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New Zealand’s 3,000km Walking Trail Opens
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
Summer 2012
Issue 122
December 2011
Highlights include:
- Bibbulmun - The Northern Half
- A Short Cut to Machu Picchu
- The Fearless Five Women on the Heysen Trail
- DIY Stove Windshield
- Nominations for Honorary Membership
Upgrade of Waterfall Gully track completed
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.
Walking SA Newsletter
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:
- walking and local government
- trails update
- give a view inside their Trails Technical Unit and Walking Access Committee
- celebrate a national bushwalking pioneer
- and as always, there is news about walking and walking trails around SA.
More information about Walking SA can be found on their website.
Re-route of the Heysen Trail affecting Map 5.7, May 2010
View pdf map showing re-route
This re-route was included in the recently published 2010 guidebook, but was not noted for this edition, and is between Black Gap and Bridle Gap.
View all re-routes for the 2005 Northern Guidebook, 1st Edition
Re-route of the Heysen Trail affecting Map 5.1, October 2011
View pdf map showing re-route
The trail has been re-routed at the northern end of the Yourambulla Range to avoid an area of aboriginal significance.
View all re-routes for the 2010 Northern Guidebook, 2nd Edition
Re-route of the Heysen Trail affecting Map 5.1, October 2011
View pdf map showing re-route
The trail has been re-routed at the northern end of the Yourambulla Range to avoid an area of aboriginal significance.
View all re-routes for the 2005 Northern Guidebook, 1st Edition
Current Bushfire Info on the Trail from CFS Smartphone App
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.
Nature Foundation SA’s Walk for Nature
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 Friends of the Heysen Trail in the Advertiser newspaper
Every once in a while we appear in media. We would like to share an article that appeared in the recent Saturday Advertiser, 8/10/11, regarding our 25th anniversary and the signing of the memorandum of understanding.
Click here to view the article.
Saturday’s 25th birthday party a big success
80 or so guests and members celebrated 25 years of volunteer service on the Heysen Trail with bushwalks, Irish jigs, koalas, all with the sun shining on our picnic.
Irish band ‘Inesheer’ provided the music, while red and white balloons on Karka Pavilion were the colourful backdrop to speeches (short ones!) by our President, Robert Alcock, Chief Executive of the Dept of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Alan Holmes, and guest speaker John Kenneally of radio 5AA.
A new Memorandum of Understanding between DENR and the Friends of the Heysen Trail was signed, then our Patron, Warren C Bonython AO, resplendent in his bright orange shirt and yellow short shorts, cut the birthday cake.
Many thanks go to the organisers, Jeanette Clarke and Chris Porter, for the well organised celebrationary day.
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Beautiful walk, awesome weather and a great group
On Sunday, End-to-End 5 crossed Mount Lofty during a great day’s walking through some of the best of the Adelaide Hills.
Although overcast weather threatened the start of the walk, the group was sun drenched at Mount Lofty summit for the all-important group photograph. With the theme of this walk being ‘orange’, much of the group donned something of that colour. Our orange presence was evident to all spectators and other walkers we met along the trail with some interesting facial expressions displayed by those who are endowed with reliable colour perception skills.
Over almost two years the walkers have consolidated into a close-knit, supportive and capable walking team. Well done End-to-End 5ers! Visitors are always welcome to join us – you may even want to stay!
Traditional owners to manage Flinders Ranges National Park
An agreement has been reached to give Flinders Ranges traditional owners, the Adnyamathanha people, a greater role in running the national park.
Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association chairman Vince Coulthard says the agreement will let them use more traditional techniques to manage the national park.
56 kilometres of the Heysen Trail passes through the national park, from the southern edge of Wilpena Pound through to Aroona Campsite.
Read the full story on the ABC news website.
It’s our 25th birthday
Join with us in celebrating our 25th anniversary on Saturday 8th October at Belair National Park (as recently published on page 24 of the Spring Trailwalker.)
Please register if you are attending.
There are three short walks available for those who are keen for it:
- David Beaton and Liz Barry will be guiding walkers on a one hour walk along some of the picturesque tracks of the national park.
- Simon Cameron will be guiding walkers on a two hour fun challenge walk involving a little bit of everything: a little bit of rock scrambling (5m), a little bit of off-track walking (300m), a little bit of singing (one song), and a little bit of frisbee golf.
- Michael Middleton will be guiding walkers on a one hour walk up Saddle Hill track and through the old cherry plantation.
If you wish to go on a walk please also register for that walk.
The is no charge for the day or any of the walks, however park entry fees may apply.
View full details at: http://www.heysentrail.asn.au/walks/view_event.php?event_id=735&view=event
We look forward to seeing you on the day!
Nature Foundation SA’s Walk for Nature
From time to time we hear of other activities along the Heysen Trail or trails elsewhere in the State, this is one of them, and, it’s for a great cause.
Nature Foundation SA is holding its first Walk for Nature on Sunday 16th October 2011 with a light to moderate 6km return walk along the Heysen Trail from Bridgewater Oval to Woodhouse Activity Centre. Help to raise funds to conserve, restore and sustainably manage South Australia’s wildlife and environment.
Check out the Walk for Nature webpage at www.naturefoundation.org.au/help-nature/walk-for-nature/ and register today!
20th Anniversary of the Burra Branch
The walks for the Burra Branch’s 20th anniversary on the 24th and 25th September are now open for registration.
There will also be an anniversary dinner at Burra Bowling Club on the Saturday night, cost $25, RSVP to Hugh (ph. 8843 8115) by 17 September.
The Saturday walk is to be at Ulooloo Station (7 kms north of Hallett) on private property, the walk follows Ulooloo Creek downstream passing by old gold prospecting ruins and Wookongarie ruins. The return walk is a climb of Thunder Storm Hill, passing by Mount Scrub and through Chewing’s Gap. Visit registration page.
The Sunday walk is to be at Burra Creek Conservation Park, east of Burra. This walk follows the Burra Creek and some of its tributaries. This walk will be shorter than Saturday’s walk to assist people who will return to Adelaide. Visit registration page.
Accommodation is by your own arrangement. Burra Visitor Centre can help out: ph 8892 2154 or www.visitburra.com, or contact the Clare Valley Visitor Information Centre.
For further information contact Hugh ph 8843 8115; Rodney email rbrees@rbe.net.au ph 0411 134 984 or
Spring 2011
Issue 121
September 2011
Highlights include:
- I love the Heysen Trail so much I got the tattoo
- Kilimanjaro magic
- Using a GPS on a hike
- Ethan walks the Heysen Trail in 28 days
- 54 walkers from the End to End 3 group finish the Trail
- George Driscoll Sea to Summit run
FoHT 25th Anniversary Celebration
The Friends of the Heysen Trail and other Walking Trails Inc is celebrating its 25th anniversary on Saturday 8th October at Karka Pavilion, Long Gully, Belair National Park from 9.30am.
Members and invited guests can join the celebrations which will include a bush band and an official cake cutting ceremony. Bring your own lunch, drinks and chairs. There is ample car parking available although park entry fees are payable.
There will be three walks available for interested walkers: one or two hours, free guided walks will commence from 10.00am at the Karka Pavilion.
Register for the celebration, and if interested, one of the walks: click here
Re-route of the Heysen Trail affecting Maps 4.2 and 4.3, August 2011
UPDATE August 2011: Advance notice of forestry operations in Pewsey Vale Forest (the shaded forest area between Brownies Road on the northern edge of map 4.2 and point F midway on map 4.3). These operations may result in the trail being re-routed through some of this forest.
View all re-routes for the 2010 Southern Guidebook, 3rd Edition
Re-route of the Heysen Trail affecting Maps 4.2 and 4.3, August 2011
UPDATE August 2011: Advance notice of forestry operations in Pewsey Vale Forest (the shaded forest area between Brownies Road on the northern edge of map 4.2 and point F midway on map 4.3). These operations may result in the trail being re-routed through some of this forest.
View all re-routes for the 2007 Southern Guidebook, 2nd Edition