Pioneer Women's Trail (26km)

The Pioneer Women's Trail: A Historical Hike Through the Adelaide Hills. The Pioneer Women's Trail, a 26-kilometer historical hike developed by the National Trust of South Australia, honours the remarkable journeys undertaken by early European women settlers from Hahndorf. These women, braving rough terrain, would walk to Adelaide (approximately 35 kilometers away) to trade homemade produce for essential supplies.

The trail itself offers a moderately challenging (grade 4) hike, typically taking 1-2 days to complete. Beginning at the Hahndorf Institute, the route follows Hahndorf's main road before crossing the Onkaparinga River and officially joining the trail near Verdun.

The journey winds through a delightful section of the Adelaide Hills, encompassing country roads, laneways, and scenic bush tracks. Hikers can expect to encounter charming historic homes, vibrant deciduous trees, and pockets of native bushland.

The trail traverses Bridgewater, Mount George Conservation Park, Stirling, Crafers, and Cleland National Park before connecting with the old Bullock Track. This final section passes through Mount Osmond Reserve and concludes at Beaumont House near Brock Reserve.

The Pioneer Women's Trail serves as a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of these early settlers. Within weeks of arriving in Hahndorf in 1839, women and girls embarked on these arduous midnight journeys. Carrying baskets laden with vegetables and dairy products on their backs or yokes, they walked for approximately 26 kilometers before reaching a resting point near Beaumont. Here, they would freshen up before continuing to Adelaide to sell their goods.

Their return journeys often included essential supplies like thread, sugar, tea, and tobacco. Remarkably, they continued these vital trade missions until the late 1850s.

While the original trail utilized Peramangk walking paths and early settler bullock tracks, significant changes to the landscape have necessitated alterations. Private property and the South Eastern Freeway now occupy portions of the historical route. The modern trail, therefore, deviates where necessary to navigate these obstacles while maximizing the use of natural bushland and parkland areas.

The National Trust's dedication to preserving this historical journey allows modern walkers to retrace the steps of these pioneering women, offering a unique blend of physical challenge and historical appreciation.