am to enable us to enjoy a drink and nibbles upon finishing our journey at the Parachilna Gorge Trailhead, take
End time
3.00pm, hopefully a little earlier. The final section of the Trail that follows the Aroona Valley to the watershed dividing it from the Parachilna Creek catchment to the north. It then follows the valley between ABC Ranges and Heysen Range, past abandoned mines onto the final stile.
Walking from
Aroona Hut.
Walking to
Parachilna Gorge Trailhead. THE END OF A MEMORABLE JOURNEY.
Distance
Approx. 19 klms.
Risks (Saturday)
Hazards

Undulating and rocky underfoot.

Requirements

Good quality footwear and clothing etc., morning tea, lunch and at least 2-3 litres of water.

Experience

Trail walker.

Walk Specifics (Sunday)
Start time
The Bus will depart form the Caravan Park area at 8.00am before picking up at the main Cabin area around 8.15am
End time
Arrive in Adelaide around 2.30pm.
Walking from
Rawnsley Park.
Walking to
Adelaide.
Distance
420 klms.
Risks (Sunday)
TBA
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.

  1. Aroona campground

  2. Aroona Hut

  3. Trezona Campsite

  4. Middlesight Water Hut

  5. Wilpena Caravan Park

  6. Wilpena Resort

  7. Red Range ‘walk-in’ site

  8. Pigeon Bore

  9. Parachilna Gorge ‘walk-in’ site

  10. Yanyanna Hut

  11. Parachilna Gorge Camping

  12. Parachilna Gorge Trailhead

  13. Blinman Hotel

  14. Wirrealpa Station Cottage

  15. Moolooloo Station

  16. Wilcolo campground

  17. Arkaba Stockyard tank

Near This Section

More than 2km off of the Heysen Trail section.

  1. Angorichina Tourist Village

  2. Youngoona Campsite

  3. Acraman Campground

  4. Rawnsley Park Station

  5. Arkaba Conservancy

  6. Alpana Station

  7. Nungawurtina Hut (Alpana Station)

  8. Parachilna

  9. Blinman

  10. Prairie Hotel

Further Afield

Beyond this Heysen Trail section.

  1. Mayo Hut

  2. Hawker

  3. Mt Little Station

  4. Wonoka Station

  5. Meaney’s Rest

  6. Sunset Ridge Accommodation