The Heysen Trail is now closed. Fire Danger season for Mt Lofty district commenced 15 November 2023. Read more
The Friends Office has closed for the summer break. Best wishes for the festive season. Read more
Vale Jamie Shephard, past President of Friends of the Heysen Trail
The Friends of the Heysen Trail are saddened by the passing of our highly esteemed past President Jamie Shephard on 27 December, 2016. Jamie was active in all facets of the walking community, and a most generous host of social functions for the members. Jamie will be remembered as a true gentleman and friend to all who knew him, and he will be very sadly missed in the wider community.
Commencing in 2017 we will be rolling out a new maintenance program for the Heysen Trail aimed at:
Early in the New Year, you will be able to view maintenance walks program in our Walks Calendar under the new walk grade End-to-End Maintenance.
If you would like to be involved, or have an interest, please contact the Heysen Trail office.
Our office will close for the Christmas period at 2.30 pm on Friday December 16th 2016 to give our volunteers a well-earned break. We will reopen at 10.30 am on Tuesday 17th January 2017.
If you need to contact the Office (by email or telephone) over the break, it is unlikely that we will respond to your enquiry until we reopen.
Online Shop Sales over Christmas
While the office is closed, our online shop will remain open for business.
However, as many of our volunteers will be on holidays, it may take longer than normal to service orders. We will endeavour to despatch shop orders within 5 business days.
If you want to shop for last minute Christmas purchases we undertake to despatch any orders received by midday on Tuesday December 20th, on that day.
Register for Twilight walks
While the Office is closed, don’t forget that you can still register for walks online:
Merry Christmas!
The Office Volunteers wish all Friend’s members and supporters a Merry Christmas and a great New Year.
Telowie Gorge Conservation Park and Napperby Block (Mount Remarkable National Park) will be closed from 6am Friday, 24 November 2016 to 6pm Thursday, 1 December 2016.
The purpose of the park closure is to ensure the safety of the public during a pest control program within the parks during the period indicated.
The Heysen Trail passes along the eastern edge of these parks. Hence do not divert from the Heysen Trail and attempt to enter these parks at those times. The Go Cart Track Shelter is alongside the Heysen Trail and within the Telowie Gorge Conservation Park, so this shelter may be closed during these times.
The Heysen Trail in areas outside of conservation parks, forests and public roads are currently closed anyway due to the Fire Danger Season beginning in the Flinders on 4th November 2016.
The parks are north of Crystal Brook and to the west of the Wirrabara Forest.
For Heysen Trail (HT) users:
Read more on the National Parks closure page.
Don’t miss the wave! The Friends 2017 Calendar pre-order discounted price offer ends soon.
Although it’s not December yet, the presses are nearly ready to roll on the production of the Friends 2017 Calendar.
Submit your order before midday on this coming Monday, November 21 and catch the pre-publication discount price of $15/copy. Orders made after that will be at the normal price of $18.
Purchase online via our online store, or to place a pick-up order direct via the office (phone 08 8212 6299, Mon-Fri 10.30am – 2.30pm).
For on-line store orders, postage to anywhere in Australia is $3.75/single copy
We plan to have copies available to pick up at the End of Year Bash, BBQ and Band at Belair National Park on Sunday December 4.
If you want to join us at the Bash, to assist with catering arrangements, bookings for the Bash close at 2.00pm on Wednesday November 30th.
Book at: heysentrail.asn.au/invite or via the office.
Check out more information on the Bash here.
Raunchy Sugar are back!
We changed the venue last year to Karka Pavillion and Belair National Park is still buzzing.
This year don’t miss out. Get your End to End group or walking friends organised and be there.
Come along to Rock and Roll with Raunchy Sugar. Or maybe just relax amongst the lush green surroundings of Karka.
It all happens on Sunday 4 December, 12 – 4pm
The Friends will provide: Befores, BBQ meat and artisan bread.
BYO – wine, beer or soft drink, Bring a Salad or Dessert to share.
Don’t forget a chair or rug, glass, plates & cutlery.
Book early! $20 per person. No refunds!
Book at: heysentrail.asn.au/invite or via the office.
Park entry fees are waived for attending members and guests.
Remember the venue: Karka Pavilion, Belair National Park. Upper Sturt Road, Belair
A number of tracks within the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, will be closed each night over the next 11 months.
The purpose of the extended closures is to ensure the safety of the public during a feral cat control program to be conducted after dark. The aim is to protect the populations of recently reintroduced Western Quolls and Brushtail Possums.
The evening closures commence on Thursday, 3 November 2016 and will continue through to Saturday, 30 September 2017.
As daylight hours vary over the period of the control program, there are a range of closure times. They are:
Tracks and walking trails will remain open outside of these times.
The Heysen Trail will remain open at all times, however walkers must:
Walkers camping in the park may see spotlights and occasionally hear firearms in the distance at night. The Rangers have advised that the control program will not take place in the vicinity of campgrounds or huts.
The tracks that will be closed at night include –
Further information on the feral animal control program and the nightly trail closures can be obtained from the Natural Resources, SA Arid Lands or by phoning them on (08) 8648 5344 or 0428 116 035.
Showcasing photographs of South Australia’s long distance adventure hike – the 1,200km Heysen Trail from Cape Jervis at the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula to Parachilna Gorge in the Flinders Ranges.
An A4 wall calendar, opening up to A3.
Photos submitted by Friends of the Heysen Trail members and Heysen Trail hikers.
Pre-order now for just $15 per copy. Postage from as little as $3.75. Available late November at $18 per copy. Available for delivery or pick-up in late November-early December.
Purchase online via our online store, or to place a pick-up order please order direct via the office (phone 08 8212 6299, Mon-Fri 10.30am – 2.30pm)
Daylight saving is here and with the approach of warmer weather, our Wednesday evening Twilight walks are about to start.
Walks commence at 6pm and are 1.5 to 2 hours in duration. They are designed to be quite relaxed and often followed by an optional dinner
Cost is $5 per walk, MultiWalk (although not Golden Boots) passes are accepted.
Register online or via the office.
Check out some of the upcoming walks below, or view the full program.
Agricultural qualifications not required for this walk. In addition to seeing sheep you will explore secret gullies, cliff top paths, artworks, parks, lighthouse, amazing rocky beach and stunning city and sea views. End the evening with dinner, if you wish.
Richard has found a short walk through the eastern parklands on level ground! Stop for a Thai dinner and then walk back to your cars. Sounds like a treat.
A pleasant amble along fifth Creek, from its beginning at the Torrens to where we leave it at Black Hill. Dinner at the Rezz Hotel.
This walk takes us along the River Torrens linear path. Optional dinner at the Lockleys Hotel.
President Robert accepts the Walking SA Award
The Friends won an award on Thursday night at the Walking SA Awards for South Australia, for our work on the HeysenTrail and for our End-to-End walking program.
Special Recognition Award – Organisation – http://bit.ly/2dyLYCo
Two of our members also won Walking SA Awards for Longstanding Contribution – Individual. Colin and Julian were awarded for an enormous amount of work they have put in over many many years.