[michi]

Hello everybody,
Mike and I have done the Heysen Trail section Parachilna Gorge to Hawker end of September. And I have to say: It was great! Never have seen so much Roos and Emus in such a short time in Australia. The landscape was awesome!

Since we are from Germany we had to plan everything via Internet and the forum helped a lot. Thanks again to everybody!
We had the guidebooks and a map of the Flinders Ranges - we didn't need the compass and just needed the GPS for one time, when we get a little bit lost. But that was due to or "interpret-skills" of the marker :-) we just misinterpreted it. But no worries at all. With GPS we found the way back to the trail in minutes.

Water was available at every campsite and every hut we passed. The spring-feeded taps at Aroona were running and tasting well. Nevertheless we always treated the water with a steri-pen.

17.9.12
To get to the trailhead we just took the Genesis Tours Bus from Adelaide to Parachilna (7h) and then had a Pick up to Angorichina Village. Unfortunately that didn't went out so well. We had to arrange it via Genesis and they get something wrong I think. So we called Angorichina after spending an hour at the Praerie Hotel (what was really nice) and they picked us up then.

18.9.12
Spending a night at Angorichina Village was good. In the morning we luckily get a ride to the trailhead 3km away. So we hadn't to walk on the dusty road. Just after entering the gorge we saw our first Kangaroos and in the evening at Aroona Campsite saw three more. The way was not so hard but because each of us were carrying 5 litre water + food and tent and all the other stuff you need for the trek it was a really heavy rucksack the first day!

19.9.12
In the night there was a thunderstorm! But luckily a little bit away. In the morning everything was fine again and an Emu was flouncing through the campsite :-))
Later we saw lots of Kangaroos again.
Somewhere on this section we lost the trail a few moments in a creek. We thought we had to follow it but we just had to cross it. Thanks to the GPS we got back an the trail really fast.
At Trezona Campsite was water in the tanks but a lot of people arriving by car spending one or two nights there, so that is why the tanks may empty by now. We found a nice campsite there and our nice neighbours ("Friends of the Grampians" said there shirts) gave us some cake for the next days. Yummi!

20.9.12
Next day we had just left the campsite when we were surrounded by 20 Emus or so very close in the open bushland, in the near distance were 7 Roos (Grey and Red) and parrots were flying directly over our heads. That was a great moment ? all of the Flinders in once. We were really overwhelmed by all the beauty.
The day was hotter then the days before. So we tested the water at Midlesight Hut before going further on to Yanyanna Hut. That was a short day today. A little bit to much "road" (even it was just dirt road with no cars or so). We met some cyclists on the Mawson-Trail. At Yanyanna Hut (at the parking place) were a couple taking a rest from driving. They gave us two bottles of water, because they were afraid, we would not find some more water. When your are hiking this trail it seems everybody cares for you :-) The night at Yanyanna Hut was really good bushcamping. Nobody else were there. We had some Kangaroos in the evening close to the tent. There was water in the tank. We heard some Emus calling there babys. The night was quiet and the sunrise brilliant!

21.9.12
This day was a tough one. It was really hot (27?C). In the beginning everything was fine. We started early. But when the sun became warmer and warmer it was hard to walk. Not in the the Bunyerro valley and creek. That was nice and we even saw a big lizzard. But on the 8 km road section with no shadow at all, it was really hard! We had to stop every half an hour or so to rest and drink. But we had some good animal sightings: Kangaroos, Emu-Daddy with his babys, Roos with Joeys. When entering Wilpena Pound there were a lot of Emus on the open grasland in the evening sun.

22.9.12
We just wanted to rest for one day here and then go further on to Hawker. But unfortunately Mike had really big blisters at both feet. So we decided to stay here for longer and walk all the walks here in the Pound with a light backpack. First of all we did Bridle Gap. So all in all we went from Parachilna Gorge to Bridle Gap on the Heysen Trail.
I was a little bit sad about this, but in the end the walks in Wilpena Pound were really nice and we again saw lots of animals.

26.9.12
After 4 days in Wilpena we took a ride to Hawker were we spend another day and a half in this quite little town. We stayed at the BIG4 Campsite. That was really good. The next day we did a half day 4WD-Tour with Derek and on the 28.9. the Genesis Bus brought us back to Adelaide. From here on we rented a 4WD car and drove up the Stuart Higway to Alice Springs. But that is another story.

All in all it was really an experience to do this section of the Heysen Trail, even we couldn't make it all the way to Hawker.

Two last comments:
1. We also saw a lot of dead animals. One dead goat was lying directly on the trail and we nearly step into it! At Arrona campsite was a dead kangaroo close to the trail. Also a lot of bones - reminding you how it will end when not carrying enough water ;-)
2. Flys were our constant escort the whole way - so don't forget your fly-net for the head!

I will add some images to this post or maybe give a link, where everybody who is interested in can have a look.

Bye for now!
Michi

[jez]

Fantastic to hear, thanks for sharing. It's great to see so many animals, I think seeing emus with their babies is my favourite. Gla you still got to enjoy some of Wilpena Pound despite the blisters. Are your photos posted on the internet somewhere?
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Jeremy
www.jeremyc.com

[michi]

Hi everybody, sorry for being back so late. But we do have a lot of photos and I had to sort out some of them for the forum first. Enjoy!

Prairie Hotel Parachilna: Waiting for the pick up to Angorichina Village


Campsite Angorichina Village


Preparing for the walk


Parachilna Gorge


Our first kangaroo


Mike testing the water at Pigeon Bore


Aroona Campsite


Roos (or Euros?) at Aroona Campsite in the evening


Emu at Aroona Campsite in the morning


ABC Range


On the trail from Aroona to Trezona


Trezona Campsite


Group of Emus crossing our way near Trezona Campsite


Yanyanna Hut


Sunset at Yanyanna Hut


Red Roo


Emu daddy with babys


On the "road" close to Wilpena Pound


Wilpena Pound: Open grasland in the evening (lots of Emus here, though you can't see them


Wilpena: Me and a thirsty Emu


Wilpena: Mummy roo with Joey


On the way to Bridle Gap


"Hope"


View from Bridle Gap

[jez]

Great photos, thanks for sharing.

I like your emu photos, and especially like the hope one, and nice work on the moon photo too!
_________________
Jeremy
www.jeremyc.com

[michi]

Thanks Jeremy, glad you like them :-)

[rockymark092]

this forum is very informative.
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[RodHassles]

Glad you enjoyed the trek, My son and I walked the othe way July 2012 S-N and was the best part of the Heysen, you must come back and do the southern end at some time.
The photos are great.
But it is easy to get good and interesting photos on the Heysen.
Rod
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visit www.manningsculptures.com.au

[michi]

Thanks Rod, we will come back to do the rest of the Heysen I think. But don't know when. Next year we need to save money, therefore it will be Europe again for holiday. We will go to Scotland – walking there is fantastic. I really can recommend this. And the Overland-Trek in Tasmania is also on our list :-)
Michi