Old Wonoka to Parachilna Trailhead

Details

Walk name/location

Old Wonoka to Parachilna Trailhead

Walk grade

End-to-End 5

Description

IMPORTANT NOTE

This is a multi-day walk. Registration requires payment of the END TO END EXTENDED WALK FEE. Accommodation and meal costs are not included. Those registering are invited to travel on the bus, at no extra cost, from Adelaide to Rawnsley Park Station (Friday 21 August, departing 9.00 am) and return to Adelaide (Sunday 30 August). If you choose to drive your own vehicle to the base location at Rawnsley Park the fee remains the same. Please note that there are no other fee options for this multi-day event. Accommodation and meal arrangements are the responsibility of each person registering. Group meals are planned for Monday 24 August (byo BBQ), Wednesday 26 August (informal byo BBQ), Friday 28 August (leftovers night) and Saturday 29 August (celebration dinner).

If you are unable to walk for the specified 7 walk days comprising this multi-day event and you still wish to register, contact the Friends' office during operating hours.

End to End 5 commenced walking the Heysen Trail on Sunday 16 May 2010 with 39 walkers. This is the final set of walks ending at the Parachilna Trailhead on Saturday 29 August 2015.

(All map numbers provided are taken from the Northern Guide, Heysen Trail, Spalding to Parachilna Gorge, Book 2, May 2010.)

BASE LOCATION:

Rawnsley Park Station http://www.rawnsleypark.com.au/

FRIDAY 21 AUGUST

For those travelling by bus, the departure time is 9.00 am from the Central Bus Station, 85 Franklin Street, Adelaide. Please be at the bus station at 8.30 am for loading.

SATURDAY 22 AUGUST (WALK 1 - Old Wonoka to Mt Little Stn)

A classic Flinders Ranges creek walk, the whole day is spent in Wonoka Creek which has been the site of a couple of major floods in recent years.

SUNDAY 23 AUGUST (WALK 2 - Mt Little Stn to Moralana Dr)

This long section of the Trail (just over 30 kms) follows picturesque Mernmerna Creek and Slaty Creek to the Red Range campsite. After which it becomes a pretty walk with gentle undulations, along creeklines and through native pine woodlands, in the shadow of Elder Range and Mt Aleck.

MONDAY 24 AUGUST (WALK 3 - Moralana Dr to Wilpena )

This is one of the very special walks of the Trail, starting with a pretty creek walk through Black Gap, before climbing the Pound Range to Bridle Gap, where a look back provides spectacular views of Elder Range. Entering Flinders Range National Park, it is a pleasant stroll across Wilpena Pound to complete the day.

TUESDAY 25 AUGUST (WALK 4 - Wilpena to Bunyeroo)

This walk is entirely within the Flinders Ranges National Park with much of the day spent following the Wilcolo Track between the ABC range and the towering peaks of Wilpena Pound.

WEDNESDAY 26 AUGUST (REST DAY)

THURSDAY 27 AUGUST (WALK 5 - Bunyeroo to Trezona)

In this section walkers climb from Bunyeroo Valley, up to Yanyanna Hut, passing several vantage points along the way that provide superb photo opportunities of the ranges behind. Continuing along Yanyanna Track, the trail passes old settlers' huts before entering the geologically significant Trezona area.

FRIDAY 28 JUNE (WALK 6 - Trezona to Aroona Hut)

This section starts with a pleasant walk along Brachina and Enorama creeks past the Golden Spike and other significant geological sites, before climbing to cross the ABC Range, where spectacular views of the Heysen Range unfold.

SATURDAY 29 AUGUST (WALK 7 - Aroona Hut to Parachilna)

This final section of the trail follows Aroona Valley to the watershed dividing it from the Parachilna Creek catchment to the north. It then follows the valley between ABC Range and Heysen Range, past abandoned mines to the final stile at the Parachilna Trailhead. This walk is a pleasant amble, perfect for reflecting on the years and kilometres taken to get here, and the friendships made along the way.

There will be celebration at the end of the walk followed by a celebration dinner at Rawnsley Park. Dress is 'dressy casual'.

SUNDAY 30 AUGUST

Bus returns to Adelaide leaving Rawnsley Park at 8.30 am.

THEME

We've seen a lot of red arrows along the way. They've been in all sorts of places and a constant companion. At times they've been hard to find but their presence has given us a means to achieve our way in relative safety. The theme is therefore RED ARROWS in honour of our markers for 1200 km along the Heysen Trail and the people who put them there.

Start

Saturday 22 August 2015

End

Sunday 30 August 2015

Walk Leaders

Julian Monfries
Jerry Foster
Russell O'Brien
Christine Porter
Vicki Cox
Peter Wynen