E2E-3 Parachilna Gorge – Leigh Creek Rd

Walking from Parachilna Gorge Trailhead to Leigh Creek Rd (Old Wonoka) on the Heysen Trail.

What to expect

[grade_desc grade="name" version="short|long"]3THERE’S A PROBLEM WITH THE PAYMENT SYSTEM ,THE PAYMENT DETAILS HAVE BEEN REMOVED SO ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS REGISTER. ( HERE ON LINE) WE WILL ASK FOR PAYMENT ONCE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED. ONCE REGISTERED PLEASE GET YOUR ACCOMMODATION SORTED AS MENTIONED IN DETAILS.

COSTS –  BUS $ 440  WALK FEE $72 OR GOLDEN BOOTS .

 

 

 

 

 

‘PLEASE READ ALL DETAILS BEFORE REGISTERING”

 

End to End Minus 3 will be run over 4yrs, Two 0ne week blocks in 2026.One week block followed by 5 weekends in 2027 2028 and 5 weekends followed by a one week block to finish the trail off in 2029.This walk is aimed at walkers that have already completed the trail South to North and know the rigours of multi day walking along the Heysen Trail. You will need to be able to WALK UP TO 32KMS IN A DAY and be fit and ready to go from the start. VERY EARLY STARTS ARE ALSO PART OF THIS EXPERIENCE. The Flinders Region is remote and access to the trail is very limited.

From the Parachilna Trailhead we’ll traverse creek beds, fire tracks and some smaller undulations as we work our way back towards Wilpena Pound with Majestic scenery in all directions. After crossing the The Pound we arrive at Bridal Gap with once again spectacular views of distant mountains. A descent down into Black gap finds us on Moralana Drive where the days walk ends. From here we’ll start our 32km day heading for Mt Little Station walking through open plains, wooded forests and a huge dry creek bed. The final day is in and out of Wonoka Creek before finishing on the Leigh Creek Rd.

6 DAYS OF WALKING WITH A REST DAY ON THE WEDNESDAY, PLEASE BE AWARE THE REST DAY MAY CHANGE IF WEATHER CONDITIONS BECOME UNFAVOURABLE.

 

HAZARDS -ROUGH, ROCKY, UNEVEN,SLIPPERY,MUDDY TRACKS,OLD FENCING, CREEK LINE SCRAMBLES, EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS [ HOT OR COLD ] ARE ALL THINGS THAT MIGHT BE EXPERIENCED ON THIS WEEK OF WALKING.

PLEASE BRING A BOOT BAG AND SPARE SHOES TO GET CHANGED INTO AT THE END OF THE DAY IF WET WEATHER SETS IN. THIS WILL ENSURE THE BUS DOESN’T FILL UP WITH MUD, THIS CAN BE LEFT UNDER THE BUS.

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BRING APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR AND CLOTHING, PERSONAL FIRST AID KIT, MORN TEA, LUNCH,SNACKS, ELECTROLYTES, MIN 2-3LTRS WATER. “ALWAYS CARRY A GOOD RAINCOAT”

THIS IS A MULTI DAY WALK , REGISTRATION REQUIRES PAYMENT OF THE FULL BUS FEE. ACCOMODATION AND MEALS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS FEE. ACCOMODATION PREFERABLY TO  BE BASED AT  RAWNSLEY PARK .

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CABIN OPTIONS ON HOLD AT RAWNSLEY PARK .UPON REGISTERING PLEASE RING RAWNSLEY’S AND BOOK A CABIN OR CAMPGROUND THAT SUITS YOU OR YOUR GROUPS NEEDS. TELL THEM YOU’RE WITH FOHT E2E MINUS 3 AND CHOOSE ACCORDINGLY.A 10% DISCOUNT IS AVAILABLE FOR FOHT. WE WILL SET UP A FACEBOOK PAGE SO PEOPLE HAVE A PLATFORM TO DISCUSS OPTIONS RE ACCOMODATION. RAWNSLEYS CAN ONLY PUT ASIDE SO MANY CABINS FOR US SO PLEASE BE OPEN TO SHARING.THIS SHOULD ENSURE EVERYONE FINDS A BED .

Those registering are invited to travel up on the bus at no extra cost, from Adelaide to Rawnsley Park and return to Adelaide. if you intend to travel on the bus please ADVISE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION when registering .The bus is able to take 20 passengers and their luggage. Those travelling on the bus are asked to pack all clothing,food etc into suitcases, eskies, cardboard boxes  or plastic containers. To ensure luggage can be stacked on top of each other without fear of it being squashed.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO DRIVE YOUR OWN VEHICHLE TO THE BASE AT RAWNSLEY PARK YOU ARE STILL REQUIRED TO PAY THE FULL EVENT / BUS FEE. PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE NO OTHER FEE OPTIONS FOR THIS EVENT.

Walk leaders: Adam Matthews
Suzanne Matthews
James Wenzel
Kara Turner
Registrations close: 2:00pm 9 May 2026

Cost

Golden Boots Pass accepted

Dates

Saturday 23 May 2026 – Sunday 31 May 2026

Walk difficulty: End-to-End Minus 3

The third Friends of the Heysen Trail End to End group to undertake the reverse traverse of the Heysen Trail north to south.

Starting from Parachilna Gorge Trailhead and walking from the north to the southern Cape Jervis Trailhead, rather than usual south to north walking direction. This third North-South traverse of the Heysen Trail begins, with 2 x one week walks reverting in the second year to weekend walks and in the final year, finishing with a week of walking.

These walks are for those wishing to walk some or all of the Heysen Trail. There are approximately sixty day walks involved.

These arrangements make it easy to walk the entire trail because the Friends of Heysen Trail work out many of the logistics.

These walks are reasonably demanding and for walkers who have walked regularly in various terrain. They have a walking time of about 5 to 7 hours and will require a high degree of physical fitness.

Refer to the End-to-End Walks page for more detailed information.

Walk details

Start time:
The bus will depart from the Adelaide Bus Depot on Franklin Street in the city at 8;15am Sharp. The bus will be available to load from 8am. Rufus Coaches and Gavin is the owner Driver.

Finish time:
Arrive at Rawnsleys approx 2;30pm

Walking from:
Adelaide

Walking to:
Rawnsley Park

Distance:
420kms

Start time:
8am PLEASE NOTE WALK START TIMES ARE DIFFERENT TO BUS DEPARTURE TIMES!!!

Finish time:
2-2;30pm

Walking from:
Parachilna Gorge

Walking to:
Aroona

Distance:
18;5kms

Hazards

AS MENTIONED IN WALK DESCRIPTION ON FRONT PAGE

Requirements

MORN TEA, LUNCH, SNACKS , 2-3LTRS WATER. PERSONAL FIRST AID KIT , WALKING POLES IF YOU PLEASE, APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR AND CLOTHING .HEADLAMP. ALWAYS CARRY A GOOD RAINJACKET

Experience

TRAILWALKER

Start time:
7;30am

Finish time:
2;30pm

Walking from:
Aroona

Walking to:
Yanyanna Hut

Distance:
25kms

Hazards

as per Sunday

Requirements

as per Sunday

Experience

Trailwalker

Start time:
8;15am

Finish time:
3pm

Walking from:
Yanyanna Hut

Walking to:
Wilpena Pound

Distance:
22kms

Hazards

as per Sunday

Requirements

as per Sunday

Experience

Trailwalker

Start time:
REST DAY

Start time:
8;30am

Finish time:
3pm

Walking from:
Wilpena

Walking to:
Moralana Drive

Distance:
16kms

Hazards

as per Sunday

Requirements

as per Sunday

Experience

Trailwalker

Start time:
7;00am

Finish time:
4;30 -5pm

Walking from:
Moralana Drive

Walking to:
Mt Little station

Distance:
32kms

Hazards

as per Sunday

Requirements

as per Sunday

Experience

Trailwalker

Start time:
8;30am

Finish time:
2;30pm

Walking from:
Mt Little Station

Walking to:
Leigh Creek Rd

Distance:
16;5kms

Hazards

as per Sunday

Requirements

as per Sunday

Experience

Trailwalker

Start time:
the bus will depart from the caravan Park area at 8am before picking up at the main Cabin Area at 8;15am

Finish time:
approx 2;30pm

Walking from:
Rawnsley Park

Walking to:
Adelaide

Distance:
420kms

Hazards

Gavins music selection and telling bad jokes

Interactive map

Total distance: 
0
Start elevation: 
0
End elevation: 
0
Lowest elevation: 
0
Highest elevation: 
0

Registration terms and conditions

All walks are subject to you wearing appropriate clothing. Prime considerations are warmth and weather protection. Your safety and the safety of the walking group can be jeopardised by you wearing inappropriate clothing. In an emergency situation it can take hours to evacuate a sick or injured walker. Leaders may not accept people for a walk who have not come appropriately dressed or prepared.

View details of appropriate clothing at heysentrail.asn.au/appropriate-clothing

If the forecast temperature for Adelaide is equal or higher than 32C, walks are cancelled. For simplicity, this can be determined the night prior to the walk from the 7.00 pm ABC News Adelaide weather forecast, based upon the Bureau of Meteorology’s routine 4pm forecast.

Your Walk Leader will send an email to all walkers advising the walk is cancelled. We suggest you check your emails before leaving to join the walk. Even if the forecast temperature is later revised, the walk remains cancelled. In such a case walk fees will be refunded.

If unforeseen circumstances arise and you are no longer able to participate in the walk, please cancel your registration as soon as possible using the Manage Walk Registrations facility on your Account page.

Alternatively you can notify the office by 2.15pm on the last business day before the walk. Walk leaders do not have access to messages left on the answering machine after this time. If your Walk Leader has provided their mobile phone number you may be able to contact them prior to the walk (subject to phone service availability).

View the full details of our Cancellation & Refund Policy at heysentrail.asn.au/cancellations

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