Friends of the Heysen Trail is a sports club based in Adelaide, South Australia. The club is dedicated to the maintenance and preservation of the Heysen Trail, which is a 1,200 km trail extending from Cape Jervis to Parachilna Gorge. The trail offers a variety of terrains, including coastal areas, native bushland, rugged gorges, pine forests, vineyards, farmland, and historic towns.
The club caters to both serious backpackers who hike the entire trail and casual walkers who prefer to do day walks along shorter sections. They organise a regular walking programme throughout the year, with walks of different difficulties to accommodate both beginners and experienced walkers.
The Heysen Trail is generally open between April and November, with some sections closing during the summer fire danger season. The first 80 km section of the trail between Cape Jervis and Victor Harbour remains open all year round, except on days of catastrophic fire danger. It is recommended to check the Parks website for updates on extreme fire danger or total fire bans.
Occasionally, some sections of the trail may be re-routed due to maintenance or access issues. The club provides a service directory listing supermarkets, general stores, medical services, internet access, payphones, and post offices along the trail. They also offer map sheets and guidebooks published by the Department for Environment and Water, as well as GPS files for navigation.
The Friends of the Heysen Trail is a not-for-profit organisation that works in partnership with the Department for Environment and Water. They are responsible for maintaining the trail and organising various activities and events. Membership in the club is open to anyone interested in supporting and enjoying the Heysen Trail.