Gawler Ranges National Park
Scrubby Peak Campground in the Gawler Ranges National Park will be closed until 9 March 2024 due to elevated feral bee activity. Details
Gawler Ranges National Park will be closed from 26/10/2024 until 01/11/2024 for public safety while a pest animal control program is undertaken. Details
Please note there are currently bees throughout Gawler Ranges National Park, please take caution when in the area. Details
More information
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The Gawler Ranges National Park is a special place where history, conservation and Aboriginal culture come together. Proclaimed as a national park in 2002, the landscape teems with wildlife and protects rare and threatened plants and animals, including crimson mallee and the yellow-footed rock-wallaby.
The park is famous for the magnificent Organ Pipes, formed over 1500 million years ago as a result of volcanic eruptions. You can find equally stunning rocky outcrops at Yandinga Falls and Kolay Mirica Falls.
Open daily.
Closures and safety
This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may also be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.
You can determine the current fire danger rating by checking the Fire Ban District map on the CFS website.
Check the CFS website or call the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline 1800 362 361 for:
- Information on fire bans and current fire conditions
- Current CFS warnings and incidents
- Information on what to do in the event of a fire.
Listen to your local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety.
Visitor information, bookings and park management:
Gawler Ranges National Park National Parks and Wildlife Service Office
Phone: (+61 8) 8648 1883
Email: EPParks@sa.gov.au
Emergency contacts:
Medical, fire (including bushfire) and police emergency situations
Phone: Triple Zero — 000
Police Assistance
Phone: 131 444 for non-urgent police assistance
National Parks and Wildlife Service SA – After-hours duty officer
Phone: 08 8688 3223
Injured wildlife:
Within the park
Please contact Gawler Ranges National Park National Parks and Wildlife Service Office on (08) 8648 1883 or the after-hours duty officer on (08) 8688 3223
Outside of the park
Please contact a local wildlife rescue group
In late autumn and winter the park is green and cool, perfect for campfires and bushwalks. After rain, the creeks flow and most pools are alive with aquatic life. From late winter into spring, the park teems with wildflowers in incredible shapes, sizes and colours.
In spring, you can see the brilliant flowers of our local crimson mallee, and the plains are carpeted with native grasses and bluebush. Summer can be very hot, but if you’re prepared to work around the weather you’ll have calm days, extraordinary sunsets, and clear views of the starry nights.
A 4WD is recommended to enjoy all of the highlights of the park, although in dry weather much of the park can be accessed by high clearance 2WD.
Gawler Ranges National Park is located in South Australia’s spectacular southern Gawler Ranges, approximately six hours drive northwest from Adelaide. The park is 40km north of the Eyre Highway and road access is from Iron Knob, Kimba, Wudinna or Minnipa. The Gawler Ranges are a great stopover for travellers crossing the Eyre Peninsula en route to Perth.
Dogs are not permitted in this park.
Discover which parks you can walk your dog in on our find a park tool or read 12 dog-friendly walks in Adelaide Parks by Good Living for inspiration.
Assistance dogs are permitted in most public places and are therefore welcome in South Australia’s parks and reserves. Assistance dogs must be appropriately restrained on a lead and remain under your effective control at all times while in a park or reserve.
As per the dogs in parks and reserves policy, if the dog is not an accredited assistance dog, they must be trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate that disability and meet standards of hygiene and behaviour appropriate for a dog in a public place. However, refusal may be given if the person with the disability is unable to produce evidence the dog is an assistance dog with the appropriate training.
Before taking your assistance dog into a park that does not normally allow dogs, it is highly recommended that you contact us so we can provide you with the latest information on any potential hazards within specific parks that may affect your dog. Please contact the park via the contact details provided under the contact tab or contact the visitor service centre via email or on Facebook.
All campsites have toilets. Campfires and generators are allowed however you need to bring your own firewood and drinking water.
- Read about the Top five things to see in the Gawler Ranges National Park on the Good Living blog.
- Explore what other nature and outdoor activities are available in this area on the South Australia Tourism website.
- Mobile phone coverage can be patchy and unreliable in this park, especially if you are in low-lying areas.
- Telstra mobile phone reception is available at the Paney Park Headquarters Office and the Paney Shearing Shed.
- Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Dead wood plays a vital role in providing shelter for animals and adding nutrients to the soil.
The Gawler Ranges People are recognised as the traditional owners of this Country, attaining native title in 2011. The Gawler Ranges people are a distinct group of foundation families made up of some, but not all, the Barngarla, Kokatha and Wirangu People. This Country was and continues to be important to the laws, customs and cultural identity of the Gawler Ranges People. The Traditional Owners ask that you respect their culture and this ancient landscape.
Plants
The Gawler Ranges is the middle ground between southern mallee country and the arid zone to the north of South Australia. There are over 400 different plant species in the park and many are at the extreme of their geographical distribution. Others are found nowhere else, such as the Gawler Ranges Hop Bush and the Gawler Ranges Grevillea.
Animals
The Gawler Ranges is a haven for brightly-coloured wildlife such as the Australian ringneck parrot and superb fairy-wren. There are many rare and threatened animals in the park, including Australia’s only protected population of the short-tailed grass wren. This shy creature lives on hilltops, ridges and slopes, relying on spiny shrubs and bushes for protection from predators.
If you move about the park quietly and keep your binoculars handy, you may be rewarded with a glimpse of a yellow-footed rock-wallaby, a southern hairy-nosed wombat, a central long-eared bat, or a major mitchell cockatoo. In the afternoons it is common to see sand goannas crossing the tracks as they head about their business.
Flora and fauna species lists
To download flora (plants) and fauna (animals) species lists for this park, use the ‘Create Simple Species List’ tab under ‘Flora Tools’ or ‘Fauna Tools’ in NatureMaps.
Many local farming families have strong connections to this park as their descendants first arrived in this region in the 1850s and eked out a living. Even while this land was used for farming, the Gawler Ranges People always maintained their cultural responsibilities, often employed on Paney Station as shearers, trappers and stockmen.
Paney Homestead, Old Paney Homestead and Pondanna Outstation are reminders of early station life and the enormous struggles met in this remote and variable country. These sites and relics are stark reminders of human hardship, conflict and survival. Pondanna Outstation has been restored by the Friends of Gawler Ranges and is available for short term stays. For more information and bookings please call +61 8 8680 2969
We have picked the brains of our park rangers to find out what they would recommend you see and do whilst visiting this park.
- Sitting around the campfire and sharing a meal or a drink and enjoying the remote tranquillity.
- Rolling out your swag or sleeping bag under the million stars that feel so close you could touch them.
- Walking in to the Organ Pipes to admire the most dramatic rock formations in the park, these are some of the largest volcanic rhyolite formations in the world.
- Counting the many different types of animals you encounter as you travel around the park. It’s not all kangaroos and emus here – keep an eye out for wombats, goannas and lizards too.
The open landscape of the Gawler Ranges lends itself to informal walking through the true wilderness of this grandiose landscape. There are many marked walking trails in the Park.
Other walks such as the Yandinga Five Falls walk, the Sturts Waterfall, Stone Dam, Shearers Lookout, Old Paney Heritage trail, Policemans Point, Mirica Falls and others offer a full range of walking opportunities for all age levels and fitness. These walks allow visitors to explore some of the parks most spectacular sites.
We recommend downloading the Avenza PDF map for geo-enabled park maps along with the park information brochure on your mobile. Please wear clothing appropriate for the weather conditions. Sturdy shoes, long pants, a long sleeved shirt and a hat are the recommended minimum.
Moderate hikes
Organ Pipes Walk (1 hour)
Requires a reasonable level of fitness as there are some loose rocks and slippery sections. The walk takes you through open eucalypt woodland to a magnificent natural amphitheatre surrounded by ancient rock formations
Waganny Campground Trail (1 hr 30 mins)
Takes you on an easy to moderate walk through woodlands and grasslands to a spectacular rocky outcrop with magnificent 180 degree views.
Pitch a tent amid rocky gorges and valleys, at the foot of a granite hill, or on a grassy plain at one of our six campgrounds. Relax under the stars at night and wake to the sound of birdsong, and the fragrant scent of the Australian bush.
Three of our campgrounds are accessible by high clearance 2WD in good weather, and Scrubby Peak, Waganny and Yandinga are also suitable for caravans and camper trailers in dry weather.
Fees and booking
Camping fees apply and must be paid before you arrive.
Camping
Chillunie campground
Suitable for: camper trailer or tent
Located at the base of Mt Fairfield, this campground is only accessible to 4WD vehicles. A toilet facility is available and camp sites are unallocated. Come prepared to be self-sufficient as you will need to take drinking water with you.
Kolay Hut campground
Suitable for: camper trailer or tent
Offering views of Mt Fairfield, this campground is only accessible to 4WD vehicles. A toilet facility is available and camp sites are unallocated. Come prepared to be self-sufficient as you will need to take drinking water with you.
Mattera campground
Suitable for: camper trailer or tent
Located in an open valley surrounded by hills, this campground is only accessible to 4WD vehicles. A toilet facility is available and camp sites are unallocated. Come prepared to be self-sufficient as you will need to take drinking water with you.
Scrubby Peak campground
Suitable for: caravan, camper trailer or tent
Spacious campground set amongst the mallee which is accessible for high clearance 2WD in good weather only. A toilet facility is available and camp sites are unallocated. Come prepared to be self-sufficient as you will need to take drinking water with you.
Waganny campground
Suitable for: caravan, camper trailer or tent
This campground offers Great views to the Blue Sturts. Accessible for high clearance 2WD in good weather only. A toilet facility is available and camp sites are unallocated. Come prepared to be self-sufficient as you will need to take drinking water with you.
Yandinga campground
Suitable for: caravan, camper trailer or tent
Nestled in a gully, this campground is accessible for high clearance 2WD in good weather only. A Toilet facility is available and camp sites are unallocated. Come prepared to be self-sufficient as you will need to take drinking water with you.
Accommodation
Pondanna Outstation
Pondanna Outstation has been restored by the Friends of Gawler Ranges and is available for short term stays. Call now for more information and to book your stay.
Phone: 0437 586 725
You can ride your bike on public roads and any specific cycling trails and tracks on offer in this park.
Please obey signs and use the trail classifications and descriptions, where available, to select trails suitable to your ability. Many trails are shared, so always keep an eye out for others. Generally, cyclists give way to pedestrians. Please be considerate of all trail users at all times.
Learn more about cycling in SA’s parks, including other parks offering cycle tracks, trail classification and read the trail user code of practice for important points to remember when planning your bike ride.
Although the best way to explore this magnificent park is in a 4WD, in good weather you can visit much of the park in a high clearance 2WD. You’ll see lots of wildlife on the tracks so look out for emus and kangaroos, especially at sunrise and sunset.
Take the drive out to Conical Hill, the views out over ancient sand dunes are stunning.
Want to help?
To find out how you can help in this park or nearby, please visit Natural Resources Eyre Peninsula – Volunteering.
Want to join others and become a Park Friend?
To find out more about Friends of Parks groups please visit Friends of Parks South Australia.
You could join others to help look after a park. You can take part in working bees, training and other events.
Become a Campground Host
Combine your love of camping with doing a good deed by becoming a volunteer campground host in this park.
A campground host is a volunteer who stays at the park either for a specific peak period, like the Easter break or a long weekend, or an extended period of time (up to a few months) to support park rangers.
If you are passionate about the environment, a keen camper, like to meet people from all around the world, and are a happy to help, then hosting could be right up your alley.
Become a Caretaker Host
Combine your love of camping with doing a good deed by becoming a volunteer caretaker host in this park.
A caretaker host is a volunteer who stays at the park for a specific period, usually between 2 to 6 months, to support park rangers with maintenance and other activities such as flora and fauna surveys.
If you are passionate about the environment, a keen camper, like to meet people from all around the world, and are a happy to help, then hosting could be right up your alley.
The international Trail Users Code of Conduct is to show respect and courtesy towards other trail users at all times.
Ensure that you:
- when hiking, wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen
- be aware of weather conditions and avoid walking during the hottest part of the day
- make sure you have appropriate weather proof clothing
- carry enough water to be self-sufficient
- please be respectful of other users at all times
- stay on the designated trails and connector tracks for your own safety, and prevent the spread of declared weeds to other areas in the park
- ensure someone knows your approximate location and expected time of return
- take appropriate maps.
- Walk, hike or trek — what’s the difference?
When camping in a National Park, it’s important to remember the following:
- Always let someone responsible know your travel plans, especially when travelling in remote areas. It’s a good idea to let them know when you expect to return.
- Check the weather forecast before you leave, including overnight temperatures on the Bureau of Meteorology. Even during very mild weather, the nights can get very cold.
- The quality and quantity of water cannot be guaranteed within parks. Please bring plenty of water and food to be self-sufficient.
- Always camp in designated sites (where applicable) — do not camp beneath trees with overhanging branches, as they can drop without warning. It’s also a good idea to check that there are no insect nests nearby.
- Check to make sure you’re not camping in a natural waterway, flash floods can happen anytime.
- If camp fires are permitted, you must bring your own firewood, as the collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Extinguish your camp fire with water (not sand or dirt) until the hissing sound stops.
- Ensure that you are familiar with the fire restrictions for this park.
Can I have a fire or barbecue?
- Ensure you are familiar with the fire restrictions for this park.
- You must bring your own firewood, as the collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited.
- Gas fires and liquid fuel fires are permitted through the year, other than on days of total fire ban.
- Generators are permitted throughout the year, except on days of Total Fire Ban.
Closures and safety
This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may also be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.
You can determine the current fire danger rating by checking the Fire Ban District map on the CFS website.
Check the CFS website or call the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline 1800 362 361 for:
- Information on fire bans and current fire conditions
- Current CFS warnings and incidents
- Information on what to do in the event of a fire.
Listen to your local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety.
When 4WDriving in the park, it is important to be aware of the following:
- Standard road rules apply when driving anywhere in the park, including the laws for speed limits, drink driving, vehicle registration and seat belts.
- Take extreme care when driving in the park – be aware of blind corners, crests and narrow two-way tracks.
- Observe all track and safety signs, especially ‘No public access’ signs.
- Do not take your vehicle off the designated tracks. Wildlife can be threatened and precious habitat and indigenous sites can be damaged by off track driving.
- Make sure you know what to do in the event of getting bogged and always carry a shovel.
- When driving on sand, deflate your tyres as appropriate for your vehicle. Don’t forget to reinflate your tyres to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure before leaving the park. Take care when lowering tyre pressure as there is risk you could roll the tyre off its rim. Also, remember that lower tyre pressure can mean a change in how the vehicle handles.
Public Access Routes (PARs)
- Public access routes are established under the Pastoral Land Management and Conservation Act 1989 to provide public access over pastoral land without the need for travellers to ask permission from the lessee.
- Public access routes are not roads or part of the formal road network. They are unimproved and unsurfaced dirt tracks intended to provide four wheel drive access in dry conditions only
- For further information see — Public access routes to pastoral land in South Australia.
Every national park is different, each has its own unique environment, it is important to be responsible while enjoying all the park has to offer.
Please ensure that you:
- leave your pets at home
- do not feed birds or other animals, it promotes aggressive behaviour and an unbalanced ecology
- do not bring generators (except where permitted), chainsaws or firearms into the park
- leave the park as you found it — there are no bins in national parks, please come prepared to take your rubbish with you.
- abide by the road rules (maintain the speed limit)
- respect geological and heritage sites
- do not remove native plants
- are considerate of other park users.
- Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Dead wood plays a vital role in providing shelter for animals and adding nutrients to the soil.
Park maps
Campground maps
- Gawler Ranges National Park — Chillunie campground map (pdf)
- Gawler Ranges National Park — Kolay hut campground map (pdf)
- Gawler Ranges National Park — Mattera campground map (pdf)
- Gawler Ranges National Park — Scrubby peak campground map (pdf)
- Gawler Ranges National Park — Waganny campground map (pdf)
- Gawler Ranges National Park — Yandinga campground map (pdf)
Maps on your mobile
If you have a smartphone or tablet you can download the free Avenza Map app and have interactive national park maps on hand when you need them.
The app uses your device’s built-in GPS to plot your real-time location within the park onto a map. The app can be used without a network connection and without roaming charges. You can also measure area and distance, plot photos and drop placemark pins.
How to get it working on your device:
1. Download the Avenza Maps app from the app store (iOS/Android) whilst you are still in range (its free!).
2. Open up the app and click the shopping cart icon.
3. Click ‘Find’ and type the name of the national park or reserve you are looking for.
4. Click on the map you are after and install it (all our maps are free).
5. You will now find a list of your installed maps on the home page of the Avenza Maps app.
6. Use our maps through the Avenza Mapa app while in the park and never take a wrong turn again.
Day entry
Please pay vehicle entry before you arrive.
Book and pay in person
If you are unable to book and pay online you can do so, in person, at these booking agents across the state.
For online bookings enquiries please email:
Camping fees apply and must be paid before you arrive.
Book and pay in person
If you are unable to book and pay online you can do so, in person, at these booking agents across the state.
For online bookings enquiries please email:
If you intend to visit often, you may like to purchase any of the below park passes.
12 month vehicle entry for a single park
Is this your favourite park? If you visit more than five times a year, it’s more economical to purchase a 12 month vehicle entry for a single park pass.
- Buy a 12 month vehicle entry for single park pass now
- Buy in person at a Park Pass outlet
- Park Passes FAQs
2 and 12 month vehicle entry for multiple parks pass
Are you wanting to explore a number of SA’s national parks? Purchasing a 2 or 12 month vehicle entry for multiple parks pass can offer you value for money and convenience.
The 2 and 12 month vehicle entry for multiple parks pass entitle you to vehicle entry for not just this park, but up to an additional 10 parks as well!
There are no other fees or permits associated with this park.
