Creating Nilpena Ediacara National Park

See evidence of earth’s earliest animal life

The Flinders Ranges provides some of South Australia’s most iconic landscapes displaying geological formations and wildlife. It is also where evidence of earth’s earliest animal life has been discovered.

The Flinders Ranges, traditional lands of the Adnyamathanha people, is renowned as one of South Australia’s most remarkable landscapes. The dramatic scenery, unique geological formations and iconic wildlife attracts visitors from across the world. It is a place of rich cultural heritage and exceptional scientific value, where evidence of the emergence earth’s earliest complex animal life has been discovered.

Learn more about the story of Nilpena, the planet’s most significant discovery.

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Creating the Nilpena Ediacara National Park

Read about the world-class fossil experience that is now open for visitors to our newest national park in the Flinders Ranges.

In March 2019, the state government purchased 60,000 hectares from the Nilpena Pastoral Company which extends to Lake Torrens National Park and adjoins Ediacara Conservation Park. This land, along with the existing Ediacara Conservation Park (in its entirety) was reclassified to become Nilpena Ediacara National Park in 2021.

The state government has built a Nilpena visitor hub at this new national park that includes an Ediacaran fossil experience to explain the planet’s early stages of animal life. This immersive experience is now open at the former blacksmith shop, where visitors can view fossils up-close and experience a one of a kind audio-visual fossil encounter. Visitors are welcome to visit the park by guided tour.

Proclamation of the national park