This feature and its underlying data is under development and as such should be considered a BETA version – it should be read in conjunction with the official Guidebooks.
View notes at the bottom of the page about how these distances are calculated.
Heysen Trail Distances
Table of distances between Heysen Trail locations such as huts, campsites and towns.
Trail Distances, South to North
| Chapter 1, Southern Guidebook | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Jervis Trailhead to Newland Hill 'walk-in' site | ||||||
| From | To | More Info | Segment | From Start of Chapter 1 | From Cape Jervis Trailhead | |
| Cape Jervis Trailhead | Cobbler Hill Camp Site | View | 13.62 km | 13.62 km | 13.62 km | |
| Cobbler Hill Camp Site | Eagle Waterhole ‘walk-in’ site | View | 2.09 km | 15.68 km | 15.68 km | |
| Eagle Waterhole ‘walk-in’ site | Trig Campground | View | 5.09 km | 20.72 km | 20.72 km | |
| Trig Campground | Tapanappa Camp Site | View | 8.15 km | 28.86 km | 28.86 km | |
| Tapanappa Camp Site | Balquhidder ‘walk in’ site | View | 17.28 km | 45.99 km | 45.99 km | |
| Balquhidder ‘walk in’ site | Waitpinga camp site | View | 11.63 km | 57.58 km | 57.58 km | |
| Waitpinga camp site | Newland Hill ‘walk-in’ site | View | 15.01 km | 72.57 km | 72.57 km | |
| Chapter 2, Southern Guidebook | ||||||
| Newland Hill 'walk-in' site to Rocky Creek Hut | ||||||
| From | To | More Info | Segment | From Start of Chapter 2 | From Cape Jervis Trailhead | |
| Newland Hill ‘walk-in’ site | Robinson Hill ‘walk-in’ site | View | 12.09 km | 12.09 km | 84.64 km | |
| Robinson Hill ‘walk-in’ site | Inman Valley | View | 4.92 km | 17.00 km | 89.55 km | |
| Inman Valley | Mt Cone Tank (Water Location Only) | View | 29.42 km | 46.42 km | 118.97 km | |
| Mt Cone Tank (Water Location Only) | Mt Compass (2 km off the main trail) | View | 8.44 km | 54.84 km | 127.39 km | |
| Mt Compass (2 km off the main trail) | Chookarloo Campsite | View | 33.23 km | 88.04 km | 160.59 km | |
| Chookarloo Campsite | Rocky Creek Hut (0.51 km off the main trail) | View | 15.07 km | 102.93 km | 175.48 km | |
| Chapter 3, Southern Guidebook | ||||||
| Rocky Creek Hut to Centennial Drive | ||||||
| From | To | More Info | Segment | From Start of Chapter 3 | From Cape Jervis Trailhead | |
| Rocky Creek Hut (0.51 km off the main trail) | Mylor Oval | View | 16.90 km | 16.90 km | 192.37 km | |
| Mylor Oval | Bridgewater | View | 6.88 km | 23.74 km | 199.20 km | |
| Bridgewater | Woodhouse Activity Centre | View | 4.17 km | 27.84 km | 203.31 km | |
| Woodhouse Activity Centre | Mt Lofty (0.45 km off the main trail) | View | 6.83 km | 34.60 km | 210.06 km | |
| Mt Lofty (0.45 km off the main trail) | Norton Summit | View | 14.28 km | 48.84 km | 224.31 km | |
| Norton Summit | Cudlee Creek North ‘walk-in’ site (Grandpa’s) – site closed following Dec 2019 Fires | View | 27.38 km | 76.21 km | 251.68 km | |
| Cudlee Creek North ‘walk-in’ site (Grandpa’s) – site closed following Dec 2019 Fires | Scotts Shelter | View | 21.78 km | 97.94 km | 273.40 km | |
| Scotts Shelter | Chalks | View | 13.34 km | 111.25 km | 286.71 km | |
| Chalks | Centennial Drive | View | 6.93 km | 118.15 km | 293.62 km | |
| Chapter 4, Southern Guidebook | ||||||
| Centennial Drive to Kapunda Tourist Park | ||||||
| From | To | More Info | Segment | From Start of Chapter 4 | From Cape Jervis Trailhead | |
| Centennial Drive | Rossiters Hut (1.1 km off the main trail) | View | 21.37 km | 21.37 km | 314.99 km | |
| Rossiters Hut (1.1 km off the main trail) | Tanunda | View | 11.34 km | 32.63 km | 326.25 km | |
| Tanunda | Greenock | View | 12.34 km | 44.96 km | 338.57 km | |
| Greenock | Kapunda | View | 17.53 km | 62.45 km | 356.06 km | |
| Kapunda | Sir John Franklin Hotel | View | 0.49 km | 62.89 km | 356.50 km | |
| Sir John Franklin Hotel | Prince of Wales Hotel | View | 0.43 km | 62.89 km | 356.50 km | |
| Chapter 5, Southern Guidebook | ||||||
| Kapunda to Burra | ||||||
| From | To | More Info | Segment | From Start of Chapter 5 | From Cape Jervis Trailhead | |
| Prince of Wales Hotel | Lights Hummocks Reserve ‘walk-in’ site | View | 11.57 km | 11.63 km | 367.63 km | |
| Lights Hummocks Reserve ‘walk-in’ site | Marschalls Hut | View | 23.71 km | 35.32 km | 391.33 km | |
| Marschalls Hut | Marrabel | View | 10.46 km | 45.71 km | 401.71 km | |
| Marrabel | Smith Hill ‘walk-in’ site | View | 17.30 km | 60.68 km | 416.69 km | |
| Smith Hill ‘walk-in’ site | Webb Gap ‘walk-in’ site | View | 13.31 km | 73.98 km | 429.99 km | |
| Webb Gap ‘walk-in’ site | Huppatz Hut | View | 16.15 km | 90.09 km | 446.10 km | |
| Huppatz Hut | Burra Creek Gorge Reserve (Worlds End) | View | 19.79 km | 109.86 km | 465.87 km | |
| Burra Creek Gorge Reserve (Worlds End) | Worlds End ‘walk-in’ site | View | 1.27 km | 111.10 km | 467.10 km | |
| Worlds End ‘walk-in’ site | Burra | View | 23.35 km | 134.30 km | 490.31 km | |
| Chapter 6, Southern Guidebook | ||||||
| Burra to Spalding | ||||||
| From | To | More Info | Segment | From Start of Chapter 6 | From Cape Jervis Trailhead | |
| Burra | Wandallah Creek Shelter | View | 14.79 km | 14.79 km | 505.02 km | |
| Wandallah Creek Shelter | Black Jack Hut | View | 16.53 km | 31.27 km | 521.50 km | |
| Black Jack Hut | Caroona Creek ‘walk-in’ site | View | 15.00 km | 46.21 km | 536.45 km | |
| Caroona Creek ‘walk-in’ site | Old Mt Bryan East School | View | 16.42 km | 62.59 km | 552.82 km | |
| Old Mt Bryan East School | Hallett Railway Station | View | 15.95 km | 78.34 km | 568.58 km | |
| Hallett Railway Station | Whistling Trig Tank | View | 22.92 km | 101.19 km | 591.43 km | |
| Whistling Trig Tank | Spalding | View | 26.14 km | 127.32 km | 617.55 km | |
| Chapter 1, Northern Guidebook | ||||||
| Spalding to Crystal Brook | ||||||
| From | To | More Info | Segment | From Start of Chapter 1 | From Cape Jervis Trailhead | |
| Spalding | Bundaleer Weir ‘walk-in’ site | View | 18.83 km | 18.83 km | 636.36 km | |
| Bundaleer Weir ‘walk-in’ site | Curnows Hut | View | 13.62 km | 32.41 km | 649.93 km | |
| Curnows Hut | Georgetown | View | 24.83 km | 57.22 km | 674.75 km | |
| Georgetown | Hiskeys Hut | View | 3.18 km | 60.26 km | 677.79 km | |
| Hiskeys Hut | Crystal Brook | View | 19.72 km | 79.78 km | 697.31 km | |
| Chapter 2, Northern Guidebook | ||||||
| Crystal Brook to Melrose | ||||||
| From | To | More Info | Segment | From Start of Chapter 2 | From Cape Jervis Trailhead | |
| Crystal Brook | Bowman Hut & ‘walk-in’ site | View | 5.72 km | 5.72 km | 702.98 km | |
| Bowman Hut & ‘walk-in’ site | Beetaloo Creek ‘walk-in’ site | View | 20.23 km | 25.89 km | 723.16 km | |
| Beetaloo Creek ‘walk-in’ site | Go-Cart Track Shelter | View | 19.80 km | 45.67 km | 742.93 km | |
| Go-Cart Track Shelter | Murray Town (2 km off the main trail) | View | 26.34 km | 72.00 km | 769.27 km | |
| Murray Town (2 km off the main trail) | Melrose | View | 16.53 km | 88.49 km | 785.76 km | |
| Chapter 3, Northern Guidebook | ||||||
| Melrose to Quorn Caravan Park | ||||||
| From | To | More Info | Segment | From Start of Chapter 3 | From Cape Jervis Trailhead | |
| Melrose | Grays Hut | View | 12.30 km | 12.30 km | 798.06 km | |
| Grays Hut | Stony Creek ‘walk-in’ site | View | 13.98 km | 26.18 km | 811.94 km | |
| Stony Creek ‘walk-in’ site | Wilmington (4 km off the main trail) | View | 3.79 km | 29.90 km | 815.66 km | |
| Wilmington (4 km off the main trail) | Catninga Shed | View | 29.80 km | 59.64 km | 845.40 km | |
| Catninga Shed | Waukarie Creek/Mt Brown North ‘walk-in’ site | View | 7.56 km | 67.15 km | 852.91 km | |
| Waukarie Creek/Mt Brown North ‘walk-in’ site | Quorn (2 km off the main trail) | View | 19.27 km | 86.37 km | 872.13 km | |
| Quorn (2 km off the main trail) | Savings Bank of South Australia – Old Quorn Branch | View | 0.14 km | 86.51 km | 872.27 km | |
| Chapter 4, Northern Guidebook | ||||||
| Quorn to Hawker | ||||||
| From | To | More Info | Segment | From Start of Chapter 4 | From Cape Jervis Trailhead | |
| Savings Bank of South Australia – Old Quorn Branch | The Dutchman Hut | View | 9.85 km | 9.85 km | 881.98 km | |
| The Dutchman Hut | Eyre Depot | View | 16.22 km | 26.03 km | 898.15 km | |
| Eyre Depot | Mt Arden South ‘walk-in’ site | View | 11.87 km | 37.79 km | 909.92 km | |
| Mt Arden South ‘walk-in’ site | Buckaringa North ‘walk-in’ site | View | 22.05 km | 59.78 km | 931.91 km | |
| Buckaringa North ‘walk-in’ site | Calabrinda Creek ‘walk-in’ site | View | 19.03 km | 78.75 km | 950.88 km | |
| Calabrinda Creek ‘walk-in’ site | Mt Elm ‘walk-in’ site | View | 16.14 km | 94.83 km | 966.96 km | |
| Mt Elm ‘walk-in’ site | Hawker (6.6 km off the main trail) | View | 3.24 km | 98.05 km | 970.18 km | |
| Chapter 5, Northern Guidebook | ||||||
| Hawker to Wilpena Caravan Park | ||||||
| From | To | More Info | Segment | From Start of Chapter 5 | From Cape Jervis Trailhead | |
| Hawker (6.6 km off the main trail) | Mayo Hut | View | 21.99 km | 21.99 km | 992.11 km | |
| Mayo Hut | Red Range ‘walk-in’ site | View | 16.99 km | 38.90 km | 1,009.02 km | |
| Red Range ‘walk-in’ site | Wilpena Caravan Park | View | 28.98 km | 67.84 km | 1,037.96 km | |
| Chapter 6, Northern Guidebook | ||||||
| Wilpena Caravan Park to Parachilna Gorge Trailhead | ||||||
| From | To | More Info | Segment | From Start of Chapter 6 | From Cape Jervis Trailhead | |
| Wilpena Caravan Park | Wilcolo campground | View | 5.84 km | 5.84 km | 1,043.70 km | |
| Wilcolo campground | Yanyanna Hut | View | 16.26 km | 21.98 km | 1,059.83 km | |
| Yanyanna Hut | Middlesight Water Hut | View | 8.57 km | 30.48 km | 1,068.33 km | |
| Middlesight Water Hut | Trezona Campsite | View | 3.09 km | 33.55 km | 1,071.41 km | |
| Trezona Campsite | Aroona Ruins ‘walk-in’ site | View | 13.75 km | 47.29 km | 1,085.15 km | |
| Aroona Ruins ‘walk-in’ site | Pigeon Bore | View | 5.18 km | 52.38 km | 1,090.24 km | |
| Pigeon Bore | Parachilna Gorge ‘walk-in’ site | View | 12.73 km | 65.00 km | 1,102.86 km | |
| Parachilna Gorge ‘walk-in’ site | Parachilna Gorge Trailhead | View | 0.65 km | 65.53 km | 1,103.39 km | |
Notes About this Distance Data
1. BETA Version
This feature and its underlying data is under development. As such it should be read in conjunction with the official Guidebooks.
2. Origin of Data
This data originates from our GPS data of the Heysen Trail, version 7/7/2016 v3.14. and was updated on 21/6/2018 to fix some minor inaccuracies, particularly in Section 1 (in total 1.22km was added to the overall 1,102km length).
This data is redacted from an official survey undertaken in 2000. It has been maintained and updated to include all current re-routes. It does not account for temporary re-routes.
The original data file contained over 247,000 latitude and longitude points. This has been redacted to show only every tenth latitude and longitude point – this was required to allow for the file to manageable for web display, and for display and processing on a handheld GPS units. Many units would be detrimentally affected by processing and displaying such a large GPX file. Many units, especially older units, are unable to display more than 10,000 points per track. Due to the detail of the original survey this redaction has minimal impact on the display of distances, both on-screen and in the field.
Due to the technology at the time the survey was undertaken this data did not include elevation data. Re-routes often include elevation data.
3. Trail Distances
Distances from the start or end of chapter or trailhead are measured on the main trail, and do not include alternate routes or spur trails. Spur trails add an additional 17.5km (one-way) to the overall trail length, and alternate routes add an additional 42km to the overall trail length.
Temporary re-routes are not factored in. Trail distances remain along the original permanent route. If a temporary re-route eventually becomes permanent the distances will be adjusted.
Errors do not accumulate, by which we mean that if a campsite is misplaced on the trail it does not impact on the the stated overall chapter trail length or the stated overall length of the Heysen Trail.
Displayed distances are rounded to two decimal places. On the webpage table above, rounding omissions do not accumulate. In the CSV file rounding in the segment field accumulates to an error factor of about 7km over the 1,100km+ trail.
4. Distances in the Field
When hiking in the field actual trail distances measured on a handheld GPS unit are very unlikely to exactly match the figures in the above table.
A number of factors determine the accuracy of a handheld GPS unit, including but not limited to:
- accuracy of the unit
- satellite coverage on the day
- interference by trees, gorges and buildings
- battery charge
- optimal placement on a pack or body
- settings affecting the frequency of data being saved
Walkers rarely remain true and straight on the trail at all times. Resting for breaks, entering buildings and making short trips off the trail will increase the reported distance travelled. If a device’s coverage reduces during a break or entering a building accurate coverage may reduce and the unit may mis-report data recorded during this time, possibly adding a several hundred metres to the reported distance.
In most cases a handheld GPS unit will report a slightly higher figure – a figure of +- 500m in every 10km would be reasonable.
5. Locations Off the Main Trail
When a location is off of the main trail (it may be on a spur or alternative route part of the trail), the off-trail section is not included in the trail distances.
For instance, Hawker is 6.6km off the mail trail on an alternative route. Walking from Mt Elm Camp Site to Hawker is the segment of 3.24km (to the point where you leave the main trail for Hawker) + 6.6km = 9.84km.