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.
How to Use this Trek Note
If you'd like to download this Trek there are two options:
- purchase our app ExplorOz Traveller. This will allow you to download all the ExplorOz Trek Notes to your GPS enabled smartphone/tablet/iPad or laptop and enable active route guidance along the route we provide as per the Directions. The app also allows you to edit/customise the route. In the app you will get all the words, images and POIs for each Trek exactly as on the website (excludes Wildflowers). For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage.
- Alternatively, if you already have another mapping software program (or an HN7 device) you can try downloading the data files we provide via the Download Trek button at the top of this page (or purchase EOTreks Route Files). Be aware that this doesn't include maps or text just the route line.
TIP | To purchase our maps for offline use, you will need to purchase an EOTopo map licence (available either in App Version, or Raster Version). |
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.