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Gammon Ranges Bunyip Chasm

Difficulty: Trek rating 0.5 of 5 - Click for details   Suitable for: 4WD AWD 2WD Caravan Camper Motorhome 
The drive into the Gammon Ranges National Park will reward you with spectacular views of rugged terrain, chasms and deep gorges, towering mountains, tree-lined creeks and freshwater springs.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesArkaroola Village
Trek
FinishArkaroola Village
Distance207.74 kmMinimum Days1
Average Speed37.02 km/hrDriving Time5 hr 36 min
Article By: ExplorOz Team   Updated: 22 Feb 2008
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 Description

The Vulkathunha - Gammon Ranges National Park lies approximately 750 km to the north of Adelaide and 110 km from Leigh Creek. The park has around 128 000 hectares of chasms, deep gorges, towering mountains, tree-lined creeks and freshwater springs. The park, which is part of the rugged North Flinders Ranges, features some unique geological land formations and offers the sightseer many rare and endangered plant and animal species. Conventional cars can be taken into the general area of the park; however, a four wheel drive is recommended if you want to leave the main road. A major highlight of the park is Italowie Gorge but the Bunyip Chasm is said to be the best walk in the entire area, although it is lesser known and publicised. The drive to Bunyip Chasm will reward you with spectacular views of the rugged terrain of the Gammon Range and is easily reached from Arkaroola Village. There are many opportunities for self-reliant bush camping (permits apply) or you can rent a hut such as Grindell Hut complete with facilities.

The park offers the traveller remnants of early European settlements that had failed due to the harsh conditions. There is also a wealth of Aboriginal culture with the Adnyamathanha people who have lived in the Northern Flinders Ranges and beyond for many tens of thousands of years. Some offer guided interpretive tours of cave paintings, stone arrangements, graves, rock engraving sites and ochre quarries. The ranges exert a strong personal and traditional influence on the people and you can learn about the Adnyamathanha culture and the rules for living from the Yura Muda (Aboriginal Dreaming).

 Interactive Route Map

Arkaroola VillageSitting BullThe PinnaclesOld Bolla Bollana SmeltersWealthy King MineTourmaline HillUmberatanaYankaninnaIdninhaGrindell HutIllinawortina PoundMount McTaggartBalcanoonaItalowie GapBalcanoonaBalcanoona GorgeNardlamathanha HillArkaroolaDevils SlideArkaroola Village
Arkaroola Village
Arkaroola Village is the settlement and resort at the hub of a 61,000 hectare wilderness sanctuary in the Northern Flinders Ranges in South Australia, adjacent to Gammon Ranges National Park and the Mawson Plateau.
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Resort,Motel Point of Interest
Position: 139.3362ºE   30.3119ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Sitting Bull
Distance: 3.72km
Average Speed: 20.39km/h
Sitting Bull
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Mountain,Peak,Hill
Position: 139.3126ºE   30.3002ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: The Pinnacles
Distance: 0.85km
Average Speed: 34.18km/h
Features: Mountain,Peak,Hill
Position: 139.3065ºE   30.2969ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Old Bolla Bollana Smelters
Distance: 3.65km
Average Speed: 25.26km/h
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 139.2714ºE   30.2955ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Wealthy King Mine
Distance: 21.6km
Average Speed: 19.64km/h
Features: Mine
Position: 139.2811ºE   30.1678ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Tourmaline Hill
Distance: 16.33km
Average Speed: 20.18km/h
Features: Mountain,Peak,Hill
Position: 139.1749ºE   30.2381ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Umberatana
Distance: 4.92km
Average Speed: 23.12km/h
Umberatana
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 139.1301ºE   30.2437ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Yankaninna
Distance: 17.01km
Average Speed: 39.35km/h
Yankaninna
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 139.0589ºE   30.3631ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Idninha
Distance: 14.48km
Average Speed: 19.91km/h
Idninha
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 139.1787ºE   30.3454ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Grindell Hut
Distance: 27.14km
Average Speed: 24.35km/h
Grindell Hut
Built by John Grindell, the first land owner to take up this arduous country in the early 1900s. The view from this hut, overlooking the Illinawortinna Pound and the Gammons, is breathtaking in its sheer grandeur, and the hut is available for rent.
Features: Camp Fee
Position: 139.2120ºE   30.4778ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Illinawortina Pound
Distance: 1.92km
Average Speed: 23.75km/h
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 139.2180ºE   30.4652ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Mount McTaggart
Distance: 11.64km
Average Speed: 26km/h
Features: Mountain,Peak,Hill
Position: 139.2875ºE   30.4547ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Balcanoona
Distance: 13.49km
Average Speed: 49.29km/h
Balcanoona
Gammon Ranges NP Headquarters
Features: Populated Place
Position: 139.3056ºE   30.5327ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Italowie Gap
Distance: 15.49km
Average Speed: 56.84km/h
Italowie Gap
Italowie Gorge cuts through the flat plateau forming a major section of the park. Visitors can walk through the gorge between sheer cliff faces of red quartzite forming a backdrop for the tall river gums growing along the creek.
Features: Camp Fee
Position: 139.1663ºE   30.5604ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Balcanoona
Distance: 15.49km
Average Speed: 56.84km/h
Balcanoona
Gammon Ranges NP Headquarters
Features: Populated Place
Position: 139.3056ºE   30.5327ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Balcanoona Gorge
Distance: 7.3km
Average Speed: 41.74km/h
Features: Gorge
Position: 139.2500ºE   30.4958ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Nardlamathanha Hill
Distance: 21.06km
Average Speed: 49.9km/h
Features: Mountain,Peak,Hill
Position: 139.3552ºE   30.3909ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Arkaroola
Distance: 7.09km
Average Speed: 71.2km/h
Arkaroola
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 139.3692ºE   30.3341ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Devils Slide
Distance: 2.44km
Average Speed: 55.18km/h
Devils Slide
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Place Name
Position: 139.3594ºE   30.3166ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Arkaroola Village
Distance: 2.12km
Average Speed: 46.28km/h
Arkaroola Village
Arkaroola Village is the settlement and resort at the hub of a 61,000 hectare wilderness sanctuary in the Northern Flinders Ranges in South Australia, adjacent to Gammon Ranges National Park and the Mawson Plateau.
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Resort,Motel Point of Interest
Position: 139.3362ºE   30.3119ºS (GDA 94)

Route Control

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 Permits

Park entry permit from the SA Department for Environment and Heritage and also available at Balcanoona. For information on camping fees and permits please click: Camping in Vulkathunha - Gammon Ranges National Park.

 Things to See & Do

Illinawortina Pound   
Point of Interest 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Mount McTaggart   
Mountain,Peak,Hill 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Arkaroola Village   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Resort,Motel Point of Interest
Arkaroola Village is the settlement and resort at the hub of a 61,000 hectare wilderness sanctuary in the Northern Flinders Ranges in South Australia, adjacent to Gammon Ranges National Park and the Mawson Plateau. The Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is located 700 km north of Adelaide in South Australia.
Sitting Bull   
Mountain,Peak,Hill 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
The Pinnacles   
Mountain,Peak,Hill 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Tourmaline Hill   
Mountain,Peak,Hill 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Balcanoona Gorge   
Gorge 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Nardlamathanha Hill   
Mountain,Peak,Hill 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
There are basically only two vehicle tracks through the Gammon Ranges National Park - the main road cutting across the south of the park and the 4WD Yankaninna-Yadnina-Balcanoona track, which winds its way through the centre of the park. This track will take you through some of the most spectacular scenery and along the way there are plenty of places which make great bush camping spots.

 Preparation

If you plan on going hiking, then appropriate rubber soled walk boots or shoes are highly recommended. A handheld GPS unit is not essential but it has its advantages. You should take sufficient water, around two litres per person and more in hot weather. Drinking water is available at Arkaroola or Grindell Hut and Creek water should be treated before drinking.

Bunyip Chasm

No permits are needed to walk to Bunyip Chasm. Directions to Bunyip Chasm are given in many walking books on the region, but none are detailed & some are confusing. Park Staff are now refusing to give directions as they state that the climbs involved are dangerous.

If climbing is a problem for you, then do the walk as far as the first climb only (eg. elderly and young children may have problems). The walk is an easy 2 hours each way, being mostly level, with a fairly well defined track. There are 4 climbs up waterfalls in the last half kilometre. They would certainly be dangerous in wet weather. The tallest is about 15 metres high. The climbs should be done slowly & with care without any problems, though probably not without some trepidation! Ropes are suggested, but an experienced climber would have to be along to use them correctly & safely.

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolArkaroola Village Diesel4cyl 29 litres ULP4cyl 33 litres LPG4cyl 42 litres
6cyl 32 litres6cyl 37 litres6cyl 37 litres
8cyl 35 litres8cyl 33 litres
Usage is averaged from TrekFuel (* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.
Petrol & Diesel are the fuel types available at Arkaroola Village.

Best Time To Visit

Closest Climatic Station

Arkaroola
Distance from Trek Mid Point 13.39km NE
 JanFebMarAprMayJun JulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C 34.133.329.925.1 20.216.916.418.9 23.226.530.032.7
Mean Min. °C 19.919.315.811.0 7.24.63.34.6 8.011.215.317.7
Mean Rain mm 34.035.529.514.6 17.814.415.414.8 15.919.415.824.2
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Arkaroola Village
Limited supplies available at Arkaroola. Full supplies available at Angorichina & Blinman to the south.

 Camp Sites & Accomodation

Italowie Gap   RatingRatingRatingRating
Camp Fee 
Italowie Gorge cuts through the flat plateau forming a major section of the park. Visitors can walk through the gorge between sheer cliff faces of red quartzite forming a backdrop for the tall river gums growing along the creek.
Grindell Hut   
Camp Fee 
Built by John Grindell, the first land owner to take up this arduous country in the early 1900s. The view from this hut, overlooking the Illinawortinna Pound and the Gammons, is breathtaking in its sheer grandeur, and the hut is available for rent. For details contact the Ranger at Balcanoona.
Arkaroola Village   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Resort,Motel Point of Interest
Arkaroola Village is the settlement and resort at the hub of a 61,000 hectare wilderness sanctuary in the Northern Flinders Ranges in South Australia, adjacent to Gammon Ranges National Park and the Mawson Plateau. The Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is located 700 km north of Adelaide in South Australia.

 Environment

The Bunyip Chasm area is a spectacular red rock gorge. It contains some relatively rare plants, reptiles, birds, euros, emus & the yellow footed rock wallaby. The creek has pools, River Red gums, fossil ripple marks on old sandstones & many other interesting things to appreciate & photograph.

 History

Local aboriginals generally shunned the interior of the Gammon ranges, for fear of waking the fearful dreamtime serpent Akurra. Few places inside the Ranges therefore have aboriginal place names. Bunyip gorge (Winmiindanha) is one exception.

 Driving Directions

Time
Direction
Distance
Arkaroola Village to Sitting Bull 3.72 km NW 300° 10 min
Sitting Bull to The Pinnacles 0.85 km NW 301° 1 min
The Pinnacles to Old Bolla Bollana Smelters 3.65 km W 273° 8 min
Old Bolla Bollana Smelters to Wealthy King Mine 21.6 km N 1 hr 5 min
Wealthy King Mine to Tourmaline Hill 16.33 km SW 233° 48 min
Tourmaline Hill to Umberatana 4.92 km W 262° 12 min
Umberatana to Yankaninna 17.01 km SW 207° 25 min
Yankaninna to Idninha 14.48 km E 80° 43 min
Idninha to Grindell Hut 27.14 km S 168° 1 hr 6 min
Grindell Hut to Illinawortina Pound 1.92 km N 22° 4 min
Illinawortina Pound to Mount McTaggart 11.64 km E 80° 26 min
Mount McTaggart to Balcanoona 13.49 km S 169° 16 min
Balcanoona to Italowie Gap 15.49 km W 257° 16 min
Italowie Gap to Balcanoona 15.49 km E 77° 16 min
Balcanoona to Balcanoona Gorge 7.3 km NW 308° 10 min
Balcanoona Gorge to Nardlamathanha Hill 21.06 km NE 41° 25 min
Nardlamathanha Hill to Arkaroola 7.09 km N 12° 5 min
Arkaroola to Devils Slide 2.44 km NW 334° 2 min
Devils Slide to Arkaroola Village 2.12 km W 283° 2 min
Arkaroola Village to Arkaroola Village 207.74 km     5 hr 36 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.

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