Gawler Ranges National Park

The Gawler Ranges consist of volcanic rock hills over 1500 million years old with vast hills and gully complexes. The Gawler Ranges National Park was opened in 2000 and further extended in 2001. It offers new opportunities for bushwalking and camping in the upper Eyre Peninsula.

Getting There

The Park is about 550 kilometres northwest of Adelaide. Two wheel drive access roads lead to the park from Iron Knob (via Mount Ive Station), Kimba (via Buckelboo), Wudinna (via Pygerie), Minnipa. The 1:50,000 topographic maps Nukey and Paney cover most of the Park.

The 2 and  4 wheel drive roads can quickly become impassable with rain. Deep wheel ruts and rocks between the wheel tracks make a high ground clearance vehicle necessary for the 4 wheel drive tracks. There are very few steep sections on the roadways and rocky sections are not common, so my road motorcycle handled the tracks acceptably. Please keep to the designated tracks.

Camping and Accommodation

Camping areas are designated and camping fees apply. Refer to the current parks brochure for up to date information.  As at October 2001 the Kolay Hut camping area had toilet facility and rain water. Windmills, tanks and dams help to provide water in other locations, but quality of the water cannot be relied on and precautions or treatment of the water are required.

Vegetation is generally short ground cover in the plains with some coolibah and mallee trees provide shade in the camp grounds.

Shearers quarters may be available for hire near Paney Homestead.

Bush Walking

Vegetation in the hilly areas varies from open spinifex to dense bush. The dense bush can scratch or puncture even through walking pants. Areas of stony ground are common. Vegetation is often thicker on the shaded sides (south) of hills. Larger Eucalypts, Mallee and Sheoak trees often provided clear area for walking under the canopies.

Topographic maps and GPS were used for navigation. Significant points (selected from the park brochure map) were programmed as GPS waypoints before travelling to the area. Scrubby Peak, Paney Bluff and Mount Farview all had large stone cairns at the peak. Light vegetation on the topographic maps did not always correspond with easy walking. It was often more difficult to walk through short brush than taller trees.

Walks between camps were interesting. For example:

• Kolay Hut to Chilluna Campground via Kolay Mirica Falla and Mount Farview and return by the 4 wheel drive track

• Old Paney Homestead to Mattera Campground via Paney Bluff and return via Paney Hill.

• Campground south of Scrubby Peak to the peak and return via the main road and access tracks.

The 360 degree views from Scrubby Peak were particularly nice. Views from the plateaus are often obscured by trees - better views can be had from the shoulders of the hills.

Fauna

Kangaroo, wallabies and euros are common along with emu and feral goats. Stumpy tail lizards are common.

Grant McEwing :mcewingg@optusnet.com.au

Last modified 13/06/2009