Greater protection and more to explore! SA's new and expanded national parks
Land is being added to five South Australian parks, and two new parks have been proclaimed. This means more protection for our state’s natural attractions, and better public access to enjoy them.
Eyes on the '30 by 30' target
South Australia’s Department for Environment and Water manages about 23 million hectares of national parks and wilderness protection areas. That’s about 22% of our state’s land.
The 30 by 30 target is a commitment by our state and federal governments, aiming to protect 30% of Australia’s landmass and marine areas by 2030. (Read about the National 30 by 30 Roadmap here.)
Park expansions
In May 2025 around 450 hectares of land was added across three SA parks:
Murray River National Park: A popular camping location that provides recreational activities and an opportunity for visitors to interact with nature and experience the River Murray floodplains.
Maize Island Conservation Park: Home to one of the state’s first village settlements along the River Murray, including ruins of some original dwellings and old horticultural plantings.
Sceale Bay Conservation Park: Supports significant wading birds, including migratory species – the Australian pied oystercatcher, Sanderling and fairy tern – that are subject to international protection agreements between Australia, Japan and China. The park’s area is increasing by about a half.
Planned park expansions:
Warrenben Conservation Park
In June 2025 almost 1000 hectares was acquired to be added to Warrenben Conservation Park.Warrenben Conservation Park on Narungga country on the south-east Yorke Peninsula will grow from 4060 hectares to 5030 hectares. New land has been provided as part of Villawood Homes’ sustainability initiatives. The richly diverse landscape provides habitat for rare flora and fauna including the critically endangered Goldsack's leek-orchid, malleefowl and mallee whipbird.
Nilpena Ediacara National Park
In July 2025 additional land was acquired to expand Nilpena Ediacara National Park by 26,000 hectares. Nilpena Ediacara National Park, which was declared a national park in 2021, will expand to a total area of around 91,000 hectares after the South Australian Government acquired the adjacent Nilpena Station. The park is treasured for its internationally significant fossils of Earth’s earliest complex animal life, which lived 570 million to 539 million years ago. It forms part of a World Heritage bid for the Flinders Ranges region.
New parks
In late 2023 a 1000 hectare block of land in Worlds End Gorge, near Burra in the state’s mid north, was transferred to the Department for Environment and Water to create a new national park. Renewable energy company Neoen Australia bought and then transferred land as part of its native vegetation offset requirements for the nearby Goyder Wind Farm project. The land borders Hopkins Creek Conservation Park and includes permanent waterholes, habitat for threatened species, and a scenic gorge with eucalyptus woodlands.
Kauwi-marnirla ― Field River Conservation Park
In late 2024 a new 177 hectare conservation park was declared in Adelaide’s southern suburbs, running alongside the Field River to the south of Sheidow Park and north of Reynella. Kauwi-marnirla ― Field River Conservation Park will be a focal point for conservation groups and a community open space. The park will be managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in conjunction with Kaurna practitioners who will help deliver land management services that use traditional knowledge and practice.
Keen to explore more?
Visit parks.sa.gov.au to plan your next outdoor adventure or learn how you can get involved in protecting our state’s spectacular natural places.
