Remarkable Rocks on Kangaroo Island: Lisa views this natural icon on the rugged coastline of the Kangaroo Island region of South Australia

Kangaroo Island is a place of contrasts and if you're a keen photographer there are a few essential snaps you just have to get when you visit. The local wildlife is a must and there is no shortage of man-made landmarks like the various lighthouses. And then there are the natural icons like the sweeping beaches, rugged coastline. That includes spectacular Admirals Arch in Flinders Chase National Park.

But the natural wonders don't end with Admirals Arch. Just a short distance away on the other side of the bay lies Remarkable Rocks - one of Kangaroo Island's most photographed geological marvels - dating back half a billion years.

It's a strange collection of bizarrely shaped rocks, perched on a single dome of granite. Local ranger, Cassie Hlava tells us this massive geological oddity began 10 kilometres underground.

Cassie Hlava, Ranger: "The granite was formed probably about 500 million years ago when molten rock started rising to the earth's surface. Over millions of years this rock began to cool and the slow cooling of the rock formed the granite."

Eons of geological tom-foolery later - involving lots of uplifting and erosion means the granite that was once 10 kilometres below the surface is now exposed.

Cassie: "This is the point where the molten rock rose up - so it's the highest point in the landscape. So this is the bit that would have been exposed first and gradually, the over-lying rock was eroded away, water seeped down into the cracks in the granite and eventually, about 200-million years ago this surface was finally opened to the open air."

A few more million years of weathering later and we have this remarkable landmark. And the show isn't over yet with the wind and rain continuing to sculpt and mould the giant slabs of rock… with some help.

Cassie "The orange colour on the rocks is lichen. It also creates a soil that is slowly eating the rocks away."

The landmark resembling a pile of broken rust encrusted crockery continues to be a top spot for a holiday snap or two. Like a lot of Kangaroo Island you never quite know what you'll see. When we were filming our Postcards story, a prehistoric looking goanna looked quite at home among the aptly named Remarkable Rocks. You'll find them within Flinders Chase National Park on the western ends of Kangaroo Island. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Remarkable Rocks
Flinders Chase
NP Entry fee applies

Published 18th July 2010