Accommodation
Shelter (small),
'Walk-in' site,
Water Tank
'Walk-in' site,
Water Tank
Water Tank Level
View latest reported tank level.
Mapsheet
Mapsheet 2C, Stone Hut Road to Tower Hill
Guidebook
Southern Guidebook, chapter 3, map 6
Location
Mount Crawford Forest
Coordinates
Bookings
Yes. Commencing with 2023 Walk Season Heysen Hikers need to book this site for an overnight stop. Please call ForestrySA on (+61 8) 8391 8800 between 9-4pm Monday to Friday. As this is a new process FSA understands that some hikers may not be aware but Rangers will monitor sites to assist in educating hikers. For urgent afterhours issues requiring a ranger, please call (+61 8) 8391 8800 and press # 2.
Notes: Bookings are required to gain a camping permit to stay in the forest overnight. These sites are not suitable for large groups but bookings may be made by more than 1 hiker per night recognising that tents may be used as well as bunks in huts.
Notes: Bookings are required to gain a camping permit to stay in the forest overnight. These sites are not suitable for large groups but bookings may be made by more than 1 hiker per night recognising that tents may be used as well as bunks in huts.
Fees
No
Facilities
Bush campsite, fire pit, stone table, walker's platform, small shelter (complete with logbook), rainwater tank, large flat camping area up from the fire pit.
Notes
Reopening after the December 2019 Cudlee Creek bushfire.
Forestry SA advised that as of 17/5/2021, Grandpas Camp has been fully assessed and it is considered safe for use.
Stayed here the night of the 6/04/2024. A very nice spot neighbouring a noisy koala. Tank had adequate supply of water as did porta-loo along with toilet paper. Note fire pit unavailable due to fire season until the 30th of April.
Tank pretty much full. Surrounding area in good condition, no damage. No standing water but a bit boggy in some sections
Camped here 16/5/22. Water tank at 75 percent. The much appreciated cubby house is just big enough for two not-so-tall people to shelter from another wet night.
Some info from a recent interaction I had with forestry SA
you can hike in Cudlee Creek Forest Reserve and stay overnight at Grandpa’s Hut 1 April to 30 Nov. There is no toilet. Please note you cannot have a fire between 1 April and 30 April and 1 Nov to 30 Nov of any year.
New tank installed in late August 2021. However little water available (awaiting a good rain). Walkers are advised to carry additional water if heading towards this location.
Checked on this campsite after the fire on 16 Jan 2020.
Small hut, fire pit and new platform still standing and untouched by fire. Only damage I can report is the log book was missing (likely burnt to dust) and the structure for the water catchment next to the water tank is damaged, the wooden pillars holding the structure up were burnt. Guttering is a bit mangled.
The tank is still there, and fine, water inside it but don’t know how much.
The Friends installed a platform at Grandpas earlier in the month and inspected the tank
The gutter needed cleaning however the water clear and clean.
The tank appeared about 50% capacity
This camp is no longer accessible by vehicle? Above information very misleading. Disappointing- had to turn back and find another place for the night.
Not sure it has ever been accessible be vehicle, or certainly not for a decade or two. The campsite is for hikers who are hiking in the area and/or on the Heysen Trail.
Stayed here night of 13/10/15. A popular spot. Really lovely. Heard and saw my first koalas for this end to end hike ( N to S)
Seems odd there is no toilet. Tank only 1/4 full. Shame there is no tank from off the cubby roof.
Facilities
Bush campsite, fire pit, stone table, small shelter (complete with logbook), rainwater tank, large flat camping area up from the fire pit.
History of the site, as written in the logbook
Cornelius (Kees) Geytenbeek was a post-war Dutch migrant who occupied the adjacent property from 1970 to 1999. A horticultural expert and philanthropist, he grew to love his adopted country and gained an appreciation of the Australian bush, its landformand eucalypts, planting a broad variety of species within the valley, vigorously persuing the managament of introduced weeds and shaping the lower valley into a park-like property. He endured the tragic suicide of his eldest son, aged 22, not far from here, but never emotionally recovered. he and his 2 year old grandson would walk to the culvert below here and share the simple pleasure of throwing rocks into the creek – one of the few experiences they would share before Grandad’s death to cancer in 1999, aged 65. The boy later recalled the special place as "Grandams Bridge".