The Gawler Ranges, located at the northern end of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, are a rugged landscape of ancient volcanic hills and deep gorges, offering a profound sense of outback wilderness. Formed by massive volcanic eruptions over 1.5 billion years ago, the ranges are renowned for their unique geology, most notably the spectacular organ-pipe-like rhyolite columns that are a key feature of the Gawler Ranges National Park.
This remote and dramatic scenery is rich in Aboriginal history, being the traditional land of the Barngarla, Kokatha, and Wirangu peoples, and also bears the marks of early European pastoral settlement, with historic sites like the Old Paney Homestead providing a glimpse into the region’s tough pioneering past.
Within the Gawler Ranges National Park, proclaimed in 2002, visitors can explore a diverse and resilient ecosystem. The park is a sanctuary for a wide array of wildlife, including populations of yellow-footed rock-wallabies, southern hairy-nosed wombats, and numerous bird species like the Major Mitchell’s cockatoo. Key attractions such as the Organ Pipes, Kolay Mirica Falls, and the vast salt pans of Lake Gairdner draw photographers and nature lovers alike.
