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Saturday Walks 2009 |
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Evening Walks 2010 |
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Riesling Trail |
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Investigator Trail |
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Federation Trail |
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Heysen Trail... |
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Motorcycle... |
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Various... |
The Investigator Trail is a long distance walking trail in the Port Lincoln area of South Australia. Port Lincoln is about 720 kilometres by road westerly from Adelaide. The trail takes its name from the ship HMS Investigator, commanded by Matthew Flinders while surveying the coastline of lower Eyre Peninsula in 1802. The trail is well marked and designed to accommodate people of all fitness levels.
Park brochures advise that the water from rainwater tanks is available seasonally and should not be relied on. I prepared for my 3 day 2 night forty five kilometre loop walk by delivering four litre bladders of drinking water to the 3 end of day points. I used my motorcycle for this transport. If tank water is not available, town water is available from Port Lincoln, about 20 kilometres from the day 1 start point. Four litres of water per day was enough for cooking and drinking. Sea water can be used for washing and cleaning.
I
parked the motorcycle and secured the riding gear and non-hiking
equipment, past the end of the four wheel drive track near
Woodcutters Beach. This is a designated camping area but it has no toilets
or rainwater tank. Follow the Investigator Trail signs along the coast and
over Stamford Hill before descending to Surfleet Cove and Spalding Cove.
The parks walking trail sign leads from Woodcutters Beach by an alternative
and more direct route to Spalding Cove Picnic Area. The trail follows the
beach to the picnic area on the east side of Spalding Cove then heads
northward to Cape Donnington Lighthouse, then turns southward toward
September Beach, where I camped for night 1. Camping permits are required
and are available at the park gate. Sheltered sites are available at
September Beach. The estimated walking distance (using the more direct
route from Woodcutters Beach) is 15 kilometres. The trail passed through
some wooded and areas of the park burned in the February 2001 fire.
The pack was heavier on day 2, due to the tent, cooking equipment, etc.
The trail generally follows the coast southward from September Beach to
Taylors Landing. The terrain mostly limestone cap; stones often cover the
pathway increasing the potential for twisted ankles. The beach sections of
the trail include areas of soft sand. I earned sore feet and sore leg
muscles before arriving at Taylor's landing. I nearly stepped on a shiny
black snake 1.5 to 2 metres long, on the trail in an area of low
vegetation. I retreated and waited while the snake moved off the
trail. Walking distance for the day was about 16 kilometres, the hardest of
the three days.
This was a light pack day since I used the motorcycle to return to return to Taylors Landing to collect the tent, etc The track was through green and burned mallee woodland. Again the limestone rocks and stones on the trail made the walk more difficult. With the light pack load, the 14 or so kilometres was covered at a reasonable pace.
The Investigator Trail starts at North Shields about 15 kilometres north of Port Lincoln, follows the coast southward to Port Lincoln then continues on through Tulka and enters Lincoln National Park. A thirty kilometre loop walk is possible following the sections of Investigator Trail via park gate - Pillie Lake - Millers Hole, Wisemans Beach, Salmon Hole, Seaford Mere back to Park Gate. However there is only one designated camping area near this loop - north of Pillie Lake.
In December 2003 my wife and I did a 17 kilometre day walk loop including the part of Sleaford Bay (west from the monument) and Sleaford Mere sections. Our start and finish point was less than a kilometre from the park entrance and we followed a four wheel drive track to near the monument on Sleaford Bay. The grandeur of the sea scapes and huge sand dunes make this one of the spectacular sections of the trail.
National Parks and Wildlife SA
Eyre District Office
75 Liverpool Street
PO Box 22
Port Lincoln SA 5606
Phone 08 8688 3173
Visitor Information Centre
66 Tasman Terrace (opposite town jetty) / PO Box 22
Open 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM 7 days a week
Phone 08 8681 1622
Modified 06/12/2009