Yellabinna Regional Reserve and Wilderness Protection Area
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Experience the wilderness of sparsely vegetated red sand dunes that characterise Yellabinna Regional Reserve and Wilderness Protection Area.
The stark contrast of red sand and blue sky is a photographer’s delight, while the park also offers various tracks to explore by 4WD. Rare wildlife can also be found, including scarlet-chested parrots, major mitchell cockatoos, thorny devils, sand hill dunnarts and malleefowl.
Mt Finke (137 km north of Ceduna) is a predominant rocky outcrop, rising abruptly from the surrounding open shrublands and offering spectacular views (particularly at sunset) across the vast landscape.
Open daily.
Closures and safety
This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may also be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.
You can determine the current fire danger rating by checking the Fire Ban District map on the CFS website.
Check the CFS website or call the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline 1800 362 361 for:
- Information on fire bans and current fire conditions
- Current CFS warnings and incidents
- Information on what to do in the event of a fire.
Listen to your local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety.
Visitor information, bookings and park management:
National Parks and Wildlife Service Ceduna office
Phone: (+61 8) 8625 3144
Email: EPParks@sa.gov.au
Emergency contacts:
Medical, fire (including bushfire) and police emergency situations
Phone: Triple Zero — 000
Police Assistance
Phone: 131 444 for non-urgent police assistance
National Parks and Wildlife Service SA – After-hours duty officer
Phone: (08) 8688 3223
Injured wildlife:
Within the park
Please contact National Parks and Wildlife Service Ceduna officeon (08) 8625 3144 or the after-hours duty officer on (08) 8688 3223
Outside of the park
Please contact a local wildlife rescue group
Marine mammals
If you find a sick or stranded marine mammal (including whales, seals, sea lions and dolphins), please contact National Parks and Wildlife Service Ceduna office on (08) 8625 3144 or the after-hours duty officer on (08) 8688 3223
Yellabinna Regional Reserve and Wilderness Protection Area is located 30km north of Ceduna. Access to the park is via the Googs Track only. Travel from south to north is recommended.
Assistance dogs are permitted in most public places and are therefore welcome in South Australia’s parks and reserves. Assistance dogs must be appropriately restrained on a lead and remain under your effective control at all times while in a park or reserve.
As per the dogs in parks and reserves policy, if the dog is not an accredited assistance dog, they must be trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate that disability and meet standards of hygiene and behaviour appropriate for a dog in a public place. However, refusal may be given if the person with the disability is unable to produce evidence the dog is an assistance dog with the appropriate training.
Before taking your assistance dog into a park that does not normally allow dogs, it is highly recommended that you contact us so we can provide you with the latest information on any potential hazards within specific parks that may affect your dog. Please contact the park via the contact details provided under the contact tab or contact the visitor service centre via email or on Facebook.
Dogs are not permitted in this park.
Discover which parks you can walk your dog in on our find a park tool or read 12 dog-friendly walks in Adelaide Parks by Good Living for inspiration.
There are campsites where campfires are permitted within this park.
- There is no mobile phone coverage in the park.
Outback Road Report
1300 361 033 (24-hour automated service)
Northern and Western South Australian Outback Roads Temporary Closures, Restrictions and Warnings Report
- Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Dead wood plays a vital role in providing shelter for animals and adding nutrients to the soil.
Flora and fauna species lists
To download flora (plants) and fauna (animals) species lists for this park, use the ‘Create Simple Species List’ tab under ‘Flora Tools’ or ‘Fauna Tools’ in NatureMaps.
Buffel grass is a long-lived introduced tussock grass that is now recognised as one of the worst environmental threats in Australia’s arid rangelands. Buffel grass is a declared weed in South Australia. This introduced weed is fast-growing, outcompetes native grasses and shrubs, and makes it difficult for animals and people to move across the landscape. It burns hotter and more frequently than native vegetation, killing larger shrubs and trees, and regenerates more quickly after fire events, transforming diverse healthy landscapes into grasslands, creating a monoculture that devastates natural ecosystems.
Help stop the spread of buffel grass by keeping to tracks and report any sightings in parks.
Further information:
Aboriginal peoples have occupied, enjoyed and managed the lands and waters of this State for thousands of generations. For Aboriginal first nations, creation ancestors laid down the laws of the Country and bestowed a range of customary rights and obligations to the many Aboriginal Nations across our state.
There are many places across the State that have great spiritual significance to Aboriginal first nations. At some of these places Aboriginal cultural protocols, such as restricted access, are promoted and visitors are asked to respect the wishes of Traditional Owners.
In places where protocols are not promoted visitors are asked to show respect by not touching or removing anything, and make sure you take all your rubbish with you when you leave.
Aboriginal peoples continue to play an active role in caring for their Country, including in parks across South Australia.
The history of Goog’s Road (now known as Goog’s Track)
For many years, Goog (John) and Jenny Denton had stood on the back verandah of the Lone Oak farmhouse, looking north and wondering what was out there in the scrub. They decided to find out for themselves. In 1973, they set out to build Googs Road – from Lone Oak farm to Tarcoola.
Goog and Jenny Denton, their children (Martin, Debbie and Jeffery) together with Denis Beattie (Jenny’s brother and Goog’s mate) began the memorable task of building the road in June 1973.
Clearing the track began with a Fordson tractor fitted with a front-end loader blade and a Toyota two wheel drive ute. Then the going got tougher and the sandhills bigger and steeper. At this point it was decided that a bulldozer and four-wheel drives were needed, so the Allis Chalmers HD14 was employed. Work on the road proceeded for another two years, on weekends only.
Roughly 55kms up the road, and eighteen months later, a shack was built, which served as a base camp for the rest of the road through to Mount Finke. At this site the road branches north to Mount Finke. The shack was removed in 1977, at the request of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Opposite this site, are memorials to Goog Denton and eldest son, Martin “Dinger” Denton.
Seven kilometres north from the shack, progress on the road came to a halt for about sic months, due to problems with the dozer and other commitments.
All fuel, water and supplies were carted up on the back of three land rovers. Considerable fuel and supplies were donated by various local people, to assist in the process of making the road to Tarcoola – they could see the value of such a road. Without their support, it would not have been possible to complete the road. The costs involved in clearing the way were enormous and Goog and Jenny would not have been able to do it on their own.
A grader was purchased in about March 1976 to make the road easier and safer to travel. The sand was very soft on some hills. Many had to be graded from each side, as it was impossible to grade over the crest, due to the steepness of the hills.
Some weekends the road progressed three to 5kms and on others, 8 to 10kms. Some weekends no progress was made at all. The going got tougher; the nights got colder. On many occasions, rain prevented work from continuing. On these occasions, over drinks at the campfire, discussions about progress and how to proceed with the road consumed many hours.
In August 1976, the road to Mount Finke was finally completed after 3 memorable years. The site where the road ended is known as Drum Camp.
The road from Mount Finke to Malbooma had been cut through with axes by station owners, who had hoped to get their wool through to Thevenard quicker. The project became tough and they abandoned the project. Two drums of water were left at this point (Drum Camp). This was the point at which Googs Road ended. This was as far as the grader went. The road to Tarcoola was cleared.
There is currently no bushwalking information available for this park, please contact the park office for more information.
Set up camp at the Mt Finke Campground and lay out under the stars and experience true wilderness.
Campsites need to be booked prior to arrival.
Book online to reserve your campsite up to 12 months in advance
There are no designated mountain biking trails in this park.
Want to help?
To find out how you can help in this park or nearby, please contact Natural Resources Alinytjara Wilurara.
Want to join others and become a Park Friend?
To find out more about Friends of Parks groups please visit Friends of Parks South Australia.
You could join others to help look after a park. You can take part in working bees, training and other events.
The international Trail Users Code of Conduct is to show respect and courtesy towards other trail users at all times.
Ensure that you:
- keep to defined walking trails and follow the trail markers
- wear sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen
- carry sufficient drinking water
- be aware of weather conditions and avoid walking during the hottest part of the day
- Walk, hike or trek — what’s the difference?
When camping in a National Park, it’s important to remember the following:
- Always let someone responsible know your travel plans, especially when travelling in remote areas. It’s a good idea to let them know when you expect to return.
- Check the weather forecast before you leave, including overnight temperatures on the Bureau of Meteorology. Even during very mild weather, the nights can get very cold.
- The quality and quantity of water cannot be guaranteed within parks. Please bring plenty of water and food to be self-sufficient.
- Always camp in designated sites (where applicable) — do not camp beneath trees with overhanging branches, as they can drop without warning. It’s also a good idea to check that there are no insect nests nearby.
- Check to make sure you’re not camping in a natural waterway, flash floods can happen anytime.
- If camp fires are permitted, you must bring your own firewood, as the collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Extinguish your camp fire with water (not sand or dirt) until the hissing sound stops.
- Ensure that you are familiar with the fire restrictions for this park.
Safety flags
All vehicles must be fitted with a safety flag when travelling in Yellabinna Regional Reserve and Wilderness Protection Area.
Flag requirements:
- minimum 300 mm wide by 290mm high
- made of fluorescent materials, red-orange or lime-yellow in colour.
Vehicles
- With front bullbar – flag pole attached to the bulbar, with top of the flag a minimum 3.5 metres from the ground.
- Without front bullbar – flag pole attached via bracket at the front of the vehicle, with top of the flag a minimum 3.5 m from the ground; alternatively flag pole attached to the front of the roof rack, with top of the flag a minimum 2 m from the roof of vehicle.
Motorbikes
Motorbikes are currently exempt from having to display a safety flag, however headlights must used at all times during travel.
Can I have a fire or barbecue?
- Ensure you are familiar with the fire restrictions for this park.
- You must bring your own firewood, as the collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited.
- Gas fires and liquid fuel fires are permitted through the year, other than on days of total fire ban.
Closures and safety
This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may also be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.
You can determine the current fire danger rating by checking the Fire Ban District map on the CFS website.
Check the CFS website or call the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline 1800 362 361 for:
- Information on fire bans and current fire conditions
- Current CFS warnings and incidents
- Information on what to do in the event of a fire.
Listen to your local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety.
- Visitors travelling on 4WD tracks should be well-prepared and have 4WD experience.
- Keep to defined vehicle tracks at all times.
- Take extreme care when driving in the park – be aware of blind corners, crests and narrow tracks.
- Know what to do if you get bogged and always carry a long-handled shovel.
- Make sure you have the right tyre pressure for the terrain, as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Take particular care near salt lakes as the edges can be very soft.
- If you have a UHF radio, using channel 18 will enable you to know of other vehicles on the road, coming towards you or behind you.
- Lone Oak farmhouse also operates on Channel 18.
Every national park is different, each has its own unique environment, it is important to be responsible while enjoying all the park has to offer.
Please ensure that you:
- leave your pets at home
- do not feed birds or other animals, it promotes aggressive behaviour and an unbalanced ecology
- do not bring generators (except where permitted), chainsaws or firearms into the park
- leave the park as you found it — there are no bins in national parks, please come prepared to take your rubbish with you.
- abide by the road rules (maintain the speed limit)
- respect geological and heritage sites
- do not remove native plants
- are considerate of other park users.
- Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Dead wood plays a vital role in providing shelter for animals and adding nutrients to the soil.
Park maps
Maps on your mobile
If you have a smartphone or tablet you can download the free Avenza Map app and have interactive national park maps on hand when you need them.
The app uses your device’s built-in GPS to plot your real-time location within the park onto a map. The app can be used without a network connection and without roaming charges. You can also measure area and distance, plot photos and drop placemark pins.
How to get it working on your device:
1. Download the Avenza Maps app from the app store (iOS/Android) whilst you are still in range (its free!).
2. Open up the app and click the shopping cart icon.
3. Click ‘Find’ and type the name of the national park or reserve you are looking for.
4. Click on the map you are after and install it (all our maps are free).
5. You will now find a list of your installed maps on the home page of the Avenza Maps app.
6. Use our maps through the Avenza Mapa app while in the park and never take a wrong turn again.
Vehicle entry to this park is free, however fees apply for camping.
Campsites need to be booked prior to arrival.
Click through to the online booking page for more details about individual campgrounds and fees.
Book online
Book online to reserve your campsite up to 12 months in advance.
Book and pay in person
If you are unable to book and pay online you can do so, in person, at these booking agents across the state.
For online bookings enquiries please email:
There are no other fees or permits associated with this park.