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Day 5 Waitpinga to The Bluff

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 23 Oct 2020 It rained overnight but had stopped by the time we woke. Up early with camp packed and breakfast finished by 7.45am. We are getting more efficient in the mornings. The day started in some beautiful native vegetation (some of which we had never seen before) growing on remnant dunes. After this the rest of the morning was spent walking along the cliff top with views of The Bluff (our destination) from mid morning onwards. The coastline is very rugged and the day got windier and colder as the rain approached. We made it to The Bluff carpark (our collection point) at 11.50am. Bruce and Isabel and Alastair (with the car) arrived soon after. We walked to the top of The Bluff to complete the walk and the others joined us there. We went to the Port Elliot Bakery for celebratory donuts and coffee before driving home in the rain which started after we finished walking. Overall, a very enjoyable hike and we hope to walk more sections of the Heysen Trail with Bruce and Isabel in t...
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Day 4 Balquhidder to Waitpinga

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 22 Oct 2020 ~12kms, 4hrs walking We are expecting rain this afternoon and tomorrow and discussed pushing through to the end of the walk but after consideration decided to just walk in the rain if it transpired. Up early at 6.30am in the hope that we would arrive at Waitpinga and set up the tent before the rain started. Left camp at 8.10am and walked along the road for about 700m before entering paddocks (once again with difficult to find track markings)   and then through a lovely valley and along a creek to a little cove. We walked along the beach with a stream crossing on stepping stones before an ascent to the cliffs. The day consisted of walking along cliffs and coves with a longer beach walk on Parsons Beach and finally on Waitpinga Beach. We were very excited when we spotted some endangered Hooded Plovers on Waitpinga Beach. Arrived at camp, which was ~600m behind the beach/sand dunes at 12.15pm. Set up camp before the rain and after lunch went for a walk on Waitpinga B...
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Day 3 Tapanappa to Balquhidder

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 21 Oct 2020 ~16kms, walking time 5hr 50mins Left camp at 8am. Descended through native scrub with some lovely orchids to Boat Harbour Beach. The beach is pebbly and we saw a large pod of dolphins. Ascended up the cliff and then walked around the cliff with a few sketchy bits. Beautiful views before a descent to Tunkalilla Beach. Beach walking for the next 4.5kms. Luckily on hard sand so a relatively easy walk which we really enjoyed. Arrived at the end of the beach at 10.10am. Had a quick snack and viewed the ascent from the beach which goes straight up a fence line. It looked steep and while challenging it wasn't too bad and we had reached the top 12mins later. Lunch at the top with fabulous views of the coast. After lunch the track markings were a bit hard to follow in the long grass but we knew we were heading for a road so found it with only a few detours. Last 5kms road walking and arrived at camp at 1.50pm. This camp's only facilities are a tank with wate...
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Day 2 Cobbler Hill to Tapanappa

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 20 Oct 2020 14.65kms, 5hrs walking, Asc 614m, Desc 647m Up at 6.45am and on the trail by 8.45am. Started walking down a lovely creek with a small waterfall till we arrived at Eagle Waterhole Hut which was only a further 2kms from our campsite last night. We are walking faster than B & I and have agreed to go at our own pace and meet at camp each evening. We walked through some lovely Heath followed by a steep descent and some rock hopping and scrambling on the ascent. Started to see quite a few day walkers after this as we crossed over the Deep Creek Waterfall circuit. Saw our second "through walker" (someone who has almost completed the full 1,200 kms from the northern end) and arrived at camp at 2.10pm. B & I arrived about an hour later. A nicer night weather wise but once again we were in out tents by 7pm. regrowth after controlled burn Deep Creek Conservation Park Deep Creek waterfall and lunch! Greenhood orchid
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