Heysen Trail gets major upgrade in Adelaide Hills
Land purchased to avoid walkers going on private property
A key section of South Australia’s iconic Heysen Trail has been secured and upgraded, giving bushwalkers safer access through the Adelaide Hills while expanding Cudlee Creek Conservation Park.
The South Australian Government has purchased 5.97 hectares of land at Cudlee Creek, including almost 1km of the 1,200km Heysen Trail. The section had previously crossed private property but was closed by its former owner, forcing walkers onto narrow and winding Tippett and Gorge roads.
The newly acquired land will become part of Cudlee Creek Conservation Park, providing a safe, permanent walking route between Cudlee Creek and Kersbrook.
Staff from the Department for Environment and Water, together with volunteers from Friends of the Heysen Trail, have also upgraded the route with new signage and trail markers.
The land purchase forms part of the South Australian Government’s $1.2 million election commitment to invest in nature-based tourism along the Heysen Trail and at Admirals Arch on Kangaroo Island.
Stretching from Parachilna Gorge in the Flinders Ranges to Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula, the Heysen Trail is one of Australia’s great long-distance walking trails. It attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year and passes through 23 national and conservation parks, including Ikara–Flinders Ranges and Mount Remarkable.
The government has also created a dedicated Heysen Trail Coordinator position, with Senior Ranger Genki Kondo appointed to oversee projects, improve the walker experience, support landholders and coordinate maintenance funding.
For bushwalkers, the upgrade means a safer and more reliable way to experience one of South Australia’s premier long-distance walks.
