A new national park has opened 500km north of Adelaide, promising a unique look into life on Earth 550 million years ago.
Nilpena Ediacara National Park is home to fossils with global interest, including the Spriggina – the planet's first evidence of a creature with a head and exclusive to our state.
SA’s National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Executive Director Mike Williams said the former cattle station boasts the most extensive Ediacaran fossil collection in existence.
“These fossils show communities of ancient marine life from between 538 and 640 million years ago,” Mr Williams said.
“They lived at a time when the Flinders Ranges was covered ocean, so the large rock slabs show us how they lived during that time, how they moved and how they interacted with each other.”
Spanning more than 60,000 hectares, with cultural significance to the Adnyamathanha people, the Nilpena Ediacara National Park is about the same size as New York City.
It’s gained significant international attention, including from NASA and Sir David Attenborough.
“From day one of this project, NPWS has taken a lead role in ensuring the preservation of this vast region so it can be enjoyed for future generations to come,” Mr Williams said.
“It will lead to new levels of understanding of the world in which we live, highlighting the importance of our efforts in conservation and environmental care.”
To preserve the integrity of the fossils, access to the site is via pre-booked guided tours only.
Nilpena Ediacara National Park has been delivered by the SA Government, with funding support from the Australian Government and the Flinders Ranges Ediacara Foundation.
For more information, visit the National Parks and Wildlife Service website.
