Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kanku - Breakaways Conservation ParkSouth Australia |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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 Kanku - Breakaways Conservation Park
Location in South Australia
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| Nearest town or city | Coober Pedy |
| Established | 4 July 2013 |
| Area | 143.23 km2 (55.3 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Department for Environment and Water Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal Corporation District Council of Coober Pedy |
| Website | Kanku - Breakaways Conservation Park |
| See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
The Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park is a special protected area in northern South Australia. It's located about 33 km (21 mi) north of Coober Pedy, right off the Stuart Highway.
This park is managed in a unique way. It's a team effort between the Department for Environment and Water, the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal Corporation, and the District Council of Coober Pedy. This is called a co-management agreement, meaning different groups work together to look after the land.
What's in a Name?
The park used to be called "The Breakaways Reserve" or simply "The Breakaways" before July 2013. It was officially renamed Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park on November 19, 2015.
The name "The Breakaways" comes from how the land looks. The flat-topped hills, called mesas, and lower hills seem to have "broken away" from the higher ground nearby.
For the Antakirinja Matuntjara Yankunytjatjara People, who are the traditional owners of this land, the area is known as Umoona. This word means "long life." It refers to a specific type of tree that grows in the park.
Weather in the Park
The Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park has a semi-arid desert climate. This means it's very dry, similar to the weather in Coober Pedy.
You can expect cool nights, but the days are often very hot. In summer, temperatures can sometimes go above 45 °C (113 °F)!
Visiting the Park
It's easy to get to the main lookout point in the park. There's a 5 km (3 mi) dirt road that connects from the main Stuart Highway. You can also reach it by following the Dog Fence Scenic Tourist Drive Road.
If you enjoy mountain biking, you can do a 65.8 km (40.9 mi) loop from Coober Pedy. This route takes you along the Stuart Highway to the Breakaways, then along the dog fence track, and finally back to Coober Pedy using the Oodnadatta Track.
Several tour companies in Coober Pedy offer guided trips to the park. If you want to explore on your own, you'll need a permit. These permits cost A$10 per vehicle (or A$8 for concessions). You can get them from the Tourist Information Centre in the District Council Office on Hutchinson Street, Coober Pedy.
