I remember viewing the reptile exhibit of the Detroit Zoo shortly before coming to Australia. Essential ‘snake facts’ reminded me that the greatest population and variety of poisonous snakes on earth could be found in Australia. OK…let’s rethink this plan. Sure, we have bears and mountain lions around the place, but I’ve managed to live a relatively active outdoor life for 35 years without so much as a claw mark.
Good question son, like a mirage, a lot depends on who you are, where you’ve come from and how you answer yourself.
Mt. Lofty, that high “bump” on the skyline of the ranges overlooking the city, has been held near and dear by local residents from the very first days of the fledgling colony. Elsewhere in Australia only Canberra and Hobart share with us the privilege of having a mountain destination at their very doorstep, a fact now being appreciated by increasing numbers of Adelaide residents, and for many of us a short, fifteen-minute drive can find us soon tackling the lower slopes of the mountain.
The plan was simple enough. Check out a circuit at Deep Creek for the purpose of printing a map showing all the relevant features to enable anyone to be able to do the walk. Simple plans have this strange habit of not remaining true to form.
With a background of working in the outdoors Terry arrived in Australia and worked for the National Fitness Council in…
There are probably more spectacular sections of the Trail, particularly in the Flinders Ranges and near Deep Creek, but for interest and diversity of scenery, this section is hard to beat
In May 2000 a small group of experienced walkers from the Friends who had completed walking the Heysen Trail, and had thus walked from Crystal Brook to Parachilna Gorge, set out to set out to complete the emulation of Warren’s walk, by walking on to Mt Hopeless.
Fifty years ago this May, three of us walked along the south coast of Fleurieu Peninsula between the old Talisker mine and Victor Harbour. I recently came across my diary for this journey, and reproduce an edited version here so that those who know the Heysen Trail in this area can make a few comparisons. It may also stimulate nostalgia among those old enough to remember.
Terry Lavender South Australia’s “Mr Bushwalking” will be remembered for his dedication to recreation in SA. He was the architect of one of the world’s great walking trails — the long-distance Heysen Trail, which snakes its way for 1500 km across the state from Cape Jervis, at the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula, to rugged Parachilna Gorge, in the Central Flinders Ranges.
Barry Finn was elected as a new Honorary Member at the AGM on March 18th 2005. Barry served on the Friends Council for a number of years, and was Vice-President during the latter part of his term. He was also an active walker, and led a number of walks for the Friends.
Profile of new honorary member Doug Leane. A love of the bush, of being outdoors and of doing something for the community came together in his commitment to the Friends of the Heysen Trail.
Finishing off the Heysen Trail by walking from Yudnamutana Gorge to Mt Hopeless.
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We’re open Mon-Fri, 10.30am–2.30pm. As we’re staffed by volunteers, the office may occasionally be closed, so it’s best to call before you visit.
The Heysen Trail is developed and maintained as a partnership between the Government of South Australia – Department for Environment & Water (DEW) and the Friends of the Heysen Trail.
The Friends of Heysen Trail acknowledge and respect the Traditional Custodians of the ancestral lands we traverse along the Heysen Trail, embracing the Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna, Peramangk, Ngadjuri, Nukunu and Adnyamathanha peoples.
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