The Friends publish a membership magazine called the Trailwalker. It has broad appeal for members and hikers with articles covering happenings on the Heysen Trail, the activities of the Friends, and trip reports from members who have hiked elsewhere. The Trailwalker is published in April, August & December.
Trailwalker Archive
December 2024
Issue 170
August 2024
Issue 169
April 2024
Issue 168
December 2023
Issue 167
August 2023
Issue 166
April 2023
Issue 165
December 2022
Issue 164
August 2022
Issue 163
April 2022
Issue 162
December 2021
Issue 161
August 2021
Issue 160
Autumn 2021
Issue 159
Summer 2020/21
Issue 158
November 2020
Spring 2020
Issue 157
August 2020
Winter 2020
Issue 156
May 2020
Autumn 2020
Issue 155
February 2020
Summer 2019/20
Issue 154
December 2019
Spring 2019
Issue 153
August 2019
Winter 2019
Issue 152
June 2019
Autumn 2019
Issue 151
March 2019
Summer 2019
Issue 150
December 2018
Spring 2018
Issue 149
September 2018
Winter 2018
Issue 148
June 2018
Autumn 2018
Issue 147
March 2018
Summer 2018
Issue 146
December 2017
Spring 2017
Issue 145
September 2017
Winter 2017
Issue 144
June 2017
Autumn 2017
Issue 143
February 2017
Summer 2017
Issue 142
December 2016
Spring 2016
Issue 141
September 2016
Winter 2016
Issue 140
June 2016
Autumn 2016
Issue 139
February 2016
Summer 2016
Issue 138
December 2015
Spring 2015
Issue 137
September 2015
Winter 2015
Issue 136
June 2015
Autumn 2015
Issue 135
March 2015
Summer 2015
Issue 135
December 2014
Spring 2014
Issue 133
August 2014
Winter 2014
Issue 132
June 2014
Autumn 2014
Issue 131
March 2014
Summer 2014
Issue 130
December 2013
Spring 2013
Issue 129
September 2013
Winter 2013
Issue 128
June 2013
Autumn 2013
Issue 127
March 2013
Summer 2013
Issue 126
December 2012
Spring 2012
Issue 125
September 2012
Winter 2012
Issue 124
June 2012
Autumn 2012
Issue 123
March 2012
Summer 2012
Issue 122
December 2011
Spring 2011
Issue 121
September 2011
Winter 2011
Issue 120
June 2011
Autumn 2011
Issue 119
March 2011
Summer 2011
Issue 118
December 2010
Spring 2010
Issue 117
September 2010
Winter 2010
Issue 116
June 2010
Autumn 2010
Issue 115
March 2010
Summer 2010
Issue 114
December 2009
Spring 2009
Issue 113
September 2009
Winter 2009
Issue 112
June 2009
Autumn 2009
Issue 111
March 2009
Summer 2009
Issue 110
December 2008
Spring 2008
Issue 109
September 2008
Winter 2008
Issue 108
June 2008
Autumn 2008
Issue 107
March 2008
Summer 2008
Issue 106
December 2007
Spring 2007
Issue 105
September 2007
Winter 2007
Issue 104
June 2007
Autumn 2007
Issue 103
March 2007
Summer 2007
Issue 102
December 2006
Spring 2006
Issue 101
September 2006
Winter 2006
Issue 100
June 2006
Autumn 2006
Issue 99
March 2006
Summer 2006
Issue 98
December 2005
Spring 2005
Issue 97
September 2005
Winter 2005
Issue 96
June 2005
Autumn 2005
Issue 95
March 2005
Summer 2004
Issue 94
December 2004
Spring 2004
Issue 93
September 2004
Winter 2004
Issue 92
May 2004
Autumn 2004
Issue 91
March 2004
Summer 2003
Issue 90
December 2003
Spring 2003
Issue 89
September 2003
Winter 2003
Issue 88
May 2003
Autumn 2003
Issue 87
March 2003
Summer 2002
Issue 86
December 2002
Spring 2002
Issue 85
September 2002
Winter 2002
Issue 84
May 2002
Autumn 2002
Issue 83
March 2002
Summer 2001
Issue 82
December 2001
Spring 2001
Issue 81
September 2001
May 2001
Issue 80
May 2001
February 2001
Issue 79
February 2001
December 2000
Issue 78
December 2000
August 2000
Issue 77
August 2000
May 2000
Issue 76
May 2000
February 2000
Issue 75
February 2000
December 1999
Issue 74
December 1999
August 1999
Issue 73
August 1999
May 1999
Issue 72
May 1999
February 1999
Issue 71
February 1999
November 1998
Issue 70
November 1998
August 1998
Issue 69
August 1998
May July 1998
Issue 68
May 1998
February 1998
Issue 67
February 1998
November 1997
Issue 66
November 1997
August 1997
Issue 65
August 1997
May 1997
Issue 64
May 1997
February 1997
Issue 63
February 1997
December 1996
Issue 62
December 1996
October 1996
Issue 61
October 1996
August 1996
Issue 60
August 1996
June 1996
Issue 59
June 1996
April 1996
Issue 58
April 1996
February 1996
Issue 57
February 1996
December 1995
Issue 56
December 1995
October 1995
Issue 55
October 1995
August 1995
Issue 54
August 1995
June 1995
Issue 53
June 1995
April 1995
Issue 52
April 1995
February 1995
Issue 51
February 1995
December 1994
Issue 50
December 1994
October 1994
Issue 49
October 1994
August 1994
Issue 48
August 1994
April 1994
Issue 47
April 1994
March 1994
Issue 45
March 1994
December 1993
Issue 44
December 1993
October 1993
Issue 43
October 1993
August 1993
Issue 42
August 1993
June 1993
Issue 41
June 1993
April 1993
Issue 40
April 1993
February 1993
Issue 39
February 1993
December 1992
Issue 38
December 1992
October 1992
Issue 37
October 1992
August 1992
Issue 36
August 1992
June 1992
Issue 35
June 1992
April 1992
Issue 34
April 1992
February 1992
Issue 33
February 1992
December 1991
Issue 32
December 1991
October 1991
Issue 31
October 1991
August 1991
Issue 30
August 1991
June 1991
Issue 29
June 1991
April 1991
Issue 28
April 1991
February 1991
Issue 27
February 1991
December 1990
Issue 26
December 1990
October 1990
Issue 25
October 1990
August 1990
Issue 24
August 1990
June 1990
Issue 23
June 1990
April 1990
Issue 22
April 1990
February 1990
Issue 21
February 1990
December 1989
Issue 20
December 1989
October 1989
Issue 19
October 1989
August 1989
Issue 18
August 1989
June 1989
Issue 17
June 1989
April 1989
Issue 16
April 1989
February 1989
Issue 15
February 1989
December 1988
Issue 14
December 1988
October 1988
Issue 13
October 1988
August 1988
Issue 12
August 1988
June 1988
Issue 11
June 1988
April 1988
Issue 10
April 1988
February 1988
Issue 9
February 1988
December 1987
Issue 8
December 1987
October 1987
Issue 7
October 1987
August 1987
Issue 6
August 1987
June 1987
Issue 5
June 1987
March 1987
Issue 4
March 1987
November 1986
Issue 3
November 1986
September 1986
Issue 2
September 1986
July 1986
Issue 1
July 1986
Feature Trailwalker Articles
Walking Poles 101: Part One
To use them or not?
By Simon Cameron
There is not much science when it comes to walking poles. Just opinion and plenty of it. I have seen […]
Orchids – Hidden Gems of the Trail
By James Wenzel
James Wenzel advises us to slow down on the trail and add orchid-spotting to the pleasures of bushwalking.
Hiking with children
By Amelia Veale
5 Ordinary people – 1 extraordinary family
By Erina Sipos
Every little bit counts – WEA Ramblers walking group celebrates 90th birthday
The WEA Ramblers celebrated it’s 90th birthday earlier this year, remembering the occasion in 1925 when WEA students – then attached to the S.A. University – united to form a club to organise hikes, to enjoy the environment and to participate in conservation issues. The Club is now smaller in number but continues to organise fortnightly daywalks and the occasional long weekend ‘camp’ further afield. Individual members have always participated in trail issues, including the making of the Heysen Trail and continue this particular involvement by maintaining responsibility for Section 8 of the trail between Piccadilly and Norton Summit.
Fifteen Years of Assisting with Maintenance on the Heysen Trail
Our focus is on safety
By Jorg Valentin
End-to-End Minus 1
The Meritorious, Notorious and Hilarious Adventures of Morris Minus (Part 5) – Morris Learns About Catch-ups, Casualties and Companions
By Morris Minus
To start our final year on the trail we had an easy one-day walk – a catch-up for the postponed last walk in 2014. Our numbers had reduced due to a couple of our walkers suffering injuries in the ‘off’ season. So it was down to The Woods of Mount Crawford with a random assortment of teddy bears and a screaming baboon called Super Morris Major!!!
Maintenance on the Trail
Hut Trip Report, February 2015
By Peter Wynen
The First End-to-End walk of the Heysen Trail
1986: a South Australian Jubilee 150 project
By Andrew Eastick
The Unicorn Brewery – Burra, South Australia
History along our Trails
By Steve Clift
Willow Brewery, Pichi Richi
History along our Trails
By Steve Clift
Slowest ever completion of the Heysen Trail?
By John Pratt
Simon Cameron – Honorary Member 2014
The Morialta Barns
By Vicki Cox
End-to-End – a potted history
or how a small idea became a delightful monster
By Julian Monfries
Changes on the Heysen Trail
By Richard Savage, triple End-to-Ender
The Heysen Trail – The First Steps
By Stuart Hart
In July, 2002 Stuart wrote an excellent and detailed account of the origins of the Heysen Trail and has granted me the privilege of re-counting events below, as they occurred at the time. Stuart’s detailed account is entitled “The Heysen Trail – The First Steps”.
Chicks on the Beach
By Emma Stephens, Coast, Estuary and Marine Officer for the Natural Resources, Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges region
The Hooded Plover is a small bird found on Australia’s southern ocean beaches, including the Fleurieu Peninsula. Walking along the beautiful beaches of the Heysen Trail: Waitpinga, Parsons, Sheepies (Shannon’s Gully), Coolawang, Tunkalilla and Lands End, you have probably walked right past these well-camouflaged birds.
The Fearless Five
Women on The Heysen Trail
By Julie Caruso. Photos by Janis Richardson
C Warren Bonython AO – The Heysen Trail Visionary
I love the Heysen Trail so much… I got the tattoo!
By Michael Middleton
Using a GPS on a Hike
A How-To Guide
By Jeremy Carter
When it Ends
End-to-End 3 completes the Heysen Trail
By Simon Cameron
End-to-End 3 crossed the final stile at Parachilna on Saturday the 13th, for the largest finishing celebration in the Friend’s history. Eighty three walkers climbed the wooden steps. Fifty four were completing the trail and of that group forty three had started the journey together at Cape Jervis, six years earlier.
When it Rains — Travel North
Arkaroola to Mt Hopeless
By Simon Cameron
Rain can put a dampener on many walks but not those in the far north “beyond the Heysen”. A small cadre of Friends have been attempting to emulate the feat of our patron Warren Bonython, and follow the spine of the Flinders Ranges to Mt Hopeless. This has been planned in weekly stages, over the last three years and at first we didn’t realise the blessing bestowed by torrential rains.
A Heysen Highlight – Eyre Memorial, Crystal Brook
By Simon Cameron
Paying Homage to Old Pat
By Simon Cameron
An Obsession and Never Ending Story
Heysen Trail Maintenance
By Kevin Liddiard, volunteer maintenance worker for the section from Spalding to Georgetown
I joined the Friends of the Heysen 20 years ago, and from the start was interested in trail maintenance. I could not at that time take on a maintenance section due to business commitments, so volunteered to work on an ad hoc basis, notably when there was a full time FoHT Manager, who would telephone for volunteers.
Diamonds of the Heysen Trail
By Lari Mcdonald, from Western Australia
My friend, Sallie and I, regular long distance trail walkers, set out at the beginning of July to make an assault on the first 250 km of the Heysen Trail. The intent was to do the first 5 days and the last day on full packs with the rest done on day packs staying at local facilities and having our big packs moved in between.
Frederick Brooks
By John Wilson
Doug Leane
By John Wilson
Nine Artists, Eight Days in the Landscape on the Heysen Trail
By National Trust
In May 2008 artists Euan Macleod, Leo Robba, Chris O’Doherty aka Reg Mombassa, Lucy Culliton, Elisabeth Cummings, Neil Frazer, David Keeling, Adrienne Richards and David Usher, embarked on an adventure to capture their impressions of the spectacular landscape of the famous “Heysen Trail”, a 1200 kilometre walking trail, in South Australia. The Heysen is one of the great long distance walks in the world. It extends from Cape Jervis on the south coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide to Parachilna Gorge in the northern Flinders Ranges.
Beyond the Heysen Trail, Parachilna Gorge to Haddon Corner
By Dudley Cockington
Feeling Great – the Story of End-to-End 2
By Bev McLeod, Ralene Shaw, Rhonda Dempster and Helen Cradock
The ‘Heysen Trail’ has become our obsession and biggest personal challenge to complete in August 2008. When we first started walking on some End-to-End 1 days and catch ups we thought, okay just for the fun of it, we will do the odd day. We were told that we should just do the easy bits but this made us determined to tackle the whole 1200km!
Walking in the Flinders: End-to-End 2
The First Week Away - June 8 to 14, 2008
By Elizabeth Alvey
The catch-up chatting began in the bus, which picked up many walkers from outside the Heysen office, in Pitt Street, on the way to the first stop in Port Augusta. Walking gear and food filled the storage area under the bus but left just enough space for a large addition, no names mentioned, in Snowtown.
Heysen Trail Meanders
Walking the northern section of the Trail
By John Lindner
She’s Missing! A Story of Survival
Lost on St Mary Peak, Flinders Ranges
By Stella van der Krogt
Coastal Walking from North Haven to Goolwa
By Gavin Campbell
Finally we have completed it with our final day’s walk into the car park at Cape Jervis. It was a journey that started years ago, but became a project when, one hot Australian Day, Marie and I were walking along Semaphore beach to the breakwater at North Haven and it occurred to me that, with a little extra effort, we could walk along the coast to the Murray Mouth.
Catninga Water Tank
A Collaborative Effort to Install a Water Tank
The Birth of the Sea to Summit
Hiking from Brighton to Mt Lofty
By Colin Edwards
A Patron’s Walking Life
The Friends’ Patron C Warren Bonython AO
By Jo Chesher
Julian Monfries elected as Honorary Member
David Beaton elected as Honorary Member
Jack Marcelis elected as Honorary Member
A Gentleman Calls…
The origin of the Pathfinders Walking Program and its connection to The Friends
By George Driscoll, Manager Scout Outdoor Centre 1984- 2001, founder of Pathfinders, former member of the Friends Council and Chairman of the Walking Committee
A Look Back in time
The trail created by the interim Council of the Friends of the Heysen Trail
By Jo Chesher & Frank Hall
Walking the Heysen Trail
A 2002 trek from north to south
By Ralph Ollerenshaw
Umberatana Station
The quest for Mt Thomas
By Gavin Campbell
Yudnamutana Gorge to Mt Hopeless
By Malcolm Blight
Finishing off the Heysen Trail by walking from Yudnamutana Gorge to Mt Hopeless.
Doug Leane, Honorary Member
By Jo Chesser
Barry Finn, new Honorary Member
By John Wilson
Bushwalker Leaves Trail of Memories
Obituary, Terry Lavender
By Kym Tilbrook, The Advertiser
Terry Lavender South Australia’s “Mr Bushwalking” will be remembered for his dedication to recreation in SA. He was the architect of one of the world’s great walking trails — the long-distance Heysen Trail, which
snakes its way for 1500 km across the state from Cape Jervis, at the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula, to rugged Parachilna Gorge, in the Central Flinders Ranges.
Hey Mister – What’s a Heysen Trail?
By Charlie Adams
The Unfolding Drama of Two Bushwalkers at Deep Creek
By Colin Edwards
Mt Lofty: A View Down Through the Early Years
By Simon Kleinig
Mt. Lofty, that high “bump” on the skyline of the ranges overlooking the city, has been held near and dear by local residents from the very first days of the fledgling colony. Elsewhere in Australia only Canberra and Hobart share with us the privilege of having a mountain destination at their very doorstep, a fact now being appreciated by increasing numbers of Adelaide residents, and for many of us a short, fifteen-minute drive can find us soon tackling the lower slopes of the mountain.
Walk from Parachilna Gorge to Mt Hopeless
By Gavin Campbell
Discovering Elapidae
By Sue Monfries
I remember viewing the reptile exhibit of the Detroit Zoo shortly before coming to Australia. Essential ‘snake facts’ reminded me that the greatest population and variety of poisonous snakes on earth could be found in Australia. OK...let’s rethink this plan. Sure, we have bears and mountain lions around the place, but I’ve managed to live a relatively active outdoor life for 35 years without so much as a claw mark.
Walking the Heysen Trail with ARPA
By Jennifer Dow
Terry Lavender, O.A.
By Thelma Anderson
My Favourite Section of the Trail: Hallett to Newikie Creek
By Simon Kleinig
Completed Labours are Pleasant
By W.K. Tibbles
A few weeks ago I made the mistake of informing Arthur Smith that on the 4th August last my wife and I completed our walk of the entire mapped section of the Heysen Trail from Cape Jervis to Parachilna Gorge. As a form of penance for this indiscretion of disclosure I agreed to write a short note on the subject for inclusion in The Trailwalker. When will I ever learn to keep my trap shut?
The Canberra Bushwalking Club walks the Heysen Trail
By Ted Fleming
Fifty Years Before The Heysen Trail
By John Prescott
Fifty years ago this May, three of us walked along the south coast of Fleurieu Peninsula between the old Talisker mine and Victor Harbour. I recently came across my diary for this journey, and reproduce an edited version here so that those who know the Heysen Trail in this area can make a few comparisons. It may also stimulate nostalgia among those old enough to remember.
History of the Heysen Trail
By C Warren Bonython AO, patron of the Friends of the Heysen Trail
It is now 18 years since the Heysen Trail was conceived; the first 9, under the State Planning Authority, were a period of enthusiastic planning changing to frustration; the second 9, under the Department of Recreation & Sport, have been a period of steady building of the trail and further promotion of the idea behind it.