Monday, July 4, 2011

All the way back in 1947, someone thought it would be a great idea to plan and bring to life a long distance walking track throughout South Australia.

Well I'd like to give that person a big round of applause, as 64 years on the Heysen trail is a true wonder of nature.

The Heysen trail - named after a German born,  Australian bush watercolour artist Sir Hans Heysen - begins at Cape Jervis and ends in the north of the Flinders Ranges.

Over the 1200kms of this trail, the countryside ranges from the rugged cliffs and beaches of the south, right up through the city of Adelaide, the winery regions of the Barossa Valley and the desolate outback of the Flinders Ranges.

Something to see right!

So we did.

We explored a whole 8kms (pshaw - only 1192kms left to go!!!!!) of it the other weekend and were completely blown away by it all.

It was supposed to be a cold, rainy, windy day, but we started out in sunshine (albeit chilly) and blue skies.

The scenery was spectacular and the walking track varied from bridges.....


to meandering along the clifftops.....


















 through paddocks full of sheep and cows.......
 and across beaches.....

 One of the secluded beaches we came across had evidence of other visitors before us, and Ellie and Harri immediately began work on our calling cards.....



 We stopped for a prolonged picnic lunch (and big meaty bone for the dog) at another of the beaches...
More exploring after lunch .....
led us to a "Land Before Time valley" according to Harri.

The afternoon was drifting away, and as we half-heartedly agreed to turn around and go home, a pod of playful dolphins enticed us to stay that little bit longer.

The clouds began to roll in and the sky darkened and splattered us with a misty rain, producing one of the most beautiful rainbows I've ever seen.... 




Woohoo - what a great day!!


2 comments:

jenb said...

It's a double! You don't see them too often, lovely. Looks beautiful, you'll have to show me when I come visit.

Theresa said...

Awesome walk. I am very jealous. Have wanted to walk that trail since arriving but can't with the children, they are too young. Might have to come down to victor and drop the kids off with you and go for the walk hehe Great photos, of course, and a beautiful day, although it looks windy and chilly.