Discovering South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula through wildlife and natural history tour
Last updated 1/5/2010 5:33:02 PM
Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safaris adheres to the ‘leave only footprints, take only photos and memories’ philosophy, so tour groups are small, between two and six people travel in luxury four wheel drive, air-conditioned vehicles.
Run by a passionate team of South Australians who have lived in the Outback most of their lives, Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safaris has specialised in customised wildlife and natural history tours for over two decades.
Based 600 kms north west of Adelaide on the Eyre Peninsula, itself the size of Tasmania, they focus predominantly on the Gawler Ranges and the immediate coastline.
Their base camp, located at Kangaluna near Wudinna, is set in a unique bush location on the edge of Gawler Ranges National Park.
Cloudless, pollution-free skies provide the ideal spot for wildlife spotting, nature viewing, star gazing and planet spotting.
Accommodation at Kangaluna Camp is provided in large 7x5-metre luxury tents. The curved roof collects rainwater and circulates a cooling breeze.
The diverse terrain of the Ranges comprises arid, semi-desert and volcanic landscapes complete with spectacular gorges and rocky outcrops, gibber plains, vast salt lakes, dunes and Aboriginal rock art.
It is transformed into a blanket of wild flowers in the spring and boasts over 100 species of birds, plus an abundance of kangaroo (three species), emu and wombat populations.
Visitors can see southern hairy nosed wombats between March and October. At Baird Bay they can also see sea lion pups and doiphins.
Other highlights include vast Lake Gairdner with its glistening white salt pan set in the red landscape; the chance to watch endangered southern right whales from the top of spectacular Bunda Cliffs at the Head of the Great Australian Bight; going in search of wedge tailed eagles or rare yellow foot rock wallabies; and visiting unusual volcanic rock formations dating back 1,500 million years.
Geoff Scholz, founder, owner, chief guide and head chef, is himself an accomplished photographer and as such is particularly experienced at helping photographers and film makers get the best shots, whether it be a wildlife portrait or a stunning sunrise or sunset landscape shot.
The best time to travel with Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safaris is between October and May.
www.gawlerrangessafaris.com
www.southaustralia.com