Month: April 2018

Fire Danger prevents access to some sections of the Heysen Trail.

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Walkers are asked to observe extension of the fire danger season.

Extended closure of the Heysen Trail between Cape Jervis & Tanunda until 15 May 2018.

The Country Fire Service (CFS) has extended the Fire Danger Season for the Mount Lofty Ranges. This is due to lower than average rainfalls combined with higher than average temperatures.

This means that access to most sections of the Heysen Trail south of Tanunda will not be open until May 15, 2018.

You are advised to defer walks in these areas until further notice.

You can find information about the extension of the fire danger season in the Mt Lofty Ranges District on the CFS website.

Mid North District Fire Ban Season to End on April 30

The CFS has confirmed that fire restrictions affecting the section of the trail north of Tanunda  and south of the Wirrabara Forest will end on April 30.

Limited access to the Heysen Trail south of Wirrabara

Some sections of the Heysen Trail in the fire districts south of Wirrabara (near Laura) may still be open to walkers prior to the cessation of the fire danger periods.

The sections that remain open are principally those not on private land. These include public roads, Conservation Parks and Reserves, Forests and vacant land.

Please note that Conservation Parks and Reserves and Forests are closed on days of Total Fire Ban. The CFS publishes these bans, as does the Bureau of Meteorology. In addition, the media also broadcast weather reports including fire ban information.

If you want to walk on the trail, check which Fire District you will be in. The Fire Districts are listed on the Fire Danger Season page of the Friends website.

We strongly advise you to respect the rights of landholders. Please restrict any activity which may increase the risk of fire in this period.

Flinders Fire Ban Season Ends

Fire restrictions in the Flinders District have been lifted, meaning the Heysen Trail is now open north of Wirrabara Forest .

This section includes Melrose, Wilmington, Quorn, Hawker, Wilpena Pound, the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park through to the northern end of the trail at Parachilna Gorge.

Details of the Fire Ban Districts can be found on the Interactive Map.

Heysen Trail affected by closure of the Deep Creek Conservation Park – April 30 to May 4, 2018

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The Heysen Trail through the Deep Creek Conservation Park will be closed from 6.00 am Monday 30 April to 12.00 am on Friday 4, 2018.

The purpose of the closure of the entire conservation park is to protect public safety during an Aerial feral animal control program.

Campsites and other walking trails in The Deep Creek Conservation Park will also be closed during this time.

The trail will be closed between Blowhole Creek and the eastern boundary of the Deep Creek Conservation Park, Tunkalilla (end of McGregor Rd track). Warning signs and trail closure signs will be placed at several locations along the trail and at the western and eastern approaches to the park.

If you have any enquiries, please call Victor Harbor  Natural Resources Centre on (08) 8552 0300. Further information can be found on the Parks SA Alerts page.

Join the Friends of the Heysen Trail before 31st May 2018.

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Join the Friends of the Heysen Trail …

Become a Member before 31st May and your name goes into the draw to win a 2-day guided walk on the Heysen Trail and overnight accommodation at Heysen’s Rest B&B.

Tell your friends and ‘get out on the Trail with the Friends‘.

Financial members of the Friends of the Heysen Trail

• Support the ongoing maintenance and greening of South Australia’s premier walking trail.

• Participate in an extensive 2018 walks programme.

• Receive our full-colour 32-page Trailwalker magazine delivered to your letterbox quarterly.

• Get retail discounts on maps and books at the Friends of the Heysen Trail office in Pirie St. or online.

• Discounts at many well-known outdoor and camping shops around Adelaide.

Membership Fees

We have a range of membership options to suit individuals, families and groups:

Student                                               $10
Single                                                  $25
Family                                                 $40
Schools                                               $60
Organisations                                    $60

Become a Friend of the Heysen Trail. The easiest way is to join online.  Simply go to the Friends of the Heysen website

What the lucky winner receives:

The names of all new financial members will go into the draw for a 2-day guided tour along the Heysen Trail with accommodation for two adults at Heysen Rest B&B, Myponga.

The accommodation includes complimentary beer and wine, and provisions for a cooked breakfast. The prize includes drop off at the end of your guided walk and pick up next morning from your accommodation.

The prize must be redeemed in the 12-month period following the closing date of the competition. Accommodation is limited to two adults, although the winners can bring family and guests on the guided walk.

Competition closes Thursday 31st May 2018. The winner will be drawn at random in the Friends of the Heysen Trail office in Pirie Street. The winner will be notified.

It’s on again! The Hiking Expo, Belair National Park, Sunday April 15th.

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Opening of the 2018 Bushwalking Season

Come along to the Hiking Expo to celebrate the opening of the 2018 walk season.  It is the big event organised by Walking SA, the Friends and other walking groups to kick off the new walking season

When:       Sunday April 15, 2018 – 9.00am to 1.30pm.

Where:     The Gums Oval, Belair National Park.

Free entry to Belair National Park

Join in:

  • Expo of walking tours, walking destinations, outdoor retailers and walking clubs.
  • Guided hikes ranging from 45mins to 3 hours, including child-friendly and Accessible options. Guided Walks will depart every 10 minutes from 9:30am to 1pm.
  • You can secure a place on a specific guided walk by registering online or just arrive on the day and choose a guided walk to join.
  • Old Government House will be especially opened on the day by the Friends of Old Government House. Several of the guided walks include the House. Entry is by gold coin donation, with guided tours of the house and servants quarters, and self guided tours of the garden.

You can see the full list of guided walks on the Walking SA website

Join with Friends in a ‘Walk to the Expo’

In addition to one of the many walks at Belair, you can also take a longer hike to the event. The Friends have organised two longer walks to the Gums Oval at Belair National Park.

These Trailstarter walks are listed on the Walks Programme on the Friends website. You can register for these walks now.

  • Cemetery (Barr St, Mitcham) to Gums Oval

The first walk leaves from the Cemetery at Mitcham. You will walk up through the foothills and quiet gullies of Randall Park and through the quiet back streets of Belair. From Belair train station, you will enter the National Park passing through majestic endangered ecosystem of grey box woodland.

This is a 5.5 km walk and will commence at 8.00am.

Register here for the Mitcham walk.

  • Reconciliation Park (Eden Hills) to Gums Oval

This walk starts from the memorial for the stolen generation at Colebrook Blackwood Reconciliation Park. You will wander through the Wittunga Botanic Garden, and then go past the cottage garden of the historic Gamble Cottage. The route includes some of the Sea-to-Summit trail and the Adelaide 100 concept trail.

This is a 6.3 km walk and will commence at 10.00am.

Register here  for the Eden Hills walk