353 Heysen Trail Expectations
Show Notes
As this podcast goes to air I am just 8 days out from starting my journey on the Heysen Trail in South Australia. In this episode I talk about the trip planning and discuss my pre trip expectations, hesitations, and concerns!
Podcast Overview
In this podcast episode we discuss the my pre trip expectations before I head off on the Australia’s longest dedicated hiking Trail, the 1,200km Heysen Trail located in South Australia:
- Podcast and Episode introduction (time index 0:01:45)
- Why this trail? (time index 0:02:28)
- About the trail (time index 0:02:55)
- Several Indigenous countries along the trail (time index 0:05:44)
- Can be walked as a thru hike Mid may-Mid November (Approximately) (time index 0:07:02)
- Temperatures and weather
- 4-21 degrees celsius on average
- Temperatures and weather
- Pre and post trip Transport (time index 0:09:21)
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- To Adelaide by plane
- Adelaide to Port Augusta by Bus
- Port Augusta to Northern Trail Head
- Return transport to Canberra – Bring picked up at the southern trail head by my wife Gill
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- Accomodation (time index 0:10:43)
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- Campsites
- Caravan Parks
- Huts
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- The track (time index 0:12:45)
- Total 1,200km long
- 52 days allowed for my trip
- 6 rest days – Why?
- Internet access
- Arid to coastal environments and everything in-between
- Smallest day 500 metres (Day 1)
- Biggest day 34km (Day 11)
- Average walking day 23.4km
- Trail facilities (time index 0:18:31)
- The scenery / animals (time index 0:19:54)
- Expectations and hesitations (time index 0:18:08)
- Personal fitness (time index 0:25:07)
- Food weight (time index 0:29:06)
- Navigation (time index 0:31:31)
- How am I feeling? (time index 0:32:44)
- Physically and Mentally
- Accomodation (time index 0:10:43)
- Close (time index 0:42:46)
Heysen Trail Map, Image from Far Out Mapping Website
Parachilna Gorge Northern Trailhead (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
14 July 2026