Get your Friends Calendar before the Office Closure.

Friends 2021 Calendar now in stock

The Friends 2021 Calendar is now available for pick up from the Office. If you’ve ordered a calendar for delivery by post, we have started sending them to you.

It is not too late to order copies – they are available from the on-line shop. You can also call into the Office or phone us

Office closure

If you plan on picking up your calendar or other Christmas gifts, please note that our Office will close at 2.30 pm on Friday December 11th 2020.

We are giving our volunteers a well-earned break. They will return for our Office Volunteers Information Day on Monday February 1st 2021. The Office will re-open for business the following day, Tuesday February 2nd.

Online Shop Sales

While the office is closed, our online shop will remain open for business. Over the break, shop orders will be despatched within 5 working days.

If you want to shop for last minute Christmas purchases we will process and post out any orders received by midday Wednesday December 16th, on that day.

Please note that Australia Post has advised that for delivery by Christmas (within Australia) the following timeframes will apply:
  • Send Parcel Post by Saturday 12 December 2020.
  • Send Express Post by Saturday 19 December 2020.
  • For sending letters within Australia this Christmas, Australia Post’s standard delivery timeframes apply.

Register for Walks

You can also still register for walks online during the break.

Trail care – the Heysen Trail needs our attention

We need to care for and protect the trail

As the COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed within South Australia, people were encouraged to travel within our State.

Many have tried bushwalking and camping for the first time, some doing it better than others.

Increased demand for Parks SA campsites

On many weekends, the Parks SA campsites have been fully booked resulting in some people apparently camping wherever they can find a spot.

Sometimes this has occurred on private land and at other times, Google has directed vehicle-based campers towards the Heysen Trail campsites, that are intended as “walk in” sites. The Friends have taken some steps to make our sites less visible to Google and the Department of Environment and Water (DEW) is addressing the issue from an official standing.

While it is preaching to the converted, we all need to remember to follow good bushwalking and camping etiquette:

Leave no trace

  • Leave campsites better than you found them.
  • Use existing fireplaces or carry cooking equipment when possible, and do not scar the landscape with fire rings.
  • Comply with fuel-stove only requirements.
  • Do not pollute the ground and waterways with soaps and detergents.
  • Remove our rubbish from the bush and bury human waste away from watercourses.
  • Do not remove plants or rocks from National Parks.
  • Do not disturb native wildlife.
  • Avoid easily damaged places such as peat bogs, cushion moss, swamps and fragile rock formations.
  • Use existing tracks where possible and avoid creating multiple tracks which lead to erosion.

Report damage to trail campsites, markers and other assets

  • If you find campsites, tanks, stiles and trail markers need attention please let us know.
  • DEW & the Friends Trail Maintenance volunteers rely on trail users for your help.
  • You can report problems to the Friends using our website contact form .

Safety

  • Have appropriate first aid skills and carry first aid kits.
  • Comply with the trail closure periods over the Fire Danger Season.
  • Do not enter closed Parks or any section of the trail that is shown as closed.
  • Only light fires when it is permitted and ensure they are fully extinguished.
  • Carry sufficient food and water in order to survive unexpected delays.
  • Wear or carry appropriate clothing and equipment for our comfort and safety in the worst possible conditions we are likely to encounter.

Respect all bushwalkers

  • Respect the right of bushwalkers to enjoy the peace and quiet of the bush.
  • Help fellow bushwalkers in need.

Respect indigenous culture

  • Acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we walk.
  • Treat sites of spiritual or cultural significance with respect.
  • Obtain permission from traditional landowners or the relevant land manager to visit sensitive areas.
  • Do not damage aboriginal rock art or camp under overhangs that contain aboriginal rock art.

Respect landowners

  • Respect landowners and do not trespass on their land.
  • Leave farm gates as we find them.
  • Respect the rules of National Parks, and other land managers, regarding camping conditions, maximum numbers in wilderness areas, pets, permitted activities and park closures.

As much of the Heysen Trail traverses private land, it is essential that hikers do all we can to help to protect that privilege.

While leaving farm gates as found may not seem to be critical to the non-farming community, it is an important part of farm management. If it’s closed, leave it closed to prevent grazing animals moving through paddocks or if it’s open, it may be to allow stock to move into another paddock.

It is worth remembering that in one way or another, someone is responsible for managing the land that we walk over. We are their guests.

Heysen Trail closure dates announced for Mt Lofty Fire Danger Season – 2020/21

 

The Country Fire Service  (CFS) has now announced the full set of dates for the 2020/21 Fire Danger Season.

Mount Lofty Ranges Fire Ban Season to commence on 1st December 2020

The fire danger season for the Mt Lofty District (that is the trail south of Tanunda) will commence on 1st December and continue through until midnight on 30th April 2021.

Closure of the Heysen Trail over the Fire Danger Season

The Heysen Trail is closed during the Fire Danger Season. As the trail passes through several fire ban districts, the closure dates vary depending on the region that the trail passes through.

Flinders District Fire Danger Season commenced on 1st November 2020.

The Flinders District covers the Heysen Trail north of Wirrabara.  The trail in 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.

This section of the trail is now closed until April 15th 2021.

Mid North District Fire Ban Season to start on Sunday 15th November 2020.

The Mid North District includes the trail north of Tanunda  and south of Wirrabara. The Heysen Trail between these locations will close on 15th November  2020 and reopen on 30th April  2021.

As indicated above the Heysen Trail will reopen during April/May 2021.

Some sections of the trail remain open over the Fire Danger Season

During the declared fire danger season some sections of the Heysen Trail remain open to walkers. They are principally the sections of the trail that are 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. You will find the Fire Districts listed on the Fire Danger Season page and shown on the Interactive Map on the Friends website.

Heysen Trail Closure – Southern Flinders Ranges

Walkers are advised that access to the Heysen Trail in the Southern Flinders Ranges will be restricted  from 6 am  Saturday, 21 November 2020 until 2pm Friday, 27 November 2020.

Telowie Gorge Conservation Park, The Napperby Block of Mount Remarkable National Park, Spaniards Gully Conservation Park and Wirrabara Range Conservation Park  will be closed for the purpose of undertaking a pest control program.

The parks cover a long section of the trail on Heysen Trail Map sheets 5B and 6A  and Maps 2.5 to 2.7 of the Heysen Trail Northern Guidebook.

The Heysen Trail is closed over the Fire Danger Season. The Country Fire Service has  already announced the commencement of the Fire Danger Season for the Mid North & Flinders Districts.  As a result, the Heysen Trail is now closed in those areas.

However walkers can still use some sections of the trail, including sections that are not on private land including Conservation Parks and Reserves, Forests, public roads and vacant land.

But the feral animal control program means walkers need to take note of this closure and avoid that section of the trail over the period from the 21st  to 27th November.

For more information about the control program or park closure, please contact the Natural Resources Centre on (08) 8841 3400.

You can also check this and other park closures on the Parks SA Alerts page.