Heysen Trail

Park Closure – 24/11/2016 to 1/12/2016 Telowie Gorge Conservation Park and Napperby Block (Mount Remarkable National Park)

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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:

  • Napperby Block is on HT Map Sheet 5B
    or on HT Northern Guide Map 2.5
  • Telowie Gorge CP is on HT Map is Sheet 5B & 6A
    or on HT Northern Guide Map 2.6-2.7.
  • The Go Cart shelter is on HT Map Sheet 6A
    or on HT Northern Guide Map 2.7

Read more on the National Parks closure page.

Night time caution on the Heysen Trail due to feral cat control in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park

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642310-89230a6c-e9e5-11e3-9fa0-1bddff48c580A 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:

  • Thursday, 3 November to Wednesday, 30 November 2016                  8.30pm to 5am
  • Wednesday, 30 November 2016 to Tuesday 31 January 2017              9pm to 5am
  • Tuesday, 31 January 2017 to Tuesday, 28 February 2017                      8.30pm to 5am
  • Tuesday, 28 February 2017 to Sunday, 30 April 2017                            8pm to 5am
  • Sunday, 30 April 2017 to Tuesday, 31 July 2017                                      6pm to 5am
  • Tuesday, 31 July 2017 to Saturday, 30 September 2017                         6.30pm to 5am

Tracks and walking trails will remain open outside of these times.

The Heysen Trail will remain open at all times, however walkers must:

  • remain in designated campgrounds and huts, or
  • camp within 20 metres of the Heysen Trail within the park after dark.

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 –

  • Trezona Track
  • Mount Sunderland Track
  • Rifle Range Track
  • Old Blinman Track
  • Jones Camp Track
  • Telegraph Track
  • St Mary Peak outside trail
  • Cooinda Track
  • Pound Gap Track

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.

Storms damage some sections of the Heysen Trail

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The Heysen Trail near Kings Beach - photo by Martin Chapman.

The Heysen Trail near Kings Beach – photo by Martin Chapman.

Walkers are advised that some sections of the Heysen Trail have suffered damage during the recent weather events.

As a result

are closed until further notice. Refer to the Parks closures webpage for the latest information.

Walkers need to take care on the trail and particularly near the following locations:

  • Kings Beach (near Encounter Bay) – Southern Guide Book Map 1.5 and Sheet Map 1B.
  • Giles Conservation Park (near Ashton) – Southern Guide Book Map 3.4 and Sheet Map 2B.

While conditions are generally expected to improve over the next week, it may be sometime before the necessary work can be completed on these sections.

If you find any damage on the trail, please report it to the Friend’s office. To assist our Trail Development volunteers, please advise

  • the location and map reference,
  • describe the nature of the work required (i.e. marker post has been knocked over) and
  • if possible, send a photo.

 

 

Park Closure – The Telowie Gorge Conservation Park and Napperby Block (Mount Remarkable National Park) 23 Sept 2016 to 29 Sept 2016

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Telowie Gorge Conservation Park and Napperby Block (Mount Remarkable National Park) will be closed from 6am Friday, 23 September 2016 to 6pm Thursday, 29 September 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 for the Heysen Trail and attempt to enter these parks at those times.

Especially Relevant – The Go Cart Track Shelter is alongside the HT and within the Telowie Gorge Conservation Park. This shelter may be closed during these times.

The parks are north of Crystal Brook and to the west of the Wirrabara Forest.telowie-napperby-block-closure-flyer-_3_

For Heysen Trail (HT) users:
Napperby Block is on HT Map Sheet 5B
or on HT Northern Guide Map 2.5

Telowie Gorge CP is on HT Map is Sheet 5B & 6A
or on HT Northern Guide Map 2.6-2.7.

The Go Cart shelter is on HT Map Sheet 6A
or on HT Northern Guide Map 2.7

Please direct any enquiries to Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Northern & Yorke. (08) 8841 3400.

Heysen Trail closure in Mt Brown & Dutchmans Stern Conservation Parks from Thursday 1st to Friday 9th September.

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dutchmansstern-sign-hero

The Dutchmans Stern and Mt Brown Conservation Parks will be closed from 6pm on Thursday 1 September 2016 until 6am on Friday 9 September 2016.

The purpose of the 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 through these parks, so you are warned not to attempt to enter them at those times.

The Mount Brown Conservation Park is located between Wilmington and Quorn:

  • Chapter 3, map 7 of the Northern Guidebook and
  • Mapheet 6C, Wirrabara Forest to Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park.

The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park is just north of Quorn and can be found on the following maps

  • Chapter 4, map 2 of the Northern Guidebook and
  • Mapheets 6D, Wirrabara Forest to Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park and
    7A, Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park to Mernmerna Creek.

Signs will be placed at points where the Heysen Trail enters the parks during the closure.

Please direct any enquiries to Natural Resources, Northern & Yorke.

Walkers be warned – Bees!

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Bees love Canola

Now is the time you need to take caution when walking near flowering crops. We are now at the highest risk of being attacked by bees.

August to October sees canola crops come into full flower providing picturesque bright yellow fields. The flowers attract bees and the installation of commercial bee hives (clusters of white boxes). Bees don’t take kindly to any interference (intentional or not) and can attack en masse.

What you need to do:

  1. To reduce the risk, walkers are strongly advised to avoid walking between the bee hives and neighbouring canola crops in flower.
  2. If your walking trail passes a group of hives, take a wide berth away from them. If possible, stick to made tracks or walk along fencelines.  You should avoid walking through crops when off trail.
  3. If you have experienced reactions to bee stings, you are responsible for carrying appropriate medication. You should also advise your walk leader of any medical condition before you commence your walk.

Listen to Radio Interview with Ron Kandelaars on 891 ABC Adelaide, 13 July 2016

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Friends of the Heysen Trail ambassador, Ron Kandelaars, was interviewed today by Ian Henshke on 891 ABC Adelaide.

He discusses walking South Australia’s 1200 kilometre long Heysen Trail as a great bucket list item, and our organisation’s End-to-End Walking Program. He also interviews Katrina Gillespie who is walking the trail with her two teenage sons and husband together, to set aside their digital devices and walk the Heysen Trail together as a shared experience.

Listen to the interview on SoundCloud.

Volunteers Sought for Trail Development

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Much of the Heysen Trail infrastructure is now 30 years old.

The Friends Trail Development Committee have plans for many upgrades to both the trail and walker facilities. These plans include –

  1. Trail remarking and track work – a 3 year project commenced this year.
  2. Camp site facilities – toilets, water tanks and benches are planned for more sites.
  3. Hut upgrades to include benches, seats, painting etc.
  4. New huts are being considered at White Park; Simmons Hill; Cuddlee Creek and a Freemans hut replacement.
  5. Rebuilding the Waitpinga Beach sand ladder.

You can help

We need help to get these projects moving, both in the field and at our Cobbler Creek shed.

  • Waitpinga Beach walkway: We need a team to urgently undertake work on the sand ladder. The existing structure is in a dilapidated condition.
  • Cobbler Creek shed, Salisbury East. Urgent work is required to produce items needed for the campsites and huts. We propose to initially open the shed once a month, on a Tuesday from 9 am to 3 pm, for this work.

We would love to hear from anyone with time available and an interest in the trail to HELP us.

Contact us to discuss how you can help.

The trail needs us, please help.

Heysen Trail restored to original route through Bundaleer Forest

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New toilet constructed at Curnows Hut

New toilet constructed at Curnows Hut

The temporary re-route put in place following the January 2013 Bundaleer Forest fire has been removed, and the Heysen Trail is now back on its original alignment. The trail has been re-marked.

In October 2015 Curnows Hut was reopened to walkers. Last week some of our volunteers installed a new toilet at the hut, as the original toilet was destroyed in the fire.

The “new” route returns to that shown on Map 1.4 of the Heysen Trail Northern Guidebook (May 2010 & April 2014 editions) and the Heysen Trail Mapsheet 5 – Spalding to Wirrabara Forest (August 2015).

Walk for the Heysen, inaugural fundraising event, 22nd May 2016 Mt Crawford Forest

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2016 Walk for the Heysen

2016 Walk for the Heysen

Sunday 22 May 2016 from 9.30 am
Fromm’s Farm, Mount Road, Mount Crawford

Please join us for the Warren Bonython Heysen Trail Foundation’s inaugural fundraising event.

Proceeds of the Foundation’s fund raising activities are currently used to support greening activities along the Heysen Trail and the restoration of fire damaged sections of the Trail.

There will be three loop walk options of:

  • 5 km
  • 8 km
  • 15 km

All walks depart from and arrive back to the Fromm’s Farm camp-site. Walks are designed to suit all ages and standards of walking fitness.

In keeping with the tradition of the Walk for Warren established by us, the theme for the day will be yellow and a prize consisting of a Heysen Trail merchandise pack to the value of $100 will offered for the best sartorial contribution on the day.

After the walk grab a sausage off the BBQ at the Fromm’s Farm camp-site. Or bring your picnic while enjoying some cool blues with “Deuces Wild”. Fromm’s Farm offers a Large shelter shed and a Picnic area with space to relax.

The cost of registration is $30 for adults, $5 for children and $50 for families.

Register Now

You may also choose to make a one-off donation to the Foundation through the Foundation’s cause page.

Please note that the Foundation’s application to be registered as an environmental charity is still pending and donations at this point in time are unfortunately not tax deductible.

Download brochure:

Walk for Heysen brochure