Australia's Ancient Himalayan Size Mountain Range: The Petermann Ranges

Australia's Ancient Himalayan Size Mountain Range: The Petermann Ranges

Hidden deep in Australia’s Red Centre, the Petermann Ranges are among the oldest mountain chains on Earth. Formed over 550 million years ago during the Petermann Orogeny, these rugged ranges tell the story of massive geological forces that once rivaled the Himalayas.

Unlike more familiar mountain belts, the Petermann Ranges are remnants of an intra-continental collision—where central Australia buckled under pressure from opposing landmasses. Today, these low-slung yet striking ranges offer a rare glimpse into Proterozoic tectonics, metamorphic belts, and some of the oldest exposed rocks on the continent.

Geology enthusiasts visiting this region will find ancient gneisses, granulites, and evidence of intense crustal uplift, all surrounded by sweeping desert landscapes.

Cape Hauy: A Geological Wonder in Tasmania

Cape Hauy: A Geological Wonder in Tasmania

Jutting out into the Tasman Sea like the jagged spine of a prehistoric creature, Cape Hauy (pronounced hoy) is a geological marvel on the Tasman Peninsula. The cape’s signature vertical dolerite columns rise abruptly from the ocean, forming some of the tallest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere. These striking formations are remnants of Jurassic-aged dolerite intrusions that cooled slowly beneath the Earth’s surface and were later exposed by relentless coastal erosion.

Cape Hauy is part of the larger Tasman National Park, which also includes the famed Three Capes Track—a multi-day hike that offers panoramic views of sea stacks like the Candlestick and Totem Pole, two iconic dolerite pillars prized by climbers. This coastline isn’t just visually breathtaking—it also tells a dramatic story of Australia's deep-time volcanic activity and the slow sculpting power of the Southern Ocean.

Translation missing: en.general.search.loading