Chambers Gorge in the Flinders Ranges is well known for its aboriginal petroglyphs. It’s less well known, though, for this surprise canyon which can be found about an hour’s walk further along the gorge. The canyon narrows further along.

En route to the Monarch Mine in the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park, South Australia, we pass by many dry creek beds and waterholes. It hasn’t rained much to speak of in 8 months and the local fauna are suffering for it. They stick close by those places that do have water – in some cases the animals are digging to get to the water that’s below the surface gravel.

Do you see that small black shadow in the centre of the photograph? Imagine a very small open cut mine. The shadow is at the rear of the pit. That’s the Monarch Mine in the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park, South Australia.

The mine was worked in the 1890’s when copper ore was extracted.