Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park - Winaityinaityi Pangkara

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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.

To keep informed about the progress of Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary and for opportunities to be involved, sign up to receive the newsletter.

Visitor information, bookings and park management:

Gawler Natural Resources Centre
Phone: (+61 8) 8115 4600
Email: DEW.AIBS@sa.gov.au

Social media
Facebook: Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary
Twitter: @BirdSanctuarySA
Instagram: adelaide_bird_sanctuary

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: 0427 556 676 

Injured wildlife:

Within the park
Please contact Gawler Natural Resource Centre on (08) 8115 4600 or the after-hours duty officer on 0427 556 676 (outside of business hours)

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 Gawler Natural Resource Centre on (08) 8115 4600 or the after-hours duty officer on 0427 556 676 (outside of business hours)

The southern gateway of the Sanctuary, located at the St Kilda foreshore, is only a 30 min drive from Adelaide. The northern gateway, at Thompson Beach is situated on some of Adelaide’s pristine coastline featuring samphire and intertidal mudflats.

Access to areas of the sanctuary outside of the approved track network is not permitted.

Location of access roads, approved tracks and the closures of trails is currently being decided as part of an extensive community consultation process. Find out how you can be a part of the conversation and view the draft management plan.

In the meantime departmental staff will be on site at various times to advise the public on current use and future plans.

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, or you can live chat with a customer service representative on the website Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

• 4 fun things to do at Adelaide's bird sanctuary
• Check out Nature Play SA's 40 things to do in Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park – Winaityinaityi Pangkara
• Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary Brochure
• Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary - Interim management statement (2016)
• Salt fields - Creating the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary Brochure
• Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park
• Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary
• Shorebirds project
• Mobile phone coverage is good in most areas of the park.
• Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited.

The Kaurna People have had a deep and spiritual connection with land and waters of the bird sanctuary for thousands of years and are the recognised Traditional Owners of the Adelaide Plains. Through their deep understanding of the land, strong commitment to reconciliation and caring for their Country, Kaurna People are actively leading in the establishment of the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary.

Kaurna knowledge is integral to the planning, establishment and management of the bird sanctuary. Their vision is to ‘Bring Meaningful Reconciliation of the Past–Present–Future’ through supporting the recognition of the Kaurna identity to be strong, self-sufficient and a healthy sustainable Kaurna Nation for the Kaurna People. Their vision will support Kaurna participating in the wider economy and social life of the Adelaide Plains, while protecting Kaurna heritage.

The landscape of the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary – its water, plants, animals and special places – are a part of Kaurna culture. Understanding this and working together for shared access to Country will help to strengthen respect for Kaurna culture, and support the Kaurna People in their aspirations for the future. Meaningful engagement with Kaurna Elders has unearthed numerous possibilities for the bird sanctuary and will continue to underpin its future success.

Winaityinaityi Pangkara means ‘a country for all birds and the country that surrounds these birds’ in the language of the Kaurna people. 

The Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary area consist of diverse and relatively pristine saltmarsh and wetland habitat that is declining elsewhere in the region and across the state due to urban encroachment, pollution and agricultural development. Continued protection of this habitat from development and degradation is critical.

Saltmarsh is not only an ecologically valuable habitat but is also one of the highest carbon sequestration habitats known. In recognition of its significance, coastal saltmarsh was listed as a threatened ecological community under the EPBC Act in August 2013.

The bird sanctuary support species of state and national conservation significance, including the largest Australian population of bead glasswort and the samphire thornbill, both listed as nationally threatened under the EPBC Act.

Two wetlands of national significance occur in the area – the Port Gawler and Buckland Park Lake, and the Barker Inlet and St Kilda wetland. 

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. 

Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park - Winaityinaityi Pangkara education pack

Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges NRM Education team have developed education packs for schools and families. The packs contain information that will help teachers and families engage students in a park setting. In addition they provide resources for children to use when in a park.

• Schools in parks education pack
• Kids exploring parks pack

Learning in nature virtual tour

This virtual tour has been created as a resource for teachers to assist with outdoor learning. It can be used before and after visiting Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park-Winaityinaityi Pangkara (AIBS) and can even be used by students in the classroom.

This virtual tour encourages learning outdoors in the AIBS and includes learning concepts tied back to the curriculum in three areas of the sanctuary; Thompson Beach, Port Gawler and St Kilda.

• Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park-Winaityinaityi Pangkara - Learning in nature virtual tour

The Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park - Winaityinaityi Pangkara (pronounced Wee-nay-chi-nay-chi Pan-ker-a ) is made up of 2457 hectares of land north-west of Adelaide. The park is being created in stages, with the first stage now proclaimed with future stages being proclaimed over the coming year.

The draft management plan provides guidance around park management until the full national park is proclaimed.

• Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park – Winaityinaityi Pangkara map

The Dry Creek salt fields were first constructed by ICI in the 1930s, and have been maintained by an annual series of pumping activities since. The land on which the salt fields were constructed historically supported wetlands, especially saltmarsh and mangroves.

The mineral leases over the Dry Creek salt fields cover around 10,000 hectares. Around 4,000 hectares were developed as salina ponds (artificially controlled saline ponds used to produce salt). The rest of the land is undeveloped and remarkably well preserved due to limited access to the site for the past 80 years.

The land under mining lease is either owned by the Crown, including the majority of coastal land seaward of the ponds, or is freehold land owned by Ridley Corporation. The majority of land owned by Ridley occurs on the landward side of the salt fields.

For further inspiration 

• 4 fun things to do at Adelaide's bird sanctuary
• 5 spots to birdwatch at Adelaide's bird sanctuary
• Visit the St Kilda Adventure Playground
• Explore the St Kilda Mangrove Trail and Interpretive Centre

Every year, between September and March, up to 27,000 shorebirds gather across the bird sanctuary with more than 50 different species of migratory birds recorded. Many of these migratory shorebirds travel from as far away as Siberia and Alaska, passing through up to 22 countries as they travel the East Asian-Australasian Flyway to reach the coast of Gulf St Vincent.

A wonderful natural experience awaits you with two easily accessible gateways, north and south.

• Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary Brochure
• Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary Brochure - Chinese
• Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary Brochure - Japanese
• Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary Brochure - Korean
• 5 birds you’re likely to spot at Adelaide’s bird sanctuary
• 5 things to do at SA's bird sanctuary this winter
• 4 fun things to do at Adelaide's bird sanctuary

Camping is not permitted in the park.

Please check with council for requirements for camping outside the park.

If you think you might be interested in volunteering opportunities within the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary please contact our Volunteer Support Unit.

If you’d like to get involved in caring for Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary please contact Friends of Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary (FAIBS)

There is currently no bushwalking information available for this park, please contact the park office for more information. 

Can I have a fire or barbecue?

• Wood fires and solid fuel fires are prohibited 1 November 2020 until 30 April 2021.
• Beach foreshores: wood fires or solid fuel fires are permitted between high water mark and low water mark other than on days of total fire ban. You must bring your own firewood, as the collection of firewood within national parks is prohibited. 
• Gas and liquid fuel fires are permitted in designated areas only, 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.

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.

Why does my dog need to be on a lead?

If your dog is off lead, it is more likely to impact on native wildlife and other visitors in a park and be at risk itself.

Risks to wildlife:

• Dogs off tracks will leave a scent in the bush that will keep wildlife away.
• Uncontrolled dogs may frighten wildlife and disrupt their natural behaviour.
• Some dogs will kill or injure wildlife.

Risks to other park visitors

• Dogs may be aggressive to other park visitors.
• Even friendly dogs can knock people over causing injury.
• Some people want to enjoy parks without dogs.

Risks to your dog

• Poison baits may be laid to control foxes. Baits can be fatal to dogs.
• Even if your dog is friendly, other dogs may not be.
• Your dog can catch parasites (such as fleas and ticks) from wildlife.
• Snake bites are a real risk in natural areas such as parks.
• Wildlife such as kangaroos and koalas will defend themselves if threatened by a dog and can cause significant injury to or the death of your dog.

Come and enjoy this park for free. 

This park is not included in the park pass system. 

• Which parks are included in the park pass system?

Camping is free within the national park.

Please check with the local council for requirements on camping outside the national park zone.

There are no other fees or permits associated with this park.