South Australian desert park will be bigger than Kakadu, as local gems get extra protection

Australia’s biggest national park – dwarfing Kakadu – looks set to be created in SA. And three tourist favourites on our doorstep will have their status lifted.

Australia’s biggest national park, eclipsing even Kakadu, could soon be created in the state’s north.

To be called Munga-Thirri – Simpson Desert National Park, it would cover 3.6 million hectares, or an area the size of 1.75 million Adelaide Ovals. Kakadu, by comparison, covers just under 2 million hectares.

Under the state government plan, three conservation parks – Cleland in the Adelaide Hills, Deep Creek on the Fleurieu Peninsula and Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island – will be upgraded to national park status.

The National Heritage-listed Dalhousie Springs, in Witjira National Park.

Munga-Thirri – Simpson Desert National Park will be created by upgrading Munga-Thirri – Simpson Desert Regional Reserve and Conservation Park.

The Lake Frome Regional Reserve in the Northern Flinders Ranges will be upgraded to a national park in recognition of its significance as a large salt lake, giving it the same status as other large salt lakes such as Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, Lake Torrens and Lake Gairdner.

Environment and Water Minister David Speirs said the changes would mean that under the current government, national park areas had more than doubled, from 3.90 million hectares to 7.86 million hectares.

The Simpson Desert's sand dunes stretch over hundreds of kilometres.

“The Marshall Liberal government is committed to protecting our natural environment, which is why we have proposed these changes to increase the number of national parks across South Australia from 22 to 28,” Minister Speirs said.

“This significant addition of land converted to national parks since 2018 includes Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta, which has preserved and revitalised a significant portion of open space, turning it into a thriving environmental and recreational precinct for future generations.

“National parks are areas of national significance due to their environmental values and they also play a key role in supporting our tourism sector.

“It is truly exciting that South Australia could soon be home to Australia’s largest national park and these proposed changes will better conserve our natural environment as well as enhance our reputation as a world-class eco-tourism destination.”

As part of the changes, a section of the Witjira National Park in the state’s Far North will have its conditions changed to forever exclude mining from the Dalhousie Springs National Heritage Area.

The state government is now consulting with native title holders and other stakeholders ahead of taking these proposals to parliament in the coming months.

To find out more, visit www.parks.sa.gov.au