The Fire Danger Season has finished in the Flinders (north of Wirrabara and the trail is open. Elsewhere the trail remains closed. Read more
The fire danger season for the Mount Lofty Ranges Fire Ban District (between Kings Beach (WSCW) and Tanunda in the Barossa Valley) has been extended by two weeks to 14 May. Read more
NT Parks and Wildlife Service have a two week volunteer opportunity assisting park rangers in Larapinta Trail maintenance in the West MacDonnell National Park.
This volunteer opportunity is open to all ages and anyone interested can apply, registrations close Wednesday 21 March.
Further information can be found in this leaflet, or by contacting Kelly Knights on 08 8956 7799 or email on gov..
Western Australia’s Bibbulmun Track won the Silver Medal in the Tourist Attraction category at the recent 2011 WA Tourism Awards.
Congratulations to the volunteers and staff at the Bibbulmun Track Foundation!
More info:
This morning three ceremonies in New Zealand officially opened the 3,000km Te Araroa walking trail. Te Araroa, meaning ‘the long pathway’, is a national foot trail running the length of country.
A ceremony was held at the north trailhead, south trailhead and the midway point at Wellington, coinciding with the release of the a trail guide, The Walking Guide to Te Araroa, written by Geoff Chapple (the Te Araroa Trust chief) and published by Random House.
The trail explores New Zealand’s unique landscape, its volcanoes, its range and mountain uplift, its rivers, lakes and valleys. From Cape Reinga at the top of the North Island it traverses the length of the country down to Stirling Pt in Bluff at the bottom of the South Island. Envisionaged in 1975, it was not until the late 90s that material progress was acheived. Some 45% of the trail consists of smaller trails linked together, the remaining 55% consists of new trails. Just 13.5% is along roads.
By the mid-2000s and well ahead of the trail’s completion, eager walkers were already hitting the trail – up to 10 a year, using roads as by-passes where necessary. It is predicted that about 100 people will walk the length of the trail annually, 7000 people will walk overnight sections and 350,000 people will use the trail for day walks.
Anyone have three or four months to spare next year?
Further info can be found on the Te Araroa website: http://www.teararoa.org.nz
The $1.2 million upgrade of the popular Waterfall Gully to Mt Lofty track has been completed, says South Australian Environment Minister Paul Caica.
The four kilometre upgrade has been completed in stages over the past three years. The trail alignment, surface, drainage and signage has been upgraded. More rest areas, including an area safe for children to play and explore, have also been included.
An estimated 400,000 walkers enjoy the trail each year.
Read more in Paul Caica’s press release.
The peak body for recreational walkers in South Australia, Walking SA, release a regular newsletter. Download their newsletter, released this week.
In this edition, they discuss:
More information about Walking SA can be found on their website.
Whilst we wouldn’t normally email you with technology news about smartphones, this news might be of particular interest to late season bushwalkers who have a smartphone and are walking the Heysen Trail or other trails.
Yesterday the CFS released a smartphone app which may be a better offering than third party bushfire information apps. It provides users with the location and status of current bushfires, current wind direction and prescribed burn details, which can be viewed on an interactive map with your current location. This is particularly useful for bushfires that have started during the day within the landscape you are walking.
You will need mobile phone reception from your carrier to access data with this app.
Late season walkers should be highly aware of bushfire conditions. Several bushfires have already occurred throughout the state and in areas where the Heysen Trail passes through.
View further more information about this smartphone app on the CFS website, or search for CFS FireApp.
On Sunday our president, Robert Alcock, donned a bandanna and joined over 300 walkers on the Heysen Trail from Bridgewater to Woodhouse. The walk raised money and awareness for the work of the Nature Foundation of SA, a group dedicated to saving native wildlife and protecting our natural environment.
For more info on the Nature Foundation visit www.naturefoundation.org.au
Read more about the walk at www.adelaidenow.com.au
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The South Australian Government has announced today that Kangaroo Island will receive a funding boost which includes $5 million towards development of a five-day walking trail.
In late May a report was released recommending, among other things, the development of several walking trails.
Today’s announcement is a package of $18 million to enhance Kangaroo Island’s reputation as a major tourist destination and premium agricultural producer.
Read the details of the proposed walking trail in the Premier’s media release
Read the KI funding story on the Adelaide Now.
Premier Mike Rann and ministers have flown to Arkaroola today to announce the SA Government will change the Mining Act as an interim measure, then introduce specific legislation to ban any mining in the area.
Mr Rann says an application also will be made to put Arkaroola on the National Heritage list, with a longer-term aim of gaining World Heritage listing.
“We have decided to give the region unprecedented protection,” Mr Rann said.
“We could have settled for what the Greens wanted, which was simply a ban on mining, but I wasn’t satisfied that that would provide enough protection from all forms of incompatible development,” Mr Rann said.
“The Arkaroola wilderness area is a unique environment and as such we are giving it special, one-off, legislative protection.”
Read the full story on the ABC news website
Two new walking trails have been proposed as part of a five-year plan to increase Kangaroo Island tourism, in a report released yesterday by the Economic
The Lighthouse Trail – a walking track from Cape Borda to Cape du Couedic along the coast through Flinders Chase. The existing
The D’Esteree’s Bay to Vivonne Bay Wilderness Adventure is the second proposed hiking trail. The existing Cape Gantheaume Coastal Trek is another unmarked trek, from D’Esteree’s Bay to Bales Bay. The new trail would extend that trip and establish a marked trail.
A cycling path from Cape Borda to Kingscote along the north coast is also proposed, the North Coast Bike Track.
