Brookfield Conservation Park

The public section of Brookfield Conservation Park is open from 7am until sunset, 7 days a week.

This park is closed 4 times a year for feral animal control programs, see the alerts in the top right hand corner of this page for closure details.

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:

Berri Natural Resources Centre
Phone: (+61 8) 8580 1800
Email: SAMDBEnquiries@sa.gov.au

Booking enquiries please email
DEW.SAMDBOnlineBookings@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

Injured wildlife:

Within the park
Please contact Berri Natural Resource Centre on (08) 8580 1800

Outside of the park
Please contact a local wildlife rescue group

This park is best to explore between Spring and Autumn as it can be very hot and dry during Summer months.

The park has three distinct vegetation communities; arid woodland, arid shrubland and mallee. Each of these areas come alive particularly during late winter and spring, and after summer and autumn rains.

The differing vegetation hosts a variety of birdlife, reptiles and flowering shrubs, many of which can be seen easily from the walking trails and self-drive tour.

Most Australian wildlife is active at dawn and dusk, as a method of conserving energy during extreme temperatures. This includes the southern hairy-nosed wombat. The best time to spot a wombat is in the later afternoon on a warm, but not hot, day when the animals will come out of their burrows to bask in the sun.

Brookfield Conservation Park is located 130km north east of Adelaide, 11km west of Blanchetown. Access is via Sturt Highway.

There is a side gate that is accessible on the eastern perimeter of the park, along Park Road.

• Park map

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.

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.

Enjoy an open air lunch at the picnic ground, which you can access via the Mallee Drive Track. Toilets are also located at this picnic ground.

Brookfield has three self-drive tracks that you can explore; Bluebush & Mallee, Mallee and Bluebush. Each of these is one way only, to ensure visitor safety as the tracks are narrow. The starting point for all the drives is at the shearing shed near the park entry.

The park has regular researchers and visitors staying at the scientific camp and old homestead. These areas are not open to the public. For further information contact:

Natural Resources Centre – Berri
Phone: (+61 8) 8580 1800
Email: DEW.SAMDBOnlineBooking@sa.gov.au

Please note: Some areas of this park are restricted to the public and require permission to enter.

• Parks management plans
• Trails SA
• SA Marine Parks

• 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. 

At the time of European arrival, the Ngaiawang People occupied an area of approximately 388,000 hectares on the Western Murray Plains, in which the park is situated, although no evidence of Aboriginal settlement has been found in the park itself.

Within this area, the river was the main focus of activity, providing a permanent water source and a continuous food supply. Fish were caught in nets and ingenious stone traps, one of which is still preserved in the northern end of McBeans Pound. The river was also a major communication and transport route. Bark canoes were obtained from large river red gums, and several of these canoe trees can still be seen near Blanchetown. The river became the nucleus of settlement as it provided for most needs.

Please refer to the South Australian Museum publication Ngaiawang Folk Province (1977) for further information on Ngaiawang.

• Since settlement in 1836 the area of Brookfield CP formed part of the very first pastoral leases. Where pioneer farming family’s would have large holdings running sheep, that were confined in brush yards each night and protected by shepherds who would live nearby in simple slab huts.
• In later years the area was called Glen Leslie Station and grazed up to 1800 to 2000 sheep during good times. The Station was also used to cut timber both for wood and for charcoal. The charcoal pits and shearing sheds still remain in the park as a reminder of this farming heritage.
• In 1971 Glen Leslie Station was purchased by the Chicago Zoological Society as a conservation reserve for Southern-hairy nosed wombats. At this time it was renamed Brookfield Zoo Reserve.
• In 1977 the Chicago Zoological Society gifted Brookfield Zoo Reserve to the Government of South Australia.
• On the 6th of July 1978 Brookfield Conservation Park is officially proclaimed under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

Easy walks

• Three Habitat Walk (45-60 min, 1km)

The walk was designed and prepared by the Friends of Brookfield. Do the walk early in the morning and you may see the Southern Hairy-nosed wombats venturing out in the cool of dawn to graze on spear grasses, damp with dew. The walk follows a gently undulating loop. There is a bench at each stop where the habitat is explained and you can contemplate the landscape and watch for wildlife.

• Charcoal Pits Walk (60 min, 1.2km)

This walk takes you through the bush from the picnic area to the charcoal pits. There is a bench seat at the half-way point and a directional sign at each end. The site has 15 pits lined with brick and stone, and the average pit is 3 x 4 metres and 2 metres deep. The bottom of the pit was filled with dry wood and freshly cut mallee was placed on top. Galvanised iron sheets covered the wood which was ignited. When alight, the whole pit was covered in soil. After it was burnt and cooled, the charcoal was graded to remove soil and stones. It was sold, in sacks, to the public in Adelaide or local towns.

There are no designated mountain biking trails in this park, however bicycles may be ridden on public roads within the park.

• Which parks can you ride in?

Camping is not permitted within this park.

• Use Find a Park to discover which parks you can camp in.

However, there is a scientific research camp available for researchers who wish to camp in the park whilst undertaking projects. Approval must be sought from DEW through the Berri Natural Resources Centre well in advance.

• Brookfield Conservation Park - Group booking application form

Natural Resources Centre - Berri
Phone: (+61 8) 8580 1800
Email: DEW.SAMDBOnlinebookings@sa.gov.au

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?

Can I have a fire or barbecue?

• Wood fires and solid fuel fires are prohibited within public areas of this park, with the exception of the Scientific Camp
  • Scientific Camp – Wood Fires and solid fuel fires prohibited 1 Nov 2019 to 30 April 2020.  Gas and liquid fuel fires permitted other than on days of total fire ban. 
• Gas fires and liquid fuel fires for cooking 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.

Ensure you stay within the public area of the park only. Please DO NOT enter any unauthorised areas as these areas are specifically for scientific research. For information about restricted areas within the park refer to Brookfield Conservation Park map.

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.

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 not permitted within this park.

• Which parks can you camp in?

However, there is a scientific research camp available for researchers who wish to camp in the park whilst undertaking projects. Approval must be sought from DEW through the Murray Bridge Natural Resources Centre well in advance.

Natural Resources Centre - Murray Bridge
Phone: (+61 8) 8532 9100
Email: SAMDBEnquiries@sa.gov.au

Researchers who wish to undertake projects within the park must have a current DEW research permit.