Gawler Ranges National Park

Gawler Ranges National Park is a Template:Convert protected area lying Template:Convert north-west of Adelaide in the northern Eyre Peninsula of South Australia. It is known for its spectacular rock formations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The national park originated as the Template:Convert Paney Station pastoral lease, which was acquired in 2000 by the South Australian Government with assistance from the Australian Government. In 2001 some Template:Convert of the adjacent Scrubby Peak Station was acquired and added to the national park.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Access

The national park is Template:Convert north of Wudinna, Template:Convert north-east of Minnipa and is accessible using high ground clearance two wheel drive vehicles via the gravel roads from Kimba, Wudinna or Minnipa.<ref name="LeHunte">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="grnp">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="SA">Template:Cite web</ref>

Camping is permissible and encouraged at several campgrounds. Although some have toilets, there are minimal other facilities and visitors are encouraged to take adequate food, water, fuel and firewood with them.<ref name="LeHunte" />

Features

File:Chaine Gawler Australie.jpg

The Organ Pipes in the Gawler Ranges

Historic sites in the national park include the Old Paney Homestead, the Policemans Point precinct, Stone Dam, and Pondanna Outstation, where agriculture was attempted in the early 20th century. Notable landmarks are Paney Bluff, Mount Allalone, Mount Sturt, Conical Hill and Scrubby Peak. Other scenic sites are Kolay Mirica Falls, the Organ Pipes and Yandinga Gorge.

Environment

Some 21 rare and endangered animal and plant species including the yellow-footed rock-wallaby can be found in the national park.<ref name="birdata">Template:Cite web</ref> Another larger mammal is the southern hairy-nosed wombat.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some 140 species of birds have been recorded in the national park. The area covered by the national park has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports populations of the vulnerable malleefowl, the Gawler Ranges subspecies of the short-tailed grasswren, rufous treecreeper, blue-breasted fairy-wren, purple-gaped honeyeater and western yellow robin.<ref name="birdata"/>

See also

• Protected areas of South Australia
• Gawler (disambiguation)

External links

• Gawler Ranges National Park official webpage Template:Webarchive. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
• Friends of the Gawler Ranges National Park
• Gawler Ranges National Park webpage on protected planet