Mt Ive Station

Hi Stephen, we stayed there this time last year - $20/ double no power, and had 2 nights. You can use the rec room and camp kitchen and meet interesting people. Only a couple of campers and same in the cabins so it was nice and quiet. There is a donkey to heat water for showers but it was running all the time so abundant hot water.
We drove on their station tracks to the shore of Lake Gairdner.An easy day and drive. And then up steep Mount Ive to see the sunset. See the pix . I suppose after typing this up I am thinking - who could complain about the place? 10/10 as far as we are concerned........ W

Hi Stephen,
We have stayed there several times and have enjoyed their station tracks each one is a little different we enjoyed the trip and views from Mount Scott. A trip to lake Gairdner is a must with a couple of side trips on the way. I'm sure you will enjoy your time there and if it is like the rest of the country the wild flowers should be stunning right now. You would need at least a couple of days there to see the main attractions and three or four days would be better.
What out for the Submarine.

Cheers
Graham

Hey Stephen, been there a couple of times and also for the land speed records run by the DLRA. The facilities are all good and they have set up two Marlinga huts into one big unit for kitchen, rec room and accommodation. Recommend you book one of their rooms. We spent a great night there last time with a heap of backpackers and the cop from Wudina and another local from there. Big sore head the next day but I recall a funny night was had. I reckon there's a prospect of cutting across from there below Mt XXXX station to the DF and then up the DF and across to Googs from Childara rocks. Might be worth a look on Google or a confirmatory chat with your mate in Clare? Cheers Leigh

We visited in April this year, and would go back again for sure. The facilities are good, the donkey is always boiling hot, and there is more than enough space.
My only suggestion would be to head as far away from the main building as possible, as the generator was running in the middle of the night for the couple of nights we were there. As you can imagine in such an open space it sounds like it is right next to you!
From memory the camp fees were reasonable. There is fuel available, but at the usual inflated prices due to the remoteness.
There are plenty of fire pits as well, so as long as it's the right time of year you can get one going nice and early. There is also plenty of wood around outside of the station, so no need to worry about not being able to find any, just can't pick it up from within the park that's all.

The private tracks were in good nick. I think we paid $40 (???) to access them. The track up to the top of Mt Ive is well worth it, and whilst it is a slow journey it doesn't take too long, and the views are well worth it.
If you do the private tracks make sure you do the quick side roads on the way to or from the lake, as they are well worth checking out, and it seems that a lot of people don't make the effort.

The weird part about this thread Stephen, is that you have never been there. Judging by your previous and interesting posts, you must have passed by Mt Ive dozens of times at least. I didn't think there was a square km of SA that you hadn't visited.

:-)

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:


"Very goog comment....lol"

Hmm don't give up your day job Stephen.

Hi stephen, looks like the posts have covered most things. There is a Mt Ive website - just Google it. As for more pix, there's already some at Mount Ive. And this will confuse the computer as there is Mt Ive the mountain and Mt Ive the station so I will try and fix that up now.
No need to tell you about rain on those Gawler tracks. We had a lovely dry trip in 2012 from Kingoonya south to the station but in April this year we slithered and slid going across via Yardea, Hilltaba and on to Wirrulla. They really are grand old ranges..... W

Hi Stephen
As said above it is a good spot if you like 4wdriving we stayed 3 nights and had a powered site we towed a 21ft caravan down from Glendambo/ Kingoonya then on to Wudinna .
They do charge for the tracks we took on the lot , watch out for the massive wombat holes there mud map say's that are at the end of the track but are in fact they are off to the left just before.
Cheers Cliff ENJOY

Hi Stephen,
We did Mt Ive and The Gawler ranges 2 years ago. Stayed i night in the Gawler Ranges and drove most of the tracks. A great place to stay and visit. We eneded up staying 2 nights at Mt Ive swagging it part way around 2 station tracks. each track was around 30KM long Homestead to Homestead. Simple but nice tracks to drive. Plenty of roos, goats and emus to see and around the $20 mark a night for the stay which included the track and key to get through to Lake Gairdner which was also a great place to visit. I would definitley do both places again. Actually called through Mt Ive 4 months ago on our return trip from the Finke desert race to get enough juice to get us through to Pt Augusta. Didn't think the diesel cost was too outrageous (can't remember what it was per litre)