Rawnsley Park area, one of several pages on the Flinders Ranges

Gum trees on the early morning of 2021/05/06. They are on the creek that runs past the Rawnsley Park camping ground toward Kangaroo Gap in the Ulowdna Range. I was told that the water in the creek was released from the reservoir, but that such releases had now stopped because the reservoir level was getting too low. We saw practically no open water anywhere in the Flinders Ranges on our May 2021 visit.

Looking toward the south; the central part of the caravan park in the early morning. Kangaroo Gap, where the creek passes through the Ulowdna Range, is on the left.

Looking toward the southeast; Rawnsley Eco Villas in the middle distance and the Chase Range in the distance. These three photos were taken from about 120 metres above ground level, the highest that a drone can legally fly. Looking toward the southwest; the non-powered camping sites are on the left, the nearly empty dam on the right, the Ulowdna Range in the middle distance and the Elder Range in the distance. Home Top Index Rawnsley Park, August 2015 The photo on the right was taken late on 2015/08/24 probably from Twidale Top at the foot of Rawnsley Bluff. Unlike Wilpena, Rawnsley Park is outside of the Flinders Ranges National Park so dogs are allowed. Dogs are also welcome at the Rawnsley Park camping area. The sun rising east of Rawnsley Bluff photographed from the Ulowdna Range near Rawnsley Park camping ground, 2015/08/25. Home Top Index

From the top of the Ulowdna Range near Rawnsley Park camping ground looking roughly south. Taken during an early morning walk on 2015/08/25.

Looking south from the Ullowdna Range again, 2015/08/25. Callitris trees in the foreground. Home Top Index

The main water supply dam near Rawnsley Park camping ground; Wilpena Pound in the background. This photo taken 2015/08/25. I think the dam has been dry most of the time from sometime after this to the time of a substantial rain in June 2019. Another rain at the beginning of February 2020 put a lot of water into the dam.

Rawnsley Bluff in the distance on the right, Twidale Top in the sunlight middle distance. The photo was taken from a little way up the Ulowdna Range, near Rawnsley Park, 2007/07/23. As of the time of writing a map of the area was available from the Rawnsley Park Internet site.

This view of the south-west wall of Wilpena Pound can be seen from the Ulowdna Range near Rawnsley Park. The photo was taken from near Rawnsley Park, 2007/07/22.

Walking the dog on the Ulowdna Range, near Rawnsley Park, 2007/07/22. Dogs are welcome in the Rawnsley caravan park, they are not allowed in the nearby Flinders Ranges National Park. Note the healthy stand of Callitris trees. 13 years later many of the Callitris through the ranges were not looking anywhere near so healthy. In the distance, on the right, is the south-western wall of Wilpena Pound. The flat-topped hill in the centre middle-distance is geologically similar to Twidale Top. Home Top Index Ferntree Falls only has water flowing over it soon after rain but it is well worth the few kilometre walk from the car park to see the multi-coloured rock face. A view to the south from the Ulowdna Range(?), 2007/07/24. As I recall the photo was taken from one of the excellent walking trails on Rawnsley Park Station. Home Top Index On Arkaba Creek, east of Rawnsley Park, in the early morning, 2008/09/20

Not surprisingly the river red gum trees grow at their best along creeks and rivers. Arkaba Creek is crossed on the way into Rawnsley Park from the main Hawker-Wilpena road. Here Rawnsley Bluff is catching the early morning sun, which is also just hitting the tree tops along the creek bed. At times of the bigger rains the creek crossing can be closed for several days.

Another red gum in Arkaba Creek, a little later the same morning (2008/09/20) and looking in roughly the same direction as the previous photo. Notice how the Callitris (native cypress-pine) trees have had all their foliage eaten off within reach of kangaroos and sheep.

A wide angle (16mm focal length in 35mm camera equivalent) view of Rawnsley Bluff from Arkaba Creek.

Rawnsley Bluff and trail The usual way of climbing Rawnsley Bluff is to follow the trail from the car park near Twidale Top, near Rawnsley Park. It is a steep and long climb, although not so long as the one up Saint Mary's Peak (which everyone should do before they die). One of the many photogenic views along the trail, 2008/09/20. Druid Range in the distance? Home Top Index

Part way up Rawnsley Bluff, looking back toward the Elder Range; the wall of Wilpena Pound on the right. Typical vegetation, mallees, Callitris, and shrubs (possibly Dodonia and Senna).

On the rim of the Wilpena Pound. The small valley right of centre leads into the Pound itself. The distant saddle is where Edeowie Gorge leads out of the north-western end of the Pound toward Lake Torrens (which might just be visible in the far distance on the left on a clear day).

Rock formations on the top of Rawnsley Bluff, 2008/09/20.

The cliffs below Rawnsley Bluff

Looking toward the south from near the top of the Bluff(?). I think that it is the road from the main Hawker-Wilpena road into Rawnsley Park that is visible in the middle distance. If this is right then it is the Ulowdna Range just beyond the road.

A view from on top, or near the top, of Rawnsley Park.

From the Rawnsley Park trail; the Elder Range in the distance.

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Sunset from Rawnsley Station Lookout Station Lookout is within easy walking distance from Rawnsley Caravan Park. It's a good place to go and watch the sun go down. The western section of Wilpena Pound is in the background, the highest point being Pompey Pillar. Also from Rawnsley Station Lookout, this time looking toward Rawnsley Bluff at the southeastern end of the Pound. One of the more healthy of the Callitris trees in the foreground; many in the area were far from healthy. The Rawnsley Park people had attempted to plant perhaps thirty or so trees around the lookout, with very little success. Moralana Creek area Drone photo taken from near the eastern end of the Moralana Creek road, 2021/05/05. Wilpena Pound in the background. The next photo was taken from very nearby.

Moralana Creek
Another drone photo, 2021/05/05. This time looking toward the Elder Range.

I have no doubt that this windmill is used by many photographers as a bit of foreground interest to add to the beautiful view of Wilpena Pound from the western end of the Moralana Creek road.

Also seen near the western end of the Moralana Creek road, 2007/07/24. Callitris wood is often used for fence posts in the Flinders Ranges; it is unpalatable to termites and long lasting.

Black's Gap; off the Moralana road A seedling Callitris tree in the bed of Bunbinyunna creek that passes through Black's Gap. Callitris are very slow growing, but remarkably hardy. Home Top Index I have visited Black's Gap many times over the past fifty years. I believe that this is the first time that I have found absolutely no water there; it has been a very reliable watering point. The Heysen Trail runs along this section of the creek bed. Note the dead tree trunk on the right and the brown material in the hollow top section. This is a termite nest; shown in more detail in the next image. This is the top section of the dead tree shown in the previous photo. I don't think I've ever noticed a termite nest so far above the ground before. The material on the ground beneath the tree confirmed that it was a termite nest.

Bunbinyunna creek in Black's Gap. Just a bit of explanation; the possessive 's' was officially dropped from place names in South Australia several decades ago. So Black's Gap should more accurately be Black Gap. I've retained the possessive 's' to suggest that the Gap was named for a Mister Black and not because someone thought it was black in colour. On another page I've referred to Saint Mary Peak; to me it will probably always sound better as it was, Saint Mary's Peak.

Ripple rock An unusually fresh, uneroded, piece of ripple-rock. This piece of rock was once sand on a beach not far away 600 million years ago. It is on the side of Bunbinyunna creek bed.

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The road into Black's Gap passes along a low section of the Bunbinyunna Range at one point. The views from this section are worth a few photos. The more northerly part of the Elder Range is on the left.

Looking south toward the Elder Range from the road on Bunbinyunna Range.