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Gawler Ranges
Difficulty:
Suitable for:
This rarely used route is a great alternative to crossing the Eyre Highway from Ceduna through to Port Augusta. Passing through the ranges and saltbush country there is the option to head further north to Kingoonya & onto Coober Pedy.
Start
Port Augusta
Finish
Ceduna
Distance
462.09 km
Minimum Days
3
Average Speed
74.32 km/hr
Driving Time
6 hr 13 min
Article By: ExplorOz Team Updated: 21 Feb 2008
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Description
Environment
Interactive Route Map
Driving Directions
Permits
Trek Feedback
Things to See & Do
Related Pages
Preparation
Recommended Reading
Camp Sites & Accomodation
In this Trek Note
Description
The Gawler Ranges are a range of mountains in
South Australia
to the north of
Eyre
Peninsula. The ranges were named by Edward John
Eyre
after the Governor of
South Australia
, George Gawler in 1839. This was on one of
Eyre
's earlier expeditions before his famous crossing of the Nullarbor Plain further west.
This trek note starts at Port Augusta and heads towards the town of Iron Knob, through the Gawler Ranges to Mount Ive Station. The trek continues west through the heart of the ranges until it heads back down to meet the
Eyre
Highway at Wirrulla and then finally ending at Ceduna.
This trek is generally fairly reasonable and should take about 2 days with maybe a stop over at Mt Ive Station. This station is one of the few places open to travellers in this region. They have a
camping
area and access to land bordering Lake Gairdner.
Interactive Route Map
Port Augusta
Port Augusta is situated on the quiet waterways at the head of the Spencer Gulf, in close proximity to the spectacular Flinders Ranges.
Features:
Position: 137.7728ºE 32.4960ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Port Augusta West
Distance:
2.72km
Average Speed:
75.08km/h
Port Augusta West
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 137.7521ºE 32.4797ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Pandurra
Distance:
37.24km
Average Speed:
82.2km/h
Pandurra
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 137.4298ºE 32.6257ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Iron Knob
Distance:
30.3km
Average Speed:
88.26km/h
Iron Knob
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 137.1510ºE 32.7330ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Corunna
Distance:
6.15km
Average Speed:
52.24km/h
Corunna
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 137.1267ºE 32.6833ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Siam
Distance:
44.14km
Average Speed:
73.03km/h
Siam
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 136.7124ºE 32.5560ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Valley Hut
Distance:
8.8km
Average Speed:
74.91km/h
Valley Hut
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features: Place Name
Position: 136.6276ºE 32.5327ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Mount Ive
Distance:
64.02km
Average Speed:
72.32km/h
Mount Ive
Mt Ive Station in the heart of The Gawler Ranges has Lake Gairdner as its Northern boundary. This pastoral sheep station, first taken up by Price Maurice in 1864, is the only property within The Gawler Ranges with visitor facilities.
Features:
Position: 136.0648ºE 32.4398ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Pondanna Ruins
Distance:
26.48km
Average Speed:
68.68km/h
Pondanna Ruins
1880s, shearing shed, quarters, cookhouse.
Features:
Position: 135.8476ºE 32.3252ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Yardea
Distance:
32.18km
Average Speed:
66.74km/h
Yardea
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 135.5242ºE 32.3796ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Wirrulla
Distance:
117.94km
Average Speed:
64.74km/h
Wirrulla
Small town supporting the local community in a pastoral area.
Features:
Position: 134.5298ºE 32.4027ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Merghiny
Distance:
76.02km
Average Speed:
88.87km/h
Merghiny
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 133.8485ºE 32.1294ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Ceduna
Distance:
16.09km
Average Speed:
84.71km/h
Ceduna
No description entered.
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.
Features:
Position: 133.6787ºE 32.1216ºS (GDA 94)
Route Control
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Permits
No
permits
are needed for this trek note.
Things to See & Do
Pondanna Ruins
1880s, shearing shed, quarters, cookhouse.
Port Augusta
Port Augusta is situated on the quiet waterways at the head of the Spencer Gulf, in close proximity to the spectacular Flinders Ranges. Off to the west and south-west lie a range of hills which once marked the territory of the Nakuma Aboriginal tribe to the north-west are two remarkable flat-topped mounts, peacefully lying underneath the sky's vast blue canopy.
Iron Knob
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Pondanna Ruins
Port Augusta
Iron Knob
Preparation
Your vehicle will need to be extensively prepared for remote area travel, with all fuel, water, food and vehicle repair equipment and spare parts. All travellers should read the
4WDriving
Topic for related articles and checklists for
vehicle setup
and driver awareness.
We advise that you refer to the latest information and advice about outback
communications
in the
Communications
Topic. All drivers should set their UHF radios to scan all stations, but take note that Channel 10 is the offical channel for the Simspon Desert. Anywhere in the Diamantina Shire (comprising the towns of Birdsville, Betoota and Bedourie) you must not used UHF Ch 8 and 38 as these are to be reserved for emergency calls only - these channels are monitored by the Clinics, Police and station operators and must remain clear.
There are areas in the Gawler Ranges which are prone to flash flooding and can be impassable after rain. Please check local conditions with the Department for Environment and Heritage Ceduna on: (08) 8625 3144 or Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safari Office on: (08) 8680 2045
Fuel Supplies & Usage
Port Augusta
,
Port Augusta West
,
Mount Ive
,
Wirrulla
,
Ceduna
Diesel
4cyl 64 litres
ULP
4cyl 74 litres
LPG
4cyl 92 litres
6cyl 57 litres *
6cyl 83 litres
6cyl 81 litres
8cyl 79 litres
8cyl 73 litres
Usage is averaged from
TrekFuel
(* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.
Best Time To Visit
Closest Climatic Station
Nonning
Distance from Trek Mid Point 75.97km E
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Mean Max. °C
33.2
33.0
29.4
24.9
20.3
16.8
16.4
18.1
21.4
24.9
28.7
31.3
Mean Min. °C
16.5
16.8
14.3
10.7
7.2
4.6
3.7
4.6
6.9
9.4
12.6
14.9
Mean Rain mm
16.0
16.8
14.7
14.9
23.9
26.9
26.1
25.1
24.8
22.8
16.9
17.8
Best time to travel
Ok time to travel
Travel NOT recommended
Services & Supplies
The following locations have various services and supplies:
Port Augusta
,
Port Augusta West
,
Iron Knob
,
Mount Ive
,
Wirrulla
,
Ceduna
Camp Sites & Accomodation
Wirrulla
Small town supporting the local community in a pastoral area.
Port Augusta
Port Augusta is situated on the quiet waterways at the head of the Spencer Gulf, in close proximity to the spectacular Flinders Ranges. Off to the west and south-west lie a range of hills which once marked the territory of the Nakuma Aboriginal tribe to the north-west are two remarkable flat-topped mounts, peacefully lying underneath the sky's vast blue canopy.
Mount Ive
Mt Ive Station in the heart of The Gawler Ranges has Lake Gairdner as its Northern boundary. This pastoral sheep station, first taken up by Price Maurice in 1864, is the only property within The Gawler Ranges with visitor facilities.
Port Augusta West
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Iron Knob
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Ceduna
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Wirrulla
Mount Ive
Iron Knob
Port Augusta
Port Augusta West
Ceduna
Environment
During spring, the Gawler Ranges offers a pretty trip especially when the wildflowers are in bloom. The area is an interface between the
Eyre
Peninsula mallee country and the drier arid zone to the north of the ranges. Plants and animals from both zones occur in the Gawler Ranges. There are over 970 flora species and around 162 fauna species, including birds such as Major Mitchell (Pink Cockatoo), Rufous Treecreeper, Malleefowl, Scarlet-breasted Parrot, Gilbert’s Whistler, and mammal species such as Hairy-nosed Wombat, Greater Long-eared Bat and Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby, Red and Grey Kangaroos and Euros.
Driving Directions
Time
Direction
Distance
Port Augusta to Port Augusta West
2.72 km
NW
313°
2 min
Port Augusta West to Pandurra
37.24 km
SW
242°
27 min
Pandurra to Iron Knob
30.3 km
SW
245°
20 min
Iron Knob to Corunna
6.15 km
N
338°
7 min
Corunna to Siam
44.14 km
W
290°
36 min
Siam to Valley Hut
8.8 km
W
288°
7 min
Valley Hut to Mount Ive
64.02 km
W
281°
53 min
Mount Ive to Pondanna Ruins
26.48 km
NW
302°
23 min
Pondanna Ruins to Yardea
32.18 km
W
259°
28 min
Yardea to Wirrulla
117.94 km
W
268°
1 hr 49 min
Wirrulla to Merghiny
76.02 km
NW
295°
51 min
Merghiny to Ceduna
16.09 km
W
273°
11 min
Port Augusta to Ceduna
462.09 km
6 hr 13 min
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.
Trek Feedback
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What Others have Posted
DavoF : 19 Feb 08 22:05
Hi My partner and I are hoping to spend 4 or 5 days in the Gawler ...
Hi
My partner and I are hoping to spend 4 or 5 days in the Gawler Ranges this spring. I have two questions, what is the best time to visit the Gawler Ranges for the wild flowers, mid or late spring? and is it possible to tow a small caravan along the 2WD tracks in the park, Minnipa - Yardea Rd and Old Paney Scenic Route?
Any information would be very much appreciated.
Regards
David Forsyth
Read Full Thread...
Latest: 21 Feb 08 17:46 Replies:
4
FollowUps:
4
Views:
400
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Trek Search
ExplorOz Trek Notes are detailed, factual reviews of destinations in Australia to which you can plan a self-drive camping trip. This page will enable you to access over 100 of these trek notes, using various search methods and at a glance you can see what treks we have in each area across Australia.
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