Nilpena Ediacara National Park

Nilpena Ediacara National Park

OPENING 2023

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 Nilpe­na, the plan­et’s most sig­nif­i­cant dis­cov­ery.

Creating the Nilpena Ediacara National Park

Read about the world-class fossil experience that is planned 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 is build­ing a Nilpe­na vis­i­tor hub at this new nation­al park that will include an Edi­acaran fos­sil expe­ri­ence to explain the planet’s ear­ly stages of ani­mal life. This immer­sive expe­ri­ence is cur­rent­ly being cre­at­ed at the for­mer black­smith shop, where vis­i­tors will have the oppor­tu­ni­ty to view fos­sils up-close and expe­ri­ence a one of a kind audio-visu­al fos­sil encounter. Exclu­sive guid­ed tours to the Nilpe­na fos­sil field will also be offered and access paths, ele­vat­ed board­walks and view­ing plat­forms are being installed to ensure sus­tain­able access to key sites. To view the fos­sil field, vis­i­tors will be required to take an organ­ised guid­ed tour.

Con­struc­tion of vis­i­tor facil­i­ties is near­ing com­ple­tion, and it is antic­i­pat­ed that the new fos­sil expe­ri­ence will be ready to wel­come vis­i­tors in the first half of 2023.

Nilpena Ediacara National Park was proclaimed on 17 June 2021. The new fossil experience is set to open in the first half of 2023 by guided tour only.

Procla­ma­tion of the nation­al park
Lat­est news
Fact­sheet

More information and resources

National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia

The Nilpena Story

Understand the exceptional values of Nilpena and where evidence of earth’s earliest complex animal life has been discovered.

National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia

Research and Education

Learn more about the current research that is underway and the education opportunities for kids and students.

National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia

Cultural heritage and First Nations involvement

Learn of the Adnyamathanha significance of Nilpena and how we’re collaborating to protect the area

National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia

Working in partnership

Get to know who’s involved in protecting these globally significant fossils

National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia

Planning a Fossil Experience

Find out when you will be able to visit Nilpena and what to expect at this must-see destination.

National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia

The Nilpena film set

Find out how Nilpena supports the film industry and discover iconic films shot there.