Eagle Waterhole - Deep Creek
There are 5 campgrounds at Deep Creek conservation park, and Eagle Waterhole is the only one that is for hikers only. Which means leaving the car behind and hiking in to this remote but pretty campsite.
There are 2 ways to get to the campsite - from the Trig Campsite car park or from Cobblers Hill (the shortest way).
We hiked in from Trig and the distance is 5.05km. From Cobblers it is 2.09km.
The walk is part of the Heysen Trail, so you can expect to find hikers traversing this part of Deep Creek, but for many hikers, Eagle Waterhole is a short stroll for the day, so they may keep walking longer distances and bypass Eagle Waterhole as a campsite .
In terms of getting to the campsite from Trig, 5km may not seem a long way. But it is rated moderate to hard in walking terminology, as there are steep sections needing careful walking and it is very hilly. It definitely felt longer than 5km. As much of the narrow track has a lot of clay on it, in wet weather, the climb could be very very slippery, so good hiking boots a must!
I was travelling with my partner who is very fit and a keen bushwalker, so he didn't even raise a sweat on this hike. It was very different for me, resulting in numerous stops on the upward track, as I was exhausted, plus not used to carrying a hiking pack with all the provisions I would need for an overnight stay.
So what can you expect at Eagle Waterhole?
Please note:
As of July 1, 2015 you need to book the campsite at Eagle Waterhole, despite there being no designated campsites there.
You can book via the Parks SA Website
There are 2 ways to get to the campsite - from the Trig Campsite car park or from Cobblers Hill (the shortest way).
We hiked in from Trig and the distance is 5.05km. From Cobblers it is 2.09km.
The walk is part of the Heysen Trail, so you can expect to find hikers traversing this part of Deep Creek, but for many hikers, Eagle Waterhole is a short stroll for the day, so they may keep walking longer distances and bypass Eagle Waterhole as a campsite .
In terms of getting to the campsite from Trig, 5km may not seem a long way. But it is rated moderate to hard in walking terminology, as there are steep sections needing careful walking and it is very hilly. It definitely felt longer than 5km. As much of the narrow track has a lot of clay on it, in wet weather, the climb could be very very slippery, so good hiking boots a must!
I was travelling with my partner who is very fit and a keen bushwalker, so he didn't even raise a sweat on this hike. It was very different for me, resulting in numerous stops on the upward track, as I was exhausted, plus not used to carrying a hiking pack with all the provisions I would need for an overnight stay.
So what can you expect at Eagle Waterhole?
Please note:
As of July 1, 2015 you need to book the campsite at Eagle Waterhole, despite there being no designated campsites there.
You can book via the Parks SA Website
Campground
Upon reaching the campsite from Trig (thankfully, a very easy walk for the last 1km of the hike), you come upon the camping area, nestled in a small valley.
There is 1 shelter for hikers - that has metal bunks for 8 walkers and has 1 open sided wall. It is in good condition and was clean (all users are expected to leave it neat and tidy, with no rubbish left for anyone to come across).
There is a large grassed area where tents can be set up close to the shelter (not that flat, so not ideal) plus there is ample room around the site to set up your tents away from others. We found a great little spot, right next to the dam that is there (no mozzies) and there is lots of shade all around as you can see from the photos.
Hammock campers won't have much difficulty in finding 2 good trees to set up, and be a little bit away from others too if desired.
Plenty of shade and its a lovely spot to unwind at the end of a long hike.
Amenities
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Apart from the shelter mentioned , there are not a lot of amenities - this is a remote campground.
There is a large water tank, which was full when we visited, but you can not rely on that, so you might want to bring your own water, especially in summer. I am not sure if the rangers fill this tank up, but I know they do in other parts of the park......
We recommend bringing a water filter. Please read our recommendations on hiking and camping water filters systems
There is one picnic table directly outside the shelter.
There are no toilets, so you will need to bring a small trowel and own toilet paper, as this is really back to basics camping (please remember to go to the toilet, well away from any campsite - I must say, that we saw no evidence of people acting irresponsibly with their toilet paper and the campsite was very clean. Which is a nice change, as we have seen camping areas that do have toilets, but there is still huge amounts of toilet paper stuck in bushes etc. )
No campfires allowed at any time of the year (though we did see that some people had disobeyed this rule).
There is a large water tank, which was full when we visited, but you can not rely on that, so you might want to bring your own water, especially in summer. I am not sure if the rangers fill this tank up, but I know they do in other parts of the park......
We recommend bringing a water filter. Please read our recommendations on hiking and camping water filters systems
There is one picnic table directly outside the shelter.
There are no toilets, so you will need to bring a small trowel and own toilet paper, as this is really back to basics camping (please remember to go to the toilet, well away from any campsite - I must say, that we saw no evidence of people acting irresponsibly with their toilet paper and the campsite was very clean. Which is a nice change, as we have seen camping areas that do have toilets, but there is still huge amounts of toilet paper stuck in bushes etc. )
No campfires allowed at any time of the year (though we did see that some people had disobeyed this rule).
Cost
Park fees do apply and you either need to pay AND book the campsite before you start your walk .
If you have driven to the carpark at either Trig or Cobblers campsites, you have to pay for car entry, and then overnight camping costs.
So at time of writing you can expect to pay $15 for the campsite, and $10 to get in - which seems a bit steep for a walker, who is making minimal impact on the environment, and in a place with no toilets.
The irony of this is that this campsite is MORE expensive than an established campground in Deep Creek such as Cobbler Hill or Trig, which is only $14 a night (and has toilets).
For more information on costs at Deep Creek, you should visit this website:
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find_a_Park/Browse_by_region/Fleurieu_Peninsula/Deep_Creek_Conservation_Park/Fees
Need another overnight hiking campsite, close to Adelaide? Read up on Kingfisher Flat, in Mt Remarkable National Park.
Flowers at campsite