Flinders Ranges Mogurnda Fish

Mogurnda is a member of family Eleotridae- a family of fish that has 150 species and 35 genera. They are available in freshwaters and salty waters of New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii. It is known as bullies in New Zealand and called as sleepers or gudgeons in New Guinea and Australia. They are called sleepers because the variety of fishes stays still in the very bottom of the water to wait for prey. As soon as they spot their prey, they then catch the prey in avery quick motion. When Mogurndas or gudgeons stay in salt water in their larval stage, they are feed by plankton. Eventually they eat crustaceans, invertebrates, small fishes, and insects. They can be located in fresh water such as creeks, lakes, and streams. Rivers with brackish water can be their shelter too. They are mostly found in brackish or freshwater and other can be found in seas.

Mogurnda or sleepers are relatively small and have elongated body which size ranges from 3cm to 66 cm. A number of them have a thin rounded and smooth-edge scale while some have scales that look like a comb, usually rough in texture. They've got conical teeth. Some Mogurnda are colorful while others have dark colors such as dark brown.Female and male Mogurnda look the same, except when males change their color during the period of courtship, when they encounter same sex competitor and when they're leading their partner to the nest for spawning. Breeding period is reliable on its climate. Breeding is considered slower in colder regions that mostly happen two times in a year. They keep the egg in the very bottom of seawater floor. These fishes thrive in salt water for larval stage and finally shift to freshwater or brackish water when it matures. Small Mogurnda is said to have a life expectancy of two years.

Flinders Ranges Mogurnda is falls under types of Mogurnda Clivicola. The Mogurnda fishes have found a perfect sanctuary in its Flinders Rangers accommodation, dwelling throughout the muddy and rocky spring-fed pools and creeks of Vulkathunha Gammon Ranges National Park such as Bunyeroo, Brachina, Wilpena, Parachilna and Oratunga.In addition, they succeed in rocky streams along the valleys. The muddy Barcoo River and Bulloo River are their favorite site too.

The Flinders Ranges Gudgeon fishes have gray spots on its either blue or brown scales. There is a matching dark orange stripe from its tail going to its head. They have translucent two vertical fins at the back and rounded tail fin. Male Mogurndas create a different color, having orange spots displayed in the body going to its tail in spawning season that usually happens during summers. Their length could reaches 6 inches that is considered medium in comparison with other species seen in other countries.

The climate is Flinders Ranges attraction for the variety’s spawning. The females usually spawn over 20°C that they can lay a maximum of 800 eggs. The males are the ones securing the eggs until they hatch in a period of seven days. Newly hatch Mogurnda are 5mm in lenght and eat recently hatched shrimp.

Recently, the government of the region is attempting to keep the species since there have been a declining number of the fish in the rivers of Flinders Ranges. The variety of fishes continues to be one of Flinders Ranges attractions to researchers. The South Australian Research and Development Institute headed by Bryan Pierce try to supervise the fishes particularly in the Gammon Ranges National Park

Flinders Ranges Underground Accommodation

Underground accommodation might seem unfeasible or even unthinkable but the occupants of Coober Pedy prove that it is indeed possible. Coober Pedy is one of the city of Flinders Ranges. It's a dessert which is 846 kilometers north of the capital city of South Australia. The town has many titles, it is recognized as the opal capital and an underground town. Initially, underground excavation was not carried out for constructing homes underneath. It started out for the purpose of opal mining in 1951. Many pioneer opal miners began excavating underground to search for stones. Underground dugouts were extending and the miners had thought of staying underground.

Living underground occurred to the earlier miners for job convenience and to escape the town's very hot temperature. Coober Pedy is one of the hottest area in the planet. It gets up to 45 degrees celsius primarily in the months of November and March. Thus, residents do burrowing, they are cooling themselves underground, taking advantage of the 25 degrees temperature. Though the town’s weather seemed inhospitable to tourists, the natives exert effort to warmly welcome visitors to their town. There have been shops, churches, museums and even different types of accommodation that are built underground. Underground accommodations have been developed to leave a most remarkable impact to visitors among any other Flinders Ranges accommodations.

There are many underground accommodations such as motels, hotels, dormitories that can be found everywhere in the town. There are two accommodations found in Potch Gully Road known as Underground Bed and Breakfast and Comfort Inn Coober Pedy Experience. Underground Bed and Breakfast is a perfectly furnished place that has two bathrooms and three bedrooms. It also has a spacious cooking area and dining room wherein lodger can cook and eat continental foods. One more accommodation found in the street is Comfort Inn Coober Pedy Experience. It's a motel that features a room for a whole family. Each room has a queen size and single beds. Tourists have also access to dining room and lounge area. Situated in edge of the town is The Underground Motel in Catacomb Road. The motel provides standard rooms that could cater to a whole family. The motel is a non-smoking area where lodgers can rest well for of its tranquil surrounding.In the biggest Hutchison Street, one will find The Opal Cave that provides a dormitory style of accommodation. The lodging offers 4 large bunks per room, cooking facilities, tea, TV lounge, fridge, barbeque and an opal showroom. Four kilometers south of Coober Ped lies Down to Erth B&B in Wedgetail Crescent. It's a fully furnished apartment with two large bedrooms. The lodging has a barbeque facility and swimming pool.. They also provide continental meal. In the heart of Coober Pedy is Oliver Street, one will find Radeka Downunder that provides 61/2 meters underground dormitory rooms and 3 ½ meters underground motel rooms.

Among Flinders Ranges accommodation, underground accommodation may seem unlikely but tourists find it comfortable and exceptional. These lodging places are not just offering tourists the comfortable bed to sleep on and table to eat with but also lets visitors experience the life of the natives in dugouts.

Historical Mines of Coober Pedy

The city that is supplying 80% of the country’s mined opal can be found in Flinders Ranges. The city name is Coober Pedy- the opal capital worldwide. It's 846 km north of Adelaide and a home to 3,500 residents of different nationalities. Accordingly, there were few occupants in the place prior to the discovery of opal. Despite the ranging hot temperature, migrants in city kept their Flinders Ranges accommodation hoping to find fortune in opal mining. Mining started around 1915 when a four years old old boy found an opal in the place. Currently, opal mining is ongoing and the traditional mining places have been given great importance to the place. One will find 3 pioneering mining spots in the city namely The Old Timers Mine, Faye’s Underground Home and Opal Mine and Umoona Opal Mine and Museum

The Old Timers Mine was founded in 1916. It is among the Flinders Ranges attractions that become a part of South Australia’s award winning tourist attraction. The museum conveys much about the earlier mining field of the place. It exhibits underground houses of miners, information galleries, and collections of opal jewelry. The galleries describe how pioneer miners struggle to drill down for opals. There were sculptures of pioneer miners doing specific chores. On the list of sculpted old miners are Jim O´Neill, George Burford, Ben Mohr, Mick O´Reilly, Bob Trow, Carl Wills, Ron Gough and Minnie Berrington. The place features the gallery of Ron Gough who fathered opal mining in the city. Varieties of opals dug from the location are exhibited like the seam gray opal, the horizontal pocket of crystal opal, the pocket of potch and colour left by old miner, and also the opalized sea shells. One can also view the hand-made shaft, the walls manually dig by hand using the old digging tools, the dirt or mullock and backfilled shaft. The museum also houses the old equipments that were utilized in the mine such as cow buckets, windsocks that ventilated the mine, and windlass. The museum alsofacilitates an opal shop for tourists who wish to buy souvenirs.

Next to Old Timers Mine is Faye’s Underground Home and Opal Mine. Initially, it was a small hole resulted from an excavation for mining an opal. It later became a room for mail truck driver. In 1961, a woman named Faye Nayler who moved to the place as a cook acquired the area. She then improved the area with the help of two other women. The three women used shovels and pick to expand the space adding three bedrooms, kitchen, wine cellar and swimming pool. The property is well ventilated with shafts. There is needless to make use of air conditioners during daytime and heaters during nighttime for the underground house has a stable heat of 20-25 deg. The place is currently managed by Colin McClean and his wife. The McCleans opens the house to guests.

One will see Umoona Opal Mine and Museum in the main street of Coober Pedy. It shows opal cutting and polishing, genuine underground houses, South Australia fossil, wide range of opal jewelry for sale, postcards and souvenirs. One can view the 20-minute documentary of opal mining history in the place. Underground homes dug by hand and by machineries are also exhibited. There are also historic pictures exhibited in the area. There are also display of genuine ancient paintings and artifacts by local artists.

Be part of Coober Pedy’s opal mining history. Check out the underground museums of historical opal mining spots in the city. Furthermore, discover how the inhabitants reside underground by living in one of Flinders Rangers accommodations built underground.

Flinders Ranges Wilpena Pound

Wilpena Pound is the feature of Flinders Ranges. Many considered it as the most one of a kind geographical formation along Flinders Ranges because of its crater formation. It is located in the Southern Australia State, approximately 429 kilometers far from the capital city Adelaide. It is a 3-hour drive away from the capital city of South Australia. The country’s native wildlife and flora have found its excellent Flinders Ranges accommodation down the syncline sedimentary rock of Wilpena Pound.

Various names are connected with the Pound. The residents who once favored Flinders Ranges Accommodation within Wilpena pound refer to it as “meeting place” known as Ikara in their native dialect. The title Wilpena happens to be the recognized numenclature which means “place of bent fingers” depicting to its cup-hand form. Many names are also created for the mountain walls of the pound. Five mountains constituted the pound. The highest is St. Mary which is based on northeastern area with an elevation of 3842 ft. Contrary to it is the 3822 ft. Pompey's Pillar. Within the eastern part is Point Bonney of 3717 ft. Rawnsley's Bluff having an elevation of 3116 is the mountain wall in the southeastern side.

Wilpena Pound covers 8000 hectares of sedimentary rocks building a enormous amphitheater. Its width is 8 kilometers and with the height of 17 kilometers.. There are numerous theories pertaining to the creation of Wilpena Pound. For its crater form, some people believed that the area was once a volcano, hence developing a volcanic crater when it erupted. On the other hand, a few thought that the area was struck by a meteorite. However, the foremost acknowledged theory is the geologists' who speculated that the formation is caused by rock activities that began about 600 million years ago. The highest borders of the pound is reported to be constructed of quartzite rocks which are resilient to rock weathering.

Perennial grasses termed as common reeds and flowering sedges appealed so much on its in Flinders Ranges accommodation especially to the soaked and moistened soil of Wilpena Pound. Flowering plants including lilium or lilies, Proteaceae family called Spider Flower and genus of perennial shrubs Hibbertia also thrive the place. The most widespread flowering woodland trees that grow in the area are genus Eucalyptus just like gum tress and mallee. In the cliff of southeastern part of the pound grows cone-bearing seed tress known as Callitris and cypress pine trees. It is also a home to flowering shrub tress like the non-thorny Acacia and Casuarina.

Wildlife that preferred their Flinders Ranges accommodation has feasted the bountiful pound of Wilpena. Family of Macropodidae can be seen in the spot which include the biggest red kangaroo and the yellow-footed rock wallaby. The area is also commonly roamed by primitive canine named as Dingo which can be found only in the continent. It is also a home Australia’s native birds such as the 14-inch bird called Galah Cockatoo, the world’s second largest flightless bird named Emu and the prey of bird Eaglehawk. Several varieties of reptiles freely inhabit Flinders Ranges Wilpena Pound such as snakes and lizards.

To feature the remarkable geographical formation of Wilpena Pound, infastructurea have been launched to offer Flinders Ranges accommodation to travellers who wish to view the mysterious development of Wilpena Pound. In addition to Wilpena Pound’s mystical form, there are natural attractions in the pound that are pleasing to tourists.