Two new trails proposed for Kangaroo Island

[jez_au]

Following on from earlier discussion post here, but under a differently titled post http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=5326&hilit=kangaroo+island

TWO new walking trails have been proposed as part of a five-year plan to increase Kangaroo Island tourism.

The Economic Development Board, in a report released yesterday ...

"Its pristine environment and unique natural attractions make Kangaroo Island a mecca for environmental tourism and bestow on it a natural advantage in production of clean, green foods," the report says.

...

The proposed new attractions are:
THE LIGHTHOUSE TRAIL - a walking track from Cape Borda to Cape Du Couedic along the coast through Flinders Chase.
THE NORTH COAST BIKE TRACK - a cycling path from Cape Borda to Kingscote along the north coast.
D'ESTEREE'S BAY TO VIVONNE BAY WILDERNESS ADVENTURE - a hiking trail through wild, remote beautiful virgin landscape.

(http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/plan-to-double-ki-visitors-takes-off/story-e6frea83-1226061470500)

The Lighthouse Trail is similar to the existing Flinders Chase Coastal Trek, which used to extend from Ravine de Casoars to Cape du Couedic. However the northern section from Ravine de Casoars to West Bay remains closed following the 2007 bushfires. The existing trek does not follow a trail, it sounds like the new Lighthouse Trail would restore and extend the trek, as well as it being establishing as a marked trail.

The D'Esteree's Bay to Vivonne Bay Wilderness Adventure sounds similar to the existing Cape Gantheaume Coastal Trek, another unmarked trek, from D'Esteree'S Bay to Bales Bay. It sounds like the new trail would extend that trip and establish a marked trail.

It is just a report, there is no funding associated with it as yet.

[Maelgwn]

That is interesting to see.

It seems like an ideal place for more developed tracks to me. There are heaps of tourists, many of whom would be interesting in overnight walks but scared away by the lack of them on the Island. These would be a bit more accessible and reasonable for many less experience walkers, and so is ultimately a good thing.

Saying that, people write reports that are going to fix the world all the time. Other people rarely listen.

[jez_au]

Saying that, people write reports that are going to fix the world all the time. Other people rarely listen.

That's true, it's only a report with recommendations. Not much may come of it.

[mikethepike]

I walked the W and much of the S coasts of KI years ago and they are possibly as good as the walking gets on KI. It's surprising that it is has taken so long to get around to establishing nationally recognized walking trials on the island. Probably close to three decades ago, someone in Adelaide Bushwalkers wrote (in Tandanya) a very good argument for extending the Heysen Trail to Cape du Couedic and suggested a possible route. It's a wonder that the idea has not been taken up. I wonder if it has ever been seriously considered? Does anyone know?
2011 is the 175 anniversary of the landing of the first fleet at Kingscote initially and also of the ill-fated walk (for one member anyway) of the small group that got off the vessel E of Cape Borda with the intention of walking to Kingscote. They had read of the account of an earlier visitor (the captain of a sealing vessel I seem to recall) who claimed to have walked across much the island and likening it to English parkland. Of course they initially got held up in terrible scrub and their anticipated overnight walk extended to 6 days. They walked SE to Vivonne Bay and then across to D'Estrees Bay and across to Nepean Bay where they were found. That was in February 1836 and I was thinking of redoing their route (as near as this is possible) in September or October this year. If anyone is interested, please get in touch. (We will pack sufficient food for the journey, it's not meant to be an historic re-enactment!). I have a copy of the published paper (with map) that describes that historic walk.

[Nelse]

I wouldn't be putting much credence in this report.

[jez_au]

The South Australian Government has announced today that Kangaroo Island will receive a funding boost which includes $5 million towards development of a five-day walking trail.

Not sure which one of two trails proposed in the posts above is the five day trail.

Today's announcement is a package of $18 million to enhance Kangaroo Island's reputation as a major tourist destination and premium agricultural producer.

Read the full story on the NineMSN news website.

[jez_au]

The five-day walking trail will take in Flinders Chase National Park and Kelly Hill Conservation Park.

[jez_au]

Read details of the proposed walking trail in the Premier's media release: http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/images/stories/mediareleasesJUL11/ki%20walks.pdf

The five-day/four-night walking trail that would link existing and new trails through the unique landscapes of Kangaroo Island’s Flinders Chase National Park and Kelly Hill Conservation Park.

Beginning at the Rocky River visitor centre in the Flinders Chase National Park, the proposed trail passes some of the must see destinations of Kangaroo Island including the south-western coast of the Island to the Kelly Hill Conservation Park and iconic locations such as Cape du Couedic, Remarkable Rocks and the Kelly Hill Caves.

[Nelse]

We'll see. 5 million is not a lot to get you started, probably barely cover the consultants' fees. Have a look at how much was invested in Victoria's Great Ocean Walk and how much they have needed to finish it off - 3 million I think just to cover the last 1.3km from Glenample to 12 Apostles (admittedly with underpass). So I wouldn't be getting too excited yet, these "great" walks which require infrastructure suck up the dollars and they will need a heck of a lot more funding to cover the infrastructure costs for the whole 5 days.