Gawler Ranges

Our trip to the Gawler Ranges began with us travelling through the heart of the Eyre Peninsular passing through the small town of Lock. We joined the Eyre highway at Kyancutta and paused in the town of Wudinna for lunch. Then it was on to Minnipa for an overnight stay. The next morning saw us take the shortest daily leg of our journey, just 16Km, to Pildappa Rock, a sort of small version of wave rock. Here we stayed overnight and spent the cooler afternoon and the next morning walking around and climbing over the rock. The surroundings are picturesque and the views spectacular, however we were almost driven insane by the March Flies. At any time you could have up to a dozen or more on you searching for any exposed skin to bite and, even biting you through your clothing. The number and ferocity of the March Flies was the worst we had ever seen, ever!!

Leaving the rock behind we travelled through the Gawler Ranges National Park passing Yardea station and Poldanna ruins before arriving at Mt. Ive Station for our four day stay. Mt. Ive is situated in the eastern Gawler Ranges and was established in the late 1800's. This very large sheep property has a boundary along the south eastern side of Lake Gairdner and is one of only two access points to the lake. After paying our $25 fee at Mt. Ive we set off with the 'Mud Map' and access key to go exploring out to the lake. On the way we passed many points of interest like old stock yards and a stone wall dam dating from 1892. Of most interest were the 'Organ Pipes',

an outcrop of Rhyolite columns at a location known as "The Castle"

A visit to the lake was, of course, the highlight and even though we knew what to expect nothing could prepare you for the dazzling brilliance of this 110Km. long expanse of pure white salt. The salt crust is rock-hard and in places is said to be more than 1 metre thick and is the location of many film and fashion shoots. Another regular feature at the lake are the dry lake races and time trials. Many land speed records have been attempted and some even set at this very remote location. Upon leaving Mt. Ive we travelled back to join the sealed road at Kimba the town that is half-way across Australia. In all we had travelled well over 300Km. on some sometimes rough, but always very dusty, unsealed roads. However it was an experience we enjoyed immensely and are very glad we went off 'the beaten track' to see these remote and unspoiled locations.