Wellington National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wellington National ParkWestern Australia |
|
|---|---|
|
IUCN Category II (National Park)
|
|
Wellington Dam is found within the park
|
|
 Wellington National Park
Location in Western Australia
|
|
| Nearest town or city | Collie |
| Established | 2000 |
| Area | 17,000 ha (42,000 acres) |
| Visitation | 212,000 (in 2015-2016) |
| Managing authorities | Parks and Wildlife Service |
| See also | List of protected areas of Western Australia |
Wellington National Park is an amazing place in Western Australia. It's a national park located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of Collie and around 215 kilometers (134 miles) south of Perth. This park is a fantastic spot to explore nature and see incredible wildlife.
Contents
What Makes Wellington National Park Special?
This huge park covers about 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) and has lots of hills and streams. The Collie River valley runs right through the middle of the park. You'll also find the Wellington Dam here, which is a big part of the park's landscape. The rocks in the park are very old, made from ancient sedimentary and volcanic rocks, plus large areas of granite.
Fun Things to Do at Wellington National Park
The park has great spots for camping and enjoying the outdoors!
Camping at Potter's Gorge
Potter's Gorge is a cool camping area right by a lake. You can set up your tents or park your caravans here. There are also places to have a barbecue, picnic tables for your meals, and toilets that are easy for everyone to use.
Adventures at Honeymoon Pool
Honeymoon Pool is another awesome camping spot. The river here is safe for swimming and even canoeing! You'll find picnic tables, barbecues, and fire pits with wood provided. There are also clean toilets. A special boardwalk and platform make it easy to get to the river. Plus, there are several walking trails to explore the area.
Exploring Around Wellington Dam
Near the Wellington Dam, there's a kiosk where you can grab a snack. There's also another camping area if you want to stay close to the dam.
How Wellington National Park Grew
The park has grown a lot over the years! It started much smaller, at about 4,300 hectares (10,600 acres). In 2001, the government decided to protect more old-growth forests, and the park grew to 17,000 hectares. The land used to belong to a timber company. It officially became a national park in 2000. Even more land was added in 2004, making the park almost 16,790 hectares (41,500 acres) in total.
Amazing Plants of the Park (Flora)
Wellington National Park is part of the Jarrah Forest area, which means it has very special trees.
Unique Trees You'll See
The main trees you'll find are:
- Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata): A famous Australian tree.
- Marri (Corymbia calophylla): Another common and beautiful tree.
- Yarri or Blackbutt (Eucalyptus patens): A tall and strong tree.
Other Cool Plants
Underneath these big trees, you'll see many other interesting plants like:
- Bull Banksia (Banksia grandis)
- Western Sheoak (Allocasuarina fraseriana)
- Waterbush (Bossiaea aquifolium)
- Snottygobble (Persoonia longifolia)
- Grasstree (Xanthorrhoea preissii)
Wonderful Animals of the Park (Fauna)
This park is home to many different animals, including 66 types of birds! It's a safe place for some very rare and endangered species.
Endangered Animals Living Here
Keep an eye out for these special animals, though they can be shy:
