Gawler Ranges to Lake Gairdner to Coober Pedy

Submitted: Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 11:54

ThreadID: 134524 Views:2861 Replies:7 FollowUps:7

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Kate J2

Hi All,
Running a trip through the Simpson (Mt. Dare to Birdsville) in June. Originating in Gippsland Vic and taking a large detour over to Pt. Lincoln first.
I am wondering if anyone has travelled straight up through the Gawler Ranges, stopping at Mt. Ive Station, onwards through Lake Gairdner Nat. Park and come out the other side around Pimba or Glendambo? Also reading that Kingoonya might be a place to come out at as well? Is this trip/track even possible? Or would it just be recommended that we back track from Pt. Lincoln to Pt. Augusta and continue upwards from there?
I haven't pulled out the old road maps of Australia yet (on account that Im at work, bored and decided I'd start doing some research lol) but am struggling to find online references or stories of anyone doing this route and was wondering if anyone had had a crack? And what kind of terrain and 4WD skill level we might be looking at ?
Cheers, Kate

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Reply By: Member - Rod N (QLD) - Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 12:48

Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 12:48

Turn off at Iron Knob to Mt Ive and then north to Kingoonya and then east to Glendambo. Those roads a pretty good dirt roads but of course subject to wet weather.
Click on the places links for maps etc.

AnswerID: 609624

Follow Up By: Kate J2 - Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 15:50

Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 15:50

Hi Rod, thanks for that.
We are wanting to go into the Gawler Ranges Nat. Park though for a look see, - do you suggest we go in, turn around and come back out to the A2 and then turn at Iron knob for Mt Ive?
What we are hoping to do is drive through Gawler Ranges come out the other side to Mt. Ive, to save back tracking.

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Reply By: Shaker - Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 13:15

Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 13:15

Mt Ive Station is great, they have their own access track to Lake Gairdner & also their own version of the Organ Pipes rock formation.
Look out for the submarine surfacing out of the red dirt!

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Follow Up By: Kate J2 - Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 15:51

Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 15:51

Would you not even bother with Gawler Ranges then?

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Follow Up By: Shaker - Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 16:11

Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 16:11

Yes, although I haven't done much there to be able to give you sound advice.

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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 13:28

Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 13:28

We first drove up the western side of Lake Gairdiner to Kingoonya on the way to Uluru was in 1970 in a Mini and we had no problems at all.
Each time we have been back there, the roads have been better than then..... :)

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

AnswerID: 609626

Reply By: wendys - Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 19:24

Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 19:24

We have driven Kingoonya to Mt Ive towing off road van, with no problems at all.
On our most recent visit to Mt Ive, used that as a base and - amongst other things - did a day trip down to the Gawler Ranges NP. Pleasant drive and a long day was enough for us to do all we wanted in the Park. There is enough at Mt Ive to occupy 3 or more days.

AnswerID: 609637

Reply By: Member - Greenleader 13 - Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 20:45

Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 20:45

Hi Kate J2
We went thru this area last August, roads are very good depending on weather of course.
Well worthwhile spending three or four days in and around Gawler rangers and Mount Ive station is a good spot, we went up the west side of Lake Gairdner and was great scenery to Kingoonya, turned right to Glendambo. We went further down the Sturt Hwy to turn off to Roxby Downs and continued thru to the Oodnadatta track from there.
All the best

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Reply By: Sigmund - Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 21:11

Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 21:11

The annual land speed attempts are held at Lake Gairdner on Mt Ive Station property. Otherwise camping is only possible there with permission of the Station. It's worth visiting at dawn or dusk in any case. The vista is quite remarkable. It's the 3rd biggest salt lake in the country AFAIK.

Was there a couple of years ago. The road to Mt Ive from the highway was OK. Had the standard corrugations you expect and some sandy patches.

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Reply By: Member - Murray R (VIC) - Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 22:25

Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 22:25

Kate
If you leave Pt Lincoln and make your way to Minipa on the Eyre Hwy you can go from there through the Gawler Ranges up to Yardea. If you have time a side trip to Pidalpa rock is worth while as it is a smaller verson of wave rock. It's just nth of Minipa and then there is the Organ Pipes in the ranges themselves. At yardea turn right which will take you to Mt Ive station. From Mt Ive station on the Kingoona road at Waltumbra Tank you can drive down a short track to the western side of Lake Gairdner. From Kingoona head to Glendambo. From Minipa to Glendambo the roads are good but subject to weather.
There are other ways to Mt Ive through the Gawler ranges that you can take if yuo have time.

Murray

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Follow Up By: Kate J2 - Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 23:59

Thursday, Mar 23, 2017 at 23:59

Thanks Murray! This has been a real help!

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Follow Up By: MUZBRY- Life member(Vic) - Friday, Mar 24, 2017 at 08:26

Friday, Mar 24, 2017 at 08:26

Gday
Murray is a good bloke .

Muzbry
Great place to be Mt Blue Rag 27/12/2012

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Follow Up By: Outback Epicurean - Sunday, Mar 26, 2017 at 16:05

Sunday, Mar 26, 2017 at 16:05

hi
Spent time at Mt Ive and Gawler Ranges NP last September. Great places to visit and good camping areas. Especially like the relatively freeform camping in the NP compared to regimented sudtems elsewhere. Some interesting drives at both locations. Good gorges and historic locations. Spent 3 days at each. Roads all v good and should have no trouble going from Glendambo to Iron Knob.

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