Prince Regent National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prince Regent National ParkWestern Australia |
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 Prince Regent National Park
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1964 |
| Area | 5,764.0 km2 (2,225.5 sq mi) |
| Website | Prince Regent National Park |
| Footnotes | Coordinates |
Prince Regent National Park is a special protected area in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It used to be called the Prince Regent Nature Reserve. In 1978, it was named a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. This means it's a very important place for nature around the world.
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Discovering Prince Regent National Park
This huge national park covers about 5,764 square kilometers. It was created in 1964 to protect the land around the Prince Regent River. The park's northern edge touches the Mitchell River National Park. Together, these two parks create a protected area larger than 7,500 square kilometers!
The park's landscape is very diverse. You can find lush rainforests and wide sandstone plains. The area also has amazing gorges, tall cliffs, beautiful waterfalls, and mountain ranges.
The Mermaid Tree at Careening Bay
Inside the park, you'll find Careening Bay. This bay is home to a famous "Mermaid Tree." This special boab tree has an inscription carved into it.
The carving was made by the carpenter of HMS Mermaid. This ship, led by Phillip Parker King, was deliberately beached here. They did this to fix the ship's bottom.
Traditional Owners of the Land
The Traditional Owners of the land around the Prince Regent River are the Worrorra people. However, most of the park is located on Wunambal land.
In 1998, a native title claim was made by the Wanjina Wunggurr RNTBC. This claim included three groups: the Dambimangari (Worrorra), Uunguu (Wunambal), and Wilinggin (Ngarinyin).
On May 23, 2011, the Uunguu part of the claim was approved. This gave native title to the Wunambal people. Their traditional lands cover about 25,909 square kilometers. This area stretches along the coast from the Anjo Peninsula in the north. It includes the waters of Admiralty Gulf and York Sound, down to Coronation Island. Inland, it includes parts of both the Mitchell River National Park and Prince Regent National Park.
Wildlife in the Park
Prince Regent National Park is a haven for animals. More than half of all the bird and mammal species found in the Kimberley region live here!
It's home to the monjon, which is the smallest type of rock-wallaby. You can also find the golden bandicoot here. This bandicoot is listed as a vulnerable species, meaning it needs protection.
The Prince Regent and Mitchell River Important Bird Area overlaps with part of the national park. This area is recognized by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area. It's crucial for many bird species, especially those that live in tropical savanna habitats.
How to Visit Prince Regent National Park
This park is one of Australia's most remote wilderness areas. There are no roads leading into it. Also, strong tides and whirlpools make it hard to reach by sea.
Most visitors arrive by air or by boat. Because it's so hard to reach, the area has stayed almost the same since Europeans first settled in Western Australia. If you want to visit, you need a permit. You can get this permit from the Parks and Wildlife Service.
