About the Friends
We’re the Friends of the Heysen Trail. Find out more about what we do, including our group walks and maintaining the Heysen Trail, and how you can get involved.
Who are the Friends?
Established in 1986, the Friends of the Heysen Trail is a not-for-profit volunteer organisation. We support the development and maintenance of the Heysen Trail, and promote the recreational and community benefits of the Heysen Trail as well as other South Australian walking trails.
We work with other volunteer organisations, government departments, landholders, community and First Nations groups, and are a member of WalkingSA, South Australia’s peak body representing bushwalkers.
Want to get involved?
Become a volunteer
Our volunteers are keen hikers who are passionate about the Heysen Trail. We have groups of volunteers who carry out important trail maintenance and development by “adopting” a section of the Trail to take care of, or carrying out special projects like constructing and installing water tanks, shelters and boardwalks along the Trail.
Other volunteers run our office and shop in Adelaide, maintain our website and walks program, and serve on the Friends Council.
Walk with us
The Friends run regular group hikes for members, with a variety of walk grades, from easy part or full day rambles to End-to-End adventures for those who want to explore the entire 1,200 km length of the Heysen Trail. Our members keep up to date about upcoming walks with our walk calendar.
Stay in touch with us
Walkers can stay in touch by following us on Facebook and Instagram, visiting us at our office and shop in Adelaide, or by visiting our website.
We also publish a magazine called Trailwalker, which covers happenings on the Heysen Trail, the activities of the Friends of the Heysen Trail, and pieces by members about their hiking adventures elsewhere. Trailwalker is published in April, August and December each year.
Our governing Council
The Friends of the Heysen Trail Council is the group elected to manage our organisation. Council appoints a number of committees to oversee different aspects of our organisation including our finances, membership and marketing, and trail development.
Our current Council members are:
Our purpose
The Friends of the Heysen Trail is made up of families, walking groups and individuals, working together to:
- Develop the Trail as a world-class adventure hike
- Partner with the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) to develop, maintain and promote the Trail, including engagement with landowners, communities and service providers
- Encourage and support volunteer participation in the Friends
- Promote walking, environmental awareness and First Nation reconciliation, through information, education and guided organised walks
- Represent the interests of walkers to preserve access, amenity and the environment along the Trail and in support of other trails
Our Constitution
The Friends of the Heysen Trail is an Incorporated Association and operates under a Constitution. The most recent version of the Constitution was approved at the Annual General Meeting on April 17th 2024.
Annual reports
The annual report is presented in April each year to the Annual General Meeting.
The most recent annual report was presented at the Annual General Meeting on April 16th 2025.
Our commitment to Reconciliation
The Heysen Trail acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the many lands the Trail passes through. Learn about how the Friends of the Heysen Trail respects our rich Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and recognises the cultural significance of their land and peoples.
Aboriginal lands covered by the Trail
The Trail passes through the lands traditionally owned by the Kaurna, Peramangk, Ngadjuri, Nukunu, and Adnyamathanha peoples.
How we acknowledge First Nations history on the Trail
We provide information and education for our members during our guided walks. To help us develop information and resources for Walk Leaders as well as for other projects, we liaise with Traditional Owners. We also work with other South Australian Reconciliation agencies, including Reconciliation SA and the Department for Environment and Water, to explore opportunities for sharing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories along the Trail.
Respect for Traditional Owners and Custodians
The Friends acknowledge the deep connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to the land, and we pay our respects to the cultural authority of the Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna, Peramangk, Ngadjuri, Nukunu, and Adnyamathanha peoples, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land the Trail passes through.
Our Reconciliation Committee
We have a Reconciliation Committee whose members help us find ways to connect and collaborate with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Our Reconciliation Committee advises the Friends’ Council on policy and actions to help us grow our reconciliation activities.