crossing a number of valleys. After about 3.5 kilometres the track joins a fire track along the ridge for about a kilometre. It then heads down a valley to Eagle Waterhole Campground, 5.5 kilometres from Trig campground, which we reached just after noon. The Campground is on the Heysen Trail, and has no public vehicular access. The hikers’ hut has three walls and sleeps six on bunks, with more room on the floor. The visitors’ book has entries of those who had just commenced or were about to finish the Heysen Trail, including some runners. The Campground also has a water tank and an outside table on which we cooked lunch on the stove. Eagle Waterhole is a fuel stove only area.
As we had made good time, after lunch we left our packs and continued for a few hundred metres along the Heysen Trail before joining the Aaron Creek Hike to the sea. This part of the hike follows the Aaron Creek for just over one kilometre before climbing to an altitude of about 100 metres, providing views across Backstairs Passage to Kangaroo Island. There is short steep descent to the Aaron Creek cove. The cove has orange lichen covered rocks and opportunities for rock scrambling along the jagged cliffs on the western side of the cove. This is a great spot. We returned back to the hut for dinner, taking just over an hour each way, about five kilometres return. After dinner, with sore legs, we walked back up the hill to watch the sunset and western grey kangaroos. We lost count of how many kangaroos we saw on the walk.
On Sunday we were up early and left Eagle Waterhole by 6:30am. We retraced our steps
from the previous day along the Heysen Trail to meet the road that leads to Trig Campground. Instead of heading towards Trig Campground we crossed the road and continued on the Heysen Trail back to Tapanappa Campground. This part of the track is well formed. We stopped at and climbed the Deep Creek waterfall on the way, which was flowing even though there had been no significant rain for months. We were back at Tapanappa by about 10:30am, having covered 11 kilometres.
The route described incorporates parts of a number of shorter walks and the Heysen Trail. Most of the walk is graded as moderate. The track from Tapanappa to Deep Creek Cove is rated hard.
This was an enjoyable overnight walk close to Adelaide with a variety of scenery. Although not mountainous, it provided sufficient exercise descending and ascending the coves and creek valleys, especially when you carry unnecessary amounts of water. Leaving the matches behind made one part easier.
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Bushwalk
