Grab your board and head for the dunes of the Eyre Peninsula
Sand boarding enthusiasts and families have even more reason to visit the Eyre Peninsula from today with sand boarding officially approved in two popular national parks in the region with a third park to be added soon.
Areas within Coffin Bay National Park and Lincoln National Park are now open to sand boarders under strict regulations designed to protect the landscape from damage. Similar access for areas within Fowlers Bay Conservation Park access is also being finalised.
District Ranger with National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Peter Wilkins said sand boarding is a popular recreational activity on the Eyre Peninsula but until now there’ve been limited opportunities.
“By opening certain areas of these parks to sand boarders, we’re hoping to attract more people to the region and connect visitors with our parks through an additional nature-based tourism pursuit,” Peter said.
“We want to make South Australia a world leader in nature-based tourism, while supporting the ongoing conservation of our state’s natural and cultural heritage.
“South Australia’s nature-based tourism sector is well-established and progressive. However, there’s great potential for the sector to grow and become an even more significant contributor to regional communities, employment and the economy.
“Initiatives like this are ways we are growing this sector while engaging visitors more closely with our amazing natural environment.”
Peter said Lincoln National Park, Coffin Bay National Park and Fowlers Bay Conservation Park feature some of the most suitable and accessible mobile dune systems for sand boarding.
“National Parks and Wildlife (NPWS) staff have identified specific areas within these parks where sand boarding can be undertaken with minimal environmental impact and where there is existing public access,” Peter said.
“Temporary signage has now gone up in these areas, which are easily accessible and within walking distance from existing 4WD vehicle tracks. Off road driving is not necessary and in fact the no off road driving regulations will remain in place to minimise environmental damage and for sand boarder safety.
“While acknowledging there are minor environmental risks, these are limited to destabilising vegetated dunes, hence the new sand boarding zones are located in mobile dunes and are generally not vegetated.”
“There’s an obvious market for this type of eco-tourism activity on the Eyre Peninsula.
“NPWS rangers regularly receive enquiries on where sand boarding is permitted and in fact, were approached by two adventure tourism businesses expressing interest in commercial sand boarding activities in the area.”
Sand boarding, like many adventure activities, carries an inherent risk to those who participate so be clear signage will be erected in these designated areas of the parks to ensure people take care of themselves and the surrounding landscape.
For more information go to: www.parks.sa.gov.au
