Heysen Trail Re-Routes

Occassionally, due to weather or maintenance issues, it is necessary to realign sections of the Heysen Trail. Signs are erected at each end of re-routes, and special care needs to be taken to follow the Trail markers, as your map is of limited use in these sections.

Minor reroutes, necessitated by such things as sand blowouts in coastal areas, protection of native vegetation, erosion control, or requests from landholders, are also frequently carried out.

Logging operations in forests can sometimes necessitate the rerouting of the Trail. These reroutes often have to be done at short notice, and it is important to follow these reroutes, as it is dangerous to walk in areas where logging operations are in progress.

Re-Routes Notifications

The re-routes notifications and map alterations below have been organised into the Guide book editions affected. You can download the maps, print them out and insert them into your Guide book. Support is no longer provided for the original series of strip maps produced between 1986 and 2004.

Southern Guide (second edition - April 2007)

1. Re-route affecting Map 1.3, between Tapanappa and Boat Harbor Beach
   View map showing re-route
   The Heysen Trail has been re-routed in the descent to Boat Harbor Beach. The $90,000 upgrade aims to make the badly eroded section of the trail more environmentally sustainable and provide a more spectacular trek for walkers. The trail previously hugged the coastline and led its walkers up steep hills, causing significant erosion. The track was realigned to follow the land contours, rather than going up and down hills. April 2008.
   
   
2. Re-route affecting Map 1.5, east of Newland Head
   View map showing re-route
   The Heysen Trail has been rerouted east of Newland Head to avoid a Sea Eagle nesting area, October 2005.
   
   
3. Re-route affecting Map 3.3, two re-routes near Bridgewater
   View map showing a temporary re-route as a bridge over Cox Creek has been washed away in Mt George Conservation Park. The reroute will remain in place until the bridge has been replaced.
   
   
4. A temporary re-route affecting Map 3.5
   View map showing a temporary re-route avoiding a section of trail that follows the creek. Bridges and sections of trail here have been washed away, when repaired this section of trail will be reinstated. 2006.
   
   
5. Re-route affecting Map 3.8, in Mt Crawford Forest near Kersbrook
   View map showing re-route to take the trail past Scotts Shelter, April 2008.
   
   
6. Re-route affecting Map 3.9 & Map 4.1, along Centennial Drive in Mt Crawford Forest near Kersbrook
   View map (chapter 4 map) showing temporary closure of trail along Centennial Drive and over Mt Crawford. The closure is due to logging operations throughout 2008 and includes the Centennial Drive campground.
   
   
7. Re-route affecting Map 4.1
   View map showing re-route near the landing ground, February 2008
   
   
8. Re-route affecting Map 4.6
   View map showing twp re-routes.
   (1) along a creek to avoid a difficult creek crossing, June 2008
   (2) also bypassing a difficult creek crossing, June 2008
   
   
9. Re-route affecting Map 5.4, near Marrabel
   View map showing re-route
   The Heysen Trail has been rerouted near Marrabel to take walkers through the township, April 2008.
   
   

Southern Guide (first edition - 2004)

1. Re-route affecting Maps 1.2 & 1.3, in Deep Creek Conservation Park
   View map 1.2 and map 1.3 showing re-route
   The Trail has been rerouted in two places, one near Eagle Waterhole and the other east of Deep Creek, 2006.
   
   
2. Re-route affecting Map 1.3, between Tapanappa and Boat Harbor Beach
   View map showing re-route
   The Heysen Trail has been re-routed in the descent to Boat Harbor Beach. The $90,000 upgrade aims to make the badly eroded section of the trail more environmentally sustainable and provide a more spectacular trek for walkers. The trail previously hugged the coastline and led its walkers up steep hills, causing significant erosion. The track was realigned to follow the land contours, rather than going up and down hills. April 2008.
   
   
3. Re-route affecting Maps 1.5, east of Newland Head
   View map showing re-route
   The Heysen Trail has been rerouted east of Newland Head to avoid a Sea Eagle nesting area, October 2005.
   
   
4. Re-route affecting Map 2.5, off Hindmarsh Tiers Road
   View map showing re-route
   The Trail has been rerouted along Lawless Lane and past plantations, August 2004.
   
   
5. Re-route affecting Map 2.8, off Blackfellow Creek Road
   View map showing re-route
   Thanks to the cooperation of landowners, we have been able to realign a short section of the Trail off Blackfellows Creek Road. We are hopeful that in the near future, further realignment will eliminate most of the road walking along Blackfellows Creek Road. May 2006.
   
   
6. Re-route affecting Map 3.3, two re-routes near Bridgewater
   View map showing re-route
   Bridges over Cox Creek in (1) Mt George Conservation Park and
   (2) Engelbrook Reserve have been washed away by flood. Temporary reroutes have been installed. The reroutes will remain in place until the bridges have been replaced.
   
   
7. 2 re-routes affecting Map 3.4, through Woodhouse Scout Camp & the Botanic Gardens
   View map showing re-routes
   (1) The trail through Woodhouse Scout Camp has been re-routed, August 2005.
   (2) The trail coming out of the Botanic Gardens and crossing Summit Road has been re-routed, 2007.
   
   
8. 3 re-routes affecting Map 3.5
   View map showing three re-routes
   (1) Re-route via Deep View Lookout and Rocky Hill. When the temporary re-route listed below is removed the trail will avoid a very steep track. 2004.
   (2) Temporary re-route avoiding a section of trail that follows the creek. Bridges and sections of trail here have been washed away, when repaired this section of trail will be reinstated. The re-route follows Twin Creek Track and Centre Track. 2006.
   (3) A minor re-reoute near 'Fuzzies Farm' on Colonial Drive, Norton Summit, April 2007. The re-route removes two fence crossings and a washed out creek crossing, the re-route now following the creek via an all-weather fire track and culvert. April 2007.
   
   
9. Re-route affecting Map 3.8, in Mt Crawford Forest near Kersbrook
   View map showing re-route, October 2007, and an alteration to that re-route to take the trail past Scotts Shelter, April 2008.
   
   
10. Re-route affecting Map 3.9 & Map 4.1, along Centennial Drive in Mt Crawford Forest near Kersbrook
    View map (chapter 4 map) showing temporary closure of trail along Centennial Drive and over Mt Crawford. The closure is due to logging operations throughout 2008 and includes the Centennial Drive campground.
    
    
11. 2 re-routes affecting Map 4.1
    View map showing two re-routes
    (1) The alternative option of the Trail which avoided climbing Wirra Wirra Peaks has been re-routed: the original alternative option has been closed, and a new alternative option provided to the east along Wirra Wirra Road and Blockers Road.
    (2) The main Trail north of Wirra Wirra Peaks between Tower Road and Old Glen Road has been re-routed. In February, 2008, the re-route near the landing ground was altered.
    
    
12. Re-route affecting Map 4.6
    View map showing twp re-routes.
    (1) along a creek to avoid a difficult creek crossing, June 2008
    (2) also bypassing a difficult creek crossing, June 2008
    
    
13. Re-route affecting Map 5.4, near Marrabel
    View map showing re-route
    The Heysen Trail has been rerouted near Marrabel to take walkers through the township, April 2008.
    
    
14. Correction of map affecting Map 5.9, near Huppatz Hut
    View map showing correction
    This particular map as published in the Southern Guide has some innaccuracies.
    
    
15. Correction & Re-route of trail affecting Map 5.10, near Koo-owie Gap Rd
    View map showing 2 corrections
    This particular map as published in the Southern Guide has 2 minor innaccuracies.
    
    
16. Re-route affecting Map 6.1, near Burra
    View map showing re-route
    The Heysen Trail has been rerouted north of Burra near Baldina Creek, 2005.
    
    
17. 2 re-routes affecting Map 6.4, near Caroona Conservation Park
    View map showing re-routes
    (1) The Heysen Trail has been rerouted near Newikie Creek, 2005.
    (2) The Heysen Trail has been rerouted near Caroona Creek, in Caroona Conservation Park, 2005.
    
    
18. Removal of shelter affecting Map 6.8, Willalo Hall
    Willalo Hall is no longer fit for camping and walkers are advised to avoid the area. However, water may still be available at the area for a short time only.
    
    

Northern Guide (first edition - 2005)

1. Re-route of trail affecting Map 2.5 & 2.6, The Bluff
   View map 2.5 & map 2.6 showing the re-route
   The Trail now follows a newly marked route just east of the TV Tower Track and parallel to it for about 1.5km. It then briefly joins the TV Track before following the Go-Cart Track to Frypan Hill where it rejoins the previous Trail. The previous parts of the Trail leading to Wirrabara Forest and campground are now controlled by Forestry SA, who have closed the track down from The Bluff, but the Apricot Track remains open.
   
   
2. Re-route of trail affecting Map 3.2, near Mt Remarkable
   View map showing a re-route and a second later re-route
   The Trail passing near The Racecourse Camp has been re-routed, and in April 2007 the Trail passing along Woolfords Track has also been re-routed.
   
   
3. Re-route of trail affecting Map 3.3, near Mt Remarkable
   View map
   The Heysen Trail has been slightly rerouted near Alligator Gorge Road in Mt Remarkable National Park, April 2007.
   
   
4. Alternative route of map affecting Map 4.4, near Eyre Depot and Mt Arden
   View map showing an alternative route
   An alternative route has been provided for walkers who wish to avoid the steep climb at a waterfall (nearest distinct feature is Mt White). Nov 2006.
   
   
5. Re-route of trail affecting Map 4.5 & Map 4.6, through Buckaringa Gorge
   View Map 4.5 and Map 4.6
   The Heysen Trail has been slightly rerouted to follow the creek west of Buckaringa Gorge, and near Buckaringa Gorge campsite, April 2008.
   
   

Details of re-routes are also available on the Department for Environment and Heritage website, or by contacting the SA Government's Heysen Trail Management Unit on (08) 8124 4792.