Route: Wild South Coast Way

The 74km Wild South Coast Way extends from Cape Jervis at the southernmost tip of the Heysen Trail to Kent Reserve in Victor Harbour. There are references to The Bluff Trailhead (and this trailhead is better designed), however all of the maps clearly show the trail starting / finishing at Kent Reserve in Victor Harbour where there is still a trailhead located similar in style to the one located at Cape Jervis.

The Wild South Coast Way tra­vers­es Ramind­jeri Ruwi (land), with con­nec­tions to Kau­r­na Coun­try at Cape Jervis. Ramind­jeri are one of eigh­teen Lankiny­er­ar (tribes) of the Ngar­rind­jeri Nation, whose Coun­try spans the low­er Riv­er Mur­ray, Coorong and west­ern Fleurieu Peninsula. The trail retraces the final foot­steps of an ancient ances­tor named Ngu­run­deri, who is said to have shaped the land­scapes, spir­i­tu­al iden­ti­ties and cul­tur­al tra­di­tions of the Ngar­rind­jeri palak (peo­ple). In Ngurunderi’s foot­steps, the Ramind­jeri palak fol­lowed – car­ing for Coun­try accord­ing to the laws and cus­tom­ary rights and oblig­a­tions he gave to them.

The route can be completed in either direction, but FKT attempts should be the full length from Cape Jervis to Kent Reserve.

The Wild South Coast Way follows the Heysen Trail through Deep Creek National Park and Newland Head Conservation Reserve, but rather than turn north at Kings Beach carpark the trail continues towards The Bluff and along the Encounter Bay Esplanade Bike Path until reaching Kent Reserve.

For most of the time you will have spectacular views out to the Southern Ocean with running on singletrack trail, dirt roads, pristine beaches and about 4km of bitumen near Encounter Bay/Victor Harbour.

For a route where you can see water all the time, one has to actually plan water quite well as there are very limited tank water supplies. Taking a means of purifying water (life-straw or tablets) increases your opportunity for water points by around 3-4 locations. Notably, there is no publicly accessible water between Balquhidder campsite and the Victor Harbour trailhead.

Enjoy!