Heysen Trail

Heysen Trail
Parachilna Gorge, the northern trailhead
Length	1,200 km (750 mi)
Location	South Australia *Flinders Ranges *Mount Lofty Ranges *Fleurieu Peninsula
Established	1978
Trailheads	Parachilna Gorge Cape Jervis
Use	Hiking
Season	sections are closed during summer
Waymark	One of the many signposts marking the Heysen Trail.
Sights	Wilpena Pound Former Monster Mine atBurra Pichi Richi Pass Barossa Valley Mount Lofty Encounter Bay Backstairs Passage
Surface	natural
Website	http://heysentrail.asn.au/

TheHeysen Trailis a long distance walking trail inSouth Australia.It runs fromParachilna Gorge,in theFlinders Rangesvia theAdelaide HillstoCape Jervison theFleurieu Peninsulaand is approximately 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) in length.

Route summary

From north to south, the route of the trail may be summarised by the following landmarks in order:Parachilna Gorge-Flinders Ranges National Park-Hawker-Quorn-Mount Remarkable National Park-Melrose-Crystal Brook-Spalding-Burra-Kapunda-Adelaide Hills-Deep Creek Conservation Park-Cape Jervis

Due tobushfirerisk, large sections of the trail are closed annually from December through to April.

Most people choose to walk sections of the track for one or a few days at a time. There are many places to stay along the trail and hardy walkers who walk the track from beginning to end typically do so in about 60 days.

TheFriends of the Heysen Trailis a non-profit volunteer organisation dedicated to the maintenance, development and promotion of the Heysen Trail and other walking trails; and to the promotion of bushwalking as a healthy leisure activity.

A regular walking program is conducted by a walking sub-committee. Different grades of walks cater for beginners and for more experienced walkers.

Geology and biology

Waitpinga Beach, a part of the southernmost reach of the trail

The trail passes cliffs, farmland, natural bushland, forests, vineyards, and grazing land. It extends from the ocean through the fertile Mount Lofty Ranges acrossGoyder's Lineto the arid Flinders Ranges, with many different bioregions.

History

The trail was first suggested byWarren Bonythonin 1969 but design was stalled by several years due to government politics and issues with private land owners. The first 50 kilometres of the track was laid through theMount Lofty Rangesin 1978 after responsibility for the track was handed to the Department of Recreation and Sport.Terry Lavenderwas the main designer for the track and oversaw the majority of its construction until it was completed in 1992.

The trail is named afterSir Hans Heysen.

Images

• 
  NearVictor Harbor,withKangaroo Islandvisible on the left horizon.
• 
  Hiking through farmland near Waitpinga.

See also

• The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park
• Mount Brown (South Australia)
• Wapma Thura–Southern Flinders Ranges National Park
• Ikara–Flinders Ranges National Park
• Mount Remarkable National Park
• Kyeema Conservation Park
• Mount Magnificent Conservation Park
• Caroona Creek Conservation Park
• Hopkins Creek Conservation Park
• Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park
• Finniss Conservation Park
• List of long-distance hiking tracks in Australia

External links

• The Heysen Trail - Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources website