The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Dutchmans Stern Conservation ParkSouth Australia |
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IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area)
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Entry to The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park
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 The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park
Location in South Australia
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| Nearest town or city | Quorn |
| Established | 17 September 1987 |
| Area | 36.95 km2 (14.3 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Department for Environment and Water |
| Website | The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park |
| See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park is a special protected area in South Australia. It is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) north-west of the town of Quorn. This park is part of the beautiful Flinders Ranges. The park gets its name from a mountain inside it, called The Dutchmans Stern.
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Exploring The Dutchmans Stern Park
The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park is located near the towns of Emeroo and Quorn. It is about 5 kilometers north-west of Quorn. The city of Port Augusta is about 25 kilometers (15 miles) to the north-east.
This park covers a large area of 3,695 hectares (about 9,130 acres). It includes a high ridge, which is over 850 meters (2,790 feet) tall. The mountain called The Dutchmans Stern is at the northern end of this ridge. The park also protects the land around the ridge.
The park is known as an IUCN Category VI protected area. This means it is a place where nature is protected, but people can also use some of its natural resources in a careful, sustainable way.
Why The Park Was Created
The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park was officially created in 1987. It was established under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The main reasons for creating the park were to protect its amazing rock formations, beautiful views, and all the native animals and plants that live there.
The park is very important because it has many different types of land and places for animals to live. This is especially true because much of the land around it has been used for grazing farm animals for over 100 years.
History of The Land
The Nukunu Aboriginal people are considered the traditional owners of this land. There might also be connections with the Adnyamathanha people to the north and the Parnkalla people to the west.
Before it became a park, the land was used for grazing animals. This was from the 1880s until 1985, when the land was bought to be protected. The park also helps collect water. Water from Stoney Creek, on the eastern side, is sent to the Mount Arden dam. This helps supply water to Quorn. On the western side, water flows into South Creek and is piped to properties nearby. In the 1960s, people explored the area for minerals. They even built a track called the Dutchman Valley track on the western side.
Fun Things to Do at The Park
If you visit The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park, there are several things you can do!
Places to Stay
You can even stay overnight in the park! The old "Dutchman Homestead" and "shearers’ quarters" are available to rent. These are managed by the park's authorities.
Camping Adventures
Camping is allowed on the west side of the park. You need to use "low impact camping techniques," which means being very careful not to harm nature. Camping is usually allowed from April to November, outside of the "Fire Danger Season."
Walking Trails and Hikes
The park has a great network of walking trails. They all start from the carpark at the park's entrance, which is north-east of the Dutchman Stern ridge.
- The Dutchmans Valley Hike: This trail goes to the west of the ridge. It ends at two lookout points. It's about 10 kilometers (6 miles) long and takes about 5 hours to walk there and back.
- The Dutchmans Stern Hike: This is a loop trail that takes you to the top of the ridge, including The Dutchmans Stern mountain. You can choose to walk the full loop or take a more direct path to the summit. The total distance is about 8.2 kilometers (5 miles), and it takes about 4 hours.
- Upper & Lower Eastern Tracks: These two trails run along the eastern edge of the conservation park.
The Heysen Trail, which is a very long walking trail in South Australia, also passes through The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park. It uses parts of both The Dutchmans Valley Hike and The Dutchmans Stern Hike on the east and north sides of the park.
