[Cameron]

A fine hut. Stayed here on April 21st with Rover Scouts. Our fifth night out while hiking from where the trail crosses the Hawker-Parachilna Road to the Parachilna Gorge trailhead (7 days/125ish km.)

Note that the rainwater tank is EMPTY. I suspect some maintenance might be in order as all the other tanks in the area we found had at least some water in them.

Wanted to do a bit of a bouldering problem on the chimney to have a look on the roof to see what the problem was but all the gaps to put your fingers in had been filled in with concrete heh.

A number of people have left half full boxes of water here - so enough to get by in an emergency but nothing to be relied upon.

There is no longer a rubbish bin at this location (as in the picture above) and there was quite a bit of rubbish in the hut (to the point that the previous log entry in the visitors book complained about it.) Everything from tissues and cardboard boxes to condom wrappers and plastic bottles. We burnt as much as we could, but if the next person visiting via car could take some of the glass etc. that would be good.

While on the subject of maintenace, anyone visiting with a car could take a decent screwdriver and pad the hinges on the door as it catches on the bottom a bit (unfortunately the screwdriver on my pocket knife was not suitable.)

We thoroughly enjoyed the night we spent at this hut - revelling in the comfort provided by small strip of carpet and sitting down on the chairs :D



The fee paid by bushwalkers to use this hut is $5 per night. That does not include park entry for your car - we started south of the park and finished north of it. You do not need to book for this hut.

I don't remember seeing the "ruined pug and pine shepherd's hut" :-?

The location could definately do with some signage indicating the history, as there are lots of questions in the visitors book about it.
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Cameron
SA Rovers

[Cameron]

We walked to this hut from Black Spring (just north of Wilpena) and continued the next day to Yuluna Creek (Map 6.6 "D" 722 369.)
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Cameron
SA Rovers

[Cameron]

That's $5 per person per night by the way.
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Cameron
SA Rovers

[Julian]

Cameron,
You have been very busy and you comments on all the facilities are noted.
We appreciate this feedback especially early in the season.
It gives us a chance to right things prior to the peak flow through the area.
I suspect the tank may be empty as 4WD also can get easy accss to the water.
Nevertheless we need to make sure the tank is filling properly.
Cheers
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Julian Monfries
Friends of the Heysen Trail

[Cameron]

Visited this hut on Monday afternoon after another hike in the area and noted that the tank was half full! It rained quite a bit over the long weekend, as I can personally attest having spent quite a lot of it huddled in a small tent on a high saddle near Mt Abrupt as a storm raged outside.

The tap on the tank is a push-button style where you push down on the top of it to open it, and then take your finger off to close it. However, the tap did not fully spring closed when I took my finger off - meaning a steady stream of water continued to flow out. I was able to turn it off with a bit of a fiddle, but not all tank users may be so considerate. Also if an animal was to press on the tap (not sure if this is possible/plausible) then the tank would run dry very quickly :!:
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Cameron
SA Rovers

[Julian]

Cameron
Thanks for that info.
I will pass it on to the Maintenance people.
They are in the area over the next week or so and may be able to do something soon
Cheers
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Julian Monfries
Friends of the Heysen Trail