BushwalkBushwalk
Deep Creek Conservation Park is a popular bushwalking destination about 100 kilometres south of Adelaide, near Cape Jervis. The southern boundary of the park is a rugged coastline. There are multiple short and day walks, and 19.5 kilometres of the 1200 kilometre Heysen Trail cuts through the Park. This article is about a walk there.
Descending into Deep Creek CoveBen Trainor
A Weekend in Deep Creek Conservation Park Ben Trainor
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In March my brother Tim and I explored Deep Creek Conservation Park. We arrived at Tapanappa Campground late Friday afternoon. After setting up our tent we walked along a small stretch of the Heysen Trail to Boat Harbor Beach, carrying our
stove to cook dinner. The first part of this walk is an unsealed road along a ridge with views of the ocean. When the road ends, a trail descends through scrub. It was the week before the official walking season commenced, with many spider webs across the trail suggesting that it is not a popular route. It’s relatively steep for the last couple of hundred metres to the stony beach, which we reached after about an hour and about three kilometres. Tim constructed a makeshift windshield from a bit of a bucket that had washed up onto the beach. I unpacked the stove before realising that I had forgotten to bring matches. We walked back to camp for dinner. Valuable lesson learned. From now, matches are stored with the stove.
Walking across Deep CreekBen Trainor
Walk to Boat Harbour Beachby Ben Trainor
“I unpacked the stove before realising that I had forgotten to bring matches.
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On Saturday we started walking just before 7am to Eagle Waterhole Campground via Deep Creek Cove. We carried close to five litres of water each and a two-man tent. In the end we didn’t need to take all the water, or the tent. The walk starts on a dirt road past Tapanappa Lookout, then a track descends to a small cove. It then climbs higher before a steep rocky track down to Deep Creek Cove, which we reached at about 8am. The creek was barely flowing and
very easy to cross, so given the depth of the water I thought it was not true to its name. I was later informed that it is never deep at this point; the name refers to the deep incision of its valley. After exploring the cove (a highlight of the weekend), we followed the western side of the creek for about 70 metres to pick up the track, which ascends inland to a ridge. On the way up we saw a small rocky outcrop a few metres to the right of the track from which we viewed the steep valley and the first main bend of the creek. We then walked through fields of yaccas and just after 9am having covered six kilometres we arrived at Trig Campground for breakfast. The Trig Campground is accessible by road, with water, toilets and Blue Wrens.
From Trig Campground we walked north along the road for 500 metres before turning roughly west to join the Heysen Trail for a part of the walk we would retrace the next day. The track initially follows the southern side of a fence line, then falls and rises
Between Deep Cove and Trig Campground by Ben Trainor
Eagle Waterhole Hut by Ben Trainor
Early morning - between Tapanappa Campground and Tapanappa Lookout by Ben Trainor
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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.
BookingsThere are fees for entry and camping in the park. Camping fees vary. Eagle Waterhole is $8 per adult to camp per night, Trig and Tapanappa Campsites are $14 a night per campsite. See environment.sa.gov.au/parks
Descending into Aaron Creek Cove by Ben Trainor
Ben Trainor lives near Belair National Park in the Adelaide Hills. On bushwalks he combines his enthusiasm for exploring and photographing creation as an antidote to a sedentary office job.
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