Walk the Trail with the Friends
The Friends of the Heysen Trail lead guided walks along the Trail. Learn how to join us on guided short walks or hike with us along the entire Heysen Trail.
Meet the Friends of the Heysen Trail
The Friends of the Heysen Trail is run by a dedicated group of volunteers who are responsible for developing, maintaining and promoting the Heysen Trail. We run a year-round walking program with different grades of walks catering for beginners through to experienced hikers. If you’re interested in walking with other people or you’re not sure how to go about exploring the Trail, the Friends can help you get started.
Ways to walk the trail
There are many different ways to explore the Heysen Trail with the Friends. Our walks are open to members only and cater for people who have different fitness levels.
Most of our guided walks take place during the ‘walk season’, which is generally between April and November. This avoids the hot South Australian summer weather and the Fire Danger Season. We also offer a Summer Walks program.
Below are six different ways you can walk with the Friends:
End-to-End Walks
The Heysen Trail covers approximately 1,200 km and hiking the entire Trail can be a daunting prospect, even for the most adventurous hiker. The Friends’ End-to-End walks program covers the full length of the Trail and takes approximately 60 days of walking, usually spread over five or six years. With the schedule and logistics taken care of by the Friends, it’s easier to participate and many people also enjoy the social aspect of walking with a group.
Trail Walker
Trail Walker hikes are reasonably demanding and are best if you’re an experienced hiker able to cope with rough terrain. Walks generally take between five and six hours and you will need to be physically fit. These walks are usually scheduled on Saturdays or Sundays.
Trail Starter
Trail Starter walks are a great introduction to bushwalking, if you haven’t walked in a group before or you simply want to enjoy a shorter walk. You’ll need to be able to walk for between three and four hours along reasonably even terrain. These walks are usually scheduled on Saturdays or Sundays.
Trail Rambler
Trail Rambler walks are offered for specialist events such as bird watching or historical walks. They’re relatively short and informative and are suitable for people of all fitness levels.
Summer Walks
We offer shorter walks during the hotter summer months when much of the Trail is closed. These generally take 1.5 to two hours and are mostly held close to Adelaide on Wednesday evenings, meeting at 6 pm, followed by a meal. Occasionally we also offer longer morning Summer Walks.
Summer Walks are suitable if you:
- Wish to maintain your fitness outside the walking season
- Are not a regular walker
- Want to try walking with a group
- Want to take part in shorter walks
You’ll need only a modest degree of physical fitness but be sure to read the walk description before registering as some walks may be longer and more strenuous than others.
Extended Walks
These are multi-day walks, usually held over a long weekend or a full week. The location and walk difficulty vary, with some walks being a few hours drive from Adelaide, others taking place interstate or even overseas.
The registration fee for extended walks does not cover accommodation, so you’ll need to organise and pay for this yourself.
Explore the Wild South Coast Way
The Wild South Coast Way (WSCW) covers the first 75 km section of the Heysen Trail between Cape Jervis and Victor Harbor, passing through Deep Creek National Park and Newland Head Conservation Park. The walking experience offers some of the state’s most spectacular coastal walking, featuring remote beaches, native bushland, rugged cliffs, First Nations’ history, breathtaking vistas, deep gullies and a rich diversity of native birds, bush and wildlife.
Big improvements have been made to this part of the Trail, including the development of a number of campsites. This work has been done by the South Australian Government in partnership with the Friends of the Heysen Trail, First Nations people, Yankalilla District Council, the City of Victor Harbor, park users and the private sector.
Visit the National Parks and Wildlife Service website for more information on the WSCW.
From time to time, the Friends organise group walks along this section of the Trail.
Frequently
asked questions
Yes. You can join the Friends from our membership page. When joining you may also purchase a Golden Boots Pass which covers the cost of walks over a twelve-month period.
You must register to join a walk with the Friends. You can do this online using the Walk Calendar or call the Friends’ office to register by phone. You will be emailed details of the walk meeting point and start time.
Our Walk Calendar indicates when registrations open – this varies according to the different type of walk. It’s best to register as soon as possible as some of our walks are very popular and places are limited. Early registration also helps our Walk Leaders in their planning.
You’ll need to pay a small administration fee to take part in our walks. The cost is detailed in the Walk Calendar. You can pay for individual walks or buy a Golden Boots Pass, which covers the cost of walks over a twelve-month period.
We charge an additional fee when we need to hire a bus. Normally this is only for larger groups such as our End-to-End walks.
Some of our walks aren’t suitable for young children due to the length and rough terrain, however children are welcome on suitable walks. Check with the Friends’ Office before you register a child for one of our walks.
Sometimes walks have to be cancelled due to weather conditions. Our Refund and Cancellation Policy gives you more information on our cancellation procedure.
If you’re no longer able to participate in a walk you can withdraw your registration by logging into your account on our website, or calling the Friends’ office no later than 2 pm on the Friday before the walk. If you notify us before registrations close, we’ll refund your fee. View our Refund and Cancellation Policy for more information.
We have lots of information on what to wear and bring when you walk on the Heysen Trail. Your Walk Leader will also give you more information once you’ve registered for a walk.