Gawler Ranges

The Gawler Ranges are a range of stoney hills in South Australia to the north of Eyre Peninsula. The Eyre Highway skirts the south of the ranges. The Gawler Ranges National Park and Gawler Ranges Conservation Reserve are in the ranges north of Wudinna. The ranges are covered by the Gawler Ranges Native Title Claim.

The ranges were formed by volcanic activity nearly 1.5 billion years ago: the volcanic activity resulted in a larva field, rather than volcanoes. The highest point is Nukey Bluff at 465 m above sea level. The ranges are a small part of the Gawler Craton which is a craton rich in mineral resources, although many are only recently discovered and not yet fully exploited. Bornhardts dominate the landscape. There are some 140 species of birds in the Gawler Ranges, including the Emu, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Major Mitchell's Cockatoo and Singing Honeyeater.