Wittelbee Conservation Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wittelbee Conservation Park Ceduna, South Australia
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Wittelbee Conservation Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Ceduna
Established	16 January 1969
Area	1.7 km2 (0.7 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
Website	Wittelbee Conservation Park
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

Wittelbee Conservation Park is a special protected area in South Australia. It's located on the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula. You can find it near Wittelbee Point, which is a headland about 10 kilometers (6 miles) southeast of the town of Ceduna. This park helps protect important natural environments.

About Wittelbee Conservation Park

Wittelbee Conservation Park covers an area of 1.7 square kilometers (0.65 square miles). It includes land that stretches from the high tide mark to the low tide mark. This means it protects both the land and parts of the coastline. The park is managed by the Department for Environment and Water. They work to keep the park's natural features safe for everyone.

How the Park Was Created

The land that makes up Wittelbee Conservation Park first became a protected area on January 16, 1969. Back then, it was called Wittelbee National Park. It was set up under a law called the National Parks Act 1966.

A few years later, on April 27, 1972, the park's name changed. It became Wittelbee Conservation Park under a new law, the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. This new law helped manage protected areas across South Australia.

In 1991, more land was added to the park. This extra land helped protect the area between the high and low tide lines. This expansion made sure even more of the coastline was safe.

Why This Park Is Important

Wittelbee Conservation Park is very special for several reasons. One important feature is its "samphire swamp" area. Samphire swamps are unique wetlands, and this type of environment is not found in many other national parks.

The park also has "mallee vegetation," which are types of eucalyptus trees that grow close to the ground. These trees grow right up to the coastal dunes. You can also find beautiful sandy beaches and a low, rocky headland. The park is a nice spot for local people and tourists to have a picnic and enjoy nature.

Park Protection Category

Wittelbee Conservation Park is listed as an IUCN Category III protected area. This means it's recognized internationally for protecting specific natural features. Category III parks are often smaller areas that protect a special natural monument or feature.

The park was also listed on the now-closed Register of the National Estate in 1980. This register used to list places in Australia that were important for their natural or cultural heritage.