Walking Federation of SA: Lisa takes to some of South Australia's best walking trails in the Adelaide Hills region

We're constantly being encouraged to get out and keep fit and healthy. You can join a gym or get caught up in the cycling craze or pull on the walking boots and the backpack and head for the hills with a bushwalking club.

I've teamed up with a local group who are members of the Walking Federation of South Australia - the peak body representing 30 local walking clubs. Today, we're in Scott's Creek Conservation Park - but next week it could be much further afield - the options are endless with South Australia offering some of the best walking trails in the country.

Today, we're staying much closer to town under the watchful and experienced eye of our group leader, Ron Jackson. This group walks one day a week and they're always on the lookout for points of interest. As group leader, it's Ron's job to plan the walk, even carrying out advance 'reccis' if needed. And he's proof that a little local knowledge goes a long way towards making the walk interesting.

Ron Jackson, 'Walking SA': "This is Eys Tunnel which goes some 60 metres into the hill. Eys was a German assayer across here and he inspected the gear they took out of the ground looking for copper and found silver so he decided to explore further. We're talking about the mid 1800s."

By the time mining ended in 1887, the Almanda Mining Association had dug out 310 kilograms of silver from these hills. It's just one of the many points of interest you get to explore as a member of a bushwalking club.

Alan, walker: "It's great to see so many of the great Conservation Parks around the Adelaide area which I certainly never really appreciated until I started walking."

The Walking Federation of South Australia is a not for profit volunteer based organization set up to promote bushwalking and maintain trails. It also has a technical unit which identifies and opens up new trails. At the end of the trek a well earned cuppa and a biscuit.

With more than 30 different clubs under the Walking SA banner, you can go bushwalking every day of the week if want. Each group caters for varying levels of fitness - from beginners to hard core trekking.

Ron Jackson, 'Walking SA': "In the club I'm in we just rate them on a weekly basis because we walk weekly. Another club would have three different levels of participants so if you are just a base walker you drop into the bottom and as your fitness increases you move up through the levels."

To find a group that suits you best contact Walking SA on 8276 5090. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Walking SA (Walking Federation of SA)
Ph 8276 5090

Published 20th June 2010