Cleland Conservation Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cleland Conservation ParkSouth Australia |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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Entrance to the park
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 Cleland Conservation Park
Location in South Australia
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| Nearest town or city | Adelaide city centre |
| Established | 1 January 1945 |
| Area | 11.25 km2 (4.3 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Department for Environment and Water |
| Website | Cleland Conservation Park |
| See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
Cleland Conservation Park is a special protected area in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. It's about 22 kilometers south-east of Adelaide city centre. This park helps protect a large area of natural bushland.
It also includes the very popular Cleland Wildlife Park. Plus, you can visit Mount Lofty summit and Waterfall Gully here. The park is looked after by the South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.
The park is named after Sir John Burton Cleland (1878-1971). He was a famous scientist who loved nature and wildlife. He was very interested in protecting animals and plants.
Cleland Conservation Park is a "Category II protected area". This means it's like a National Park. Its main goal is to protect nature and allow people to enjoy it.
Contents
Welcome to Cleland Conservation Park!
Cleland Conservation Park is a fantastic place to explore nature. It's home to many native Australian animals and plants. You can learn about wildlife and enjoy beautiful views.
What is Cleland Park?
This park is a large area of natural bushland. It helps keep the environment healthy. It's also a fun place for people to visit. The park was created on January 1, 1945.
Meet the Animals at Cleland Wildlife Park
The Cleland Wildlife Park is a special part of the conservation park. Here, you can get up close with Australian animals. You can walk through large areas where kangaroos and emus roam freely. You can even see koalas, wombats, and dingoes. There are also many different birds and reptiles.
Fun Activities at the Wildlife Park
You can reach the Wildlife Park by car or by walking from Waterfall Gully or Mount Lofty. There is a small fee to enter the Wildlife Park.
Inside, you'll find a souvenir shop, a cafe, and toilets. Many visitors love to have their photo taken while holding a koala. You can also join a Cultural Tour with an Aboriginal guide. They share amazing stories about dingoes, emus, and koalas. You can even go on a night walk to see what happens in the bush after dark!
Why is Cleland Park Important?
Cleland Conservation Park is vital for protecting nature. It helps save different types of animals and plants. These areas are called "protected areas." They are set aside by law to keep nature safe.
Protecting Animals and Plants
Many things can harm nature, like losing natural homes (habitats). This can happen because of farming, building, or pollution. When habitats are damaged, animals and plants can disappear. Sometimes, new plants or animals that don't belong can also cause problems.
Protected areas like Cleland help stop these problems. They keep natural places safe for wildlife. This helps animals and plants survive and thrive.
How We Help Nature
Park managers work hard to protect the park's wildlife. They study the animals and plants to understand them better. They also look at how the environment is changing. This helps them make plans to keep the park healthy.
For example, they watch how many animals there are. They also check things like temperature and rainfall. This helps them know if their plans are working. It also helps them spot new problems early.
Some animals and plants in the park are rare or endangered. This means there are very few of them left. The park works to protect these special species. For example, the Adelaide pygmy blue-tongue skink was once thought to be extinct. It was found again and is now protected.
Explore Mount Lofty Summit
Mount Lofty summit is a very popular spot in the park. It's 727 meters above sea level. From here, you get amazing views of the Adelaide Plains and the ocean. You can see the tall, white Flinders Column landmark from far away.
There's parking available, but you might need to pay a small fee. You can also get there by bus. At the summit, you'll find an information center, a souvenir shop, a cafe, and public toilets.
Discover Waterfall Gully
Waterfall Gully is another popular part of the park. It's on the western side. You can drive there, and there's some free parking.
The main attraction is a beautiful waterfall, the biggest in the park. It's a short walk from the car park to the base of the waterfall. You can also hike up a steep path to the top. This path continues all the way to Cleland Wildlife Park and Mount Lofty summit.
Trails and Adventures
Most of Cleland Conservation Park is natural bushland. There are many walking trails to explore. The path from Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty summit is a popular and challenging hike.
Parts of the long-distance Heysen and Yurrebilla Trails also run through the park. These trails follow the higher ground in the eastern part of the park. Since 2012, many trails are also open for mountain biking.
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