352 Introduction to the Heysen Trail
Show Notes
It’s the 7th of July, 2026, and in a few weeks’ time I’ll be commencing my southbound journey on South Australia’s Heysen Trail. This trail is Australia’s’ longest dedicated hiking trail spanning approximately 1200km from Parachilna in the north, to Cape Jarvis on the coastline in the south. This trail has everything I love about hiking from arid landscapes to a coastal connection and everything in between. In this podcast episode we talk with Neil Hendry to get an introduction to the trail and the role that the ‘Friends of the trail’ plays.
This is the first of 11 planned episodes with will include a number of episodes recorded on trail to relay what I am thinking and how I am feeling in ‘real time’
Podcast Overview
In this episode, the first of 11 planned episode for this track, find out all about the Heysen Trail:
- Podcast and Episode introduction (time index 0:01:49)
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Interview with Neil Hendry President of the Friends of the Heysen Trail association (time index 0:02:23)
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A brief overview of the Heysen Trail (time index 0:04:42)
- Named after?
- Construction phases
- Landscape of the trail
- Animal life on trail
- Friends of the Heyson Trail including Neils role (time index 0:016:58)
- What is your role and what do the Friends of the Heysen Trail do? (time index 0:025:11)
- Volunteering (time index 0:025:57)
- What do they do?
- How does it work?
- What Skills do volunteers need?
- Guided walks
- Landowner relationships (time index 0:025:11)
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- A final question (time index 0:034:55)
- Final Thoughts Tim (time index 0:039:06)
- Close (time index 0:51:49)
Neil Hendry, President of the Friends of the Heysen Trailas at July 2026 putting a face to the voice (Images provided by Neil Hendry)
Heysen Trail Map, Image from Far Out Mapping Website
Parachilna Gorge Northern Trailhead (Images provided by Neil Hendry)
The Heysen range (Images provided by Neil HendryR
Wonoka Creek (Images provided by Neil Hendry)
The Dutchmans Stern (Images provided by Neil Hendry)
Woolshed Flat Bridge (Images provided by Neil Hendry)
Mid North Marschalls Hut (Images provided by Neil Hendry)
Kapunda farmland (Images provided by Neil Hendry)
Vineyards Barossa Valley (Images provided by Neil Hendry)
Heysen Trail monument (Images provided by Neil Hendry)
Waitpinga Cliffs (Images provided by Neil Hendry)
Resources
- Friends of the Heysen Trail Website
- Heysen Trail Instagram @heysentrailfriends
- Heysen Trail Facebook Page
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Publishing date
7 July 2026