FAQ

• How do I participate in a walk
• Do I have to be member to participate in a walk?
• When can I register for a walk?
• How much does a walk cost?
• What about petrol money?
• Are walks ever cancelled?
• How do I cancel after I have registered?
• Can I get a refund for walks?

How do I participate in a walk?
You must register to participate in a walk. Either register online by selecting the "View event details" link or by clicking on the event in either the month view, week view or day view. Once your registration has been processed by the office staff you will be advised by email or phone of the meeting place and time.

Alternatively, you may phone the Friends of the Heysen Trail office to register over the phone. If you register during the office hours, you will be told the meeting place and time immediately.

Do I have to be member to participate in a walk?
No. However, after two walks you must join as our insurance policy will no longer cover you.

When can I register for a walk?
We ask you to register for an event no earlier than 30 days prior to the event. This allows the Walk Leader and office to finalise the meeting location of the walk event.

We ask you, if possible, to register for a weekend event by the Wednesday prior, especially if it is a large walking group, and no later than 2pm on the Friday prior. This allows the Walk Leader sufficient time to make necessary arrangements with authorities and bus transportation if required.

How much does a walk cost?
There are several options for walk payments:

• Casual, pay $7 per walk, payment on the day of the walk (under 18's $1 per walk)
• Multi-walk Pass, pre-purchase a pass of 5 walks for $25 ($5 per walk), passes valid for 12 months. These can be pre-purchased at the shop
• Golden Boots, purchase at the start of the walk season for $50 with your application or renewal, allowing unlimited walks (not valid for Summer Twilight Walks)

If a bus has been hired, each walker will need to pay $10 in addition to their walk payment. Generally, only larger walk groups hire a bus, such as the End-to-End walks.

Summer Twilight Walks cost $5 per walk.

What about petrol money?
We encourage people to car pool. Although the driver cannot charge the passengers they carry, we encourage passengers to contribute towards the cost of driving, relative to the distance travelled and the number of people carried.

Are walks ever cancelled?
Walks are cancelled if the broadcasted forecast is for temperatures over 32C. For simplicity, this can be determined the night prior to the walk on the 7pm ABC evening news weather forecast, based upon the Bureau of Meteorology's routine 4pm forecast. Even if the forecast is later revised, the walk remains cancelled. End-to-End walks will be rescheduled to the following month. This doesn't apply to Summer Twilight Walks.

How do I cancel after I have registered?
If unforseen circumstances arise and you are no longer able to participate in the walk, please notify the office as soon as possible, preferably by 4pm Friday, or leave a message on the answering machine after this time. Messages may be left up until the official meeting time of the walk as Walk Leaders are often able to access the answering machine remotely (* subject to mobile phone service availability).

Can I get a refund for walks?

The payment policy for weekend and extended trips (including week-long End-to-End walks) is as follows:

• To confirm a place, the deposit must be paid within a week of booking.
• Complete payment to be made by the specified date, usually one month from the trip date. To simplify the task for the office we encourage people to pay the full amount at the time of booking.
• Cancellation up to a month prior to the trip, deposit refunded if position taken by person on waiting list minus $10.00 admin fee
• Cancellation up to a week prior to the trip, deposit will be forfeited
• Cancellation within a week of the trip no refund will be payable

The payment policy for day walks and weekend End-to-End walks is as follows:

• Cancellation up to a week prior to the trip, refund of payments made less $10 administration fee
• Cancellation within a week of the event, all payments will be forfeited

We aim to provide well organised, well priced and interesting walks. As we sometimes need to book accommodation and organise catering we need to ensure that these costs are met. For some events the refund policy may vary slightly due to payments already made to service providers.