Cleland National Park

Cleland Conservation Park was established on 1 January 1945 and classified as Category II{{cite web |url=http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/gpap_home/gpap_quality/gpap_pacategories/gpap_pacategory2/ |title=Protected Areas Category II |access-date=2014-05-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407225919/http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/gpap_home/gpap_quality/gpap_pacategories/gpap_pacategory2/ |archive-date=7 April 2014 |publisher=iucn.org |df=dmy-all }} protected area in IUCN protected area management categories.{{cite web |url=https://www.environment.gov.au/land/nrs/science/capad/2014 |title=CAPAD 2014 |publisher=environment.gov.au}}{{cite web|url=http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/gpap_home/gpap_biodiversity/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928164738/http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/gpap_home/gpap_biodiversity/ |archive-date=2015-09-28 |title=Priority Area 1: Protected areas .... conserving nature |publisher=iucn.org}} The primary objective for Category II is "to protect natural biodiversity along with its underlying ecological structure and supporting environmental processes, and to promote education and recreation".

The conservation park was named for Sir John Burton Cleland (1878–1971), a renowned naturalist, microbiologist, mycologist and ornithologist, and member of the Royal Society of South Australia. After a career in medicine and pathology, Cleland became keenly interested in wildlife conservation.R. V. Southcott, 'Cleland, Sir John Burton (1878–1971)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, [http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cleland-sir-john-burton-5679/text9595], published in hardcopy 1981, accessed online 18 April 2014.

In November 2017 a concept plan was announced by the Weatherill government to revamp the park, including a hotel and a cable car connection,{{cite news |last1=Read |first1=Charles |title=Hong Kong's LKF Group to lead AUD $150m transformation of Adelaide's Cleland Wildlife park |url=https://blooloop.com/news/cleland-wildlife-park-lkf-group/ |access-date= 6 March 2019 |publisher=Blooloop |date=27 November 2017}} but the plan was described by critics as "pre-election glitter".[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-28/cleland-park-proposal-just-pre-election-giltter/9198680 Cleland Park proposal in Adelaide Hills is just 'pre-election glitter', former Democrat says] ABC News, 28 November 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2018. The Weatherill government was not returned at the subsequent election in March 2018.

On 26 November 2021 Cleland Conservation Park was combined with Eurilla Conservation Park, which was adjacent to it, and proclaimed a national park.{{cite web | title=SA now home to Australia's biggest national park | website=Premier of South Australia | first=David | last=Speirs | author-link=David Speirs | date=26 November 2021 | url=https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/news/media-releases/news/south-australia-now-home-to-australias-biggest-national-park | access-date=20 December 2021 | archive-date=19 December 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219021011/https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/news/media-releases/news/south-australia-now-home-to-australias-biggest-national-park | url-status=dead }} 50px Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under a [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/ Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0 AU)] licence.{{cite web | last=Gooch | first=Declan | title=Australia's biggest national park declared in South Australia's far north|website= ABC News|publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=26 November 2021 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-26/munga-thirri-simpson-desert-biggest-national-park-australia/100654714 | access-date=20 December 2021}} The area includes the Cleland Wildlife Park precinct, with the draft plan suggesting that the Wildlife Park will be a part of the new Cleland National Park.{{cite web | title=Share your views on the future of Cleland National Park | website=Department for Environment and Water | date=25 October 2021 | url=https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/news-hub/news/articles/2021/10/Cleland-national-park-draft-management-plan | access-date=20 December 2021}} The executive director of the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia said that the decision was made of the collective conservation significance of both of the former conservation parks, with their ecologically significant flora and fauna. The draft management plan was developed in collaboration with technical specialists, Aboriginal representatives, park managers and other stakeholders, and is open to the public consultation for three months (25 October 2021 – 25 January 2022). The Wildlife Park requires different management from the rest of the park due to the number of visitors, needing to be managed as a commercial zone. The draft plan also includes possible tourist accommodation areas, on land currently within the Wildlife Park, but away from the animal enclosures.{{cite news| title= National Park status for Cleland| work=Adelaide East Herald| first=Tijana| last= Birdjan|date= 25 November 2021}}

The park is located in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia about {{Convert|22|km}} south-east of the Adelaide city centre.{{cite web | title=Cleland National Park | website=National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia | url=https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/cleland-national-park | access-date=20 December 2021}} The conservation park occupies land in the gazetted suburbs of Cleland, Crafers and Waterfall Gully.{{cite web|title=Search result for " Cleland (Suburb)" (Record no SA0040499) with the following layers selected - "Suburbs and Localities" and "Local Government Areas"|url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/#|publisher=Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure|access-date=15 April 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012010923/http://maps.sa.gov.au/plb/|archive-date=12 October 2016|df=dmy-all}}

By far the largest part of the park consists of bushland, mostly woodland with some open spaces where clearing has taken place.{{cite book|last=Hardy|first=Anne|title=The Nature of Cleland|edition=2nd|year=1989|publisher=South Australian Government - State Print - State Publishing}}

There are a number of walking trails, including the Waterfall Gully – Mount Lofty summit trail, a popular and fairly challenging ascent of the west side of Mount Lofty, and parts of the long distance Heysen and Yurrebilla Trails, which run north–south along the higher ground in the east of the park.

From December 2012, many trails in the park became shared-use, allowing mountain bikers to also make use of the trails.{{cite web|url=http://www.ridemorebikes.com/mountain-biking-cleland-conservation-park/ |title=Mountain Biking in Cleland Conservation Park |publisher=ridemorebikes.com |date=January 2, 2013 |access-date=2018-01-13 |df=dmy-all}}

All the reserves and parks in South Australia are proclaimed under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (NPW Act) and the Wilderness Protection Act 1992 (the WP Act). Conservation of reserves are committed to the Minister under the Crown Land Management Act 2009.{{cite web | title=Park management | website=Department for Environment and Water | url=https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/park-management | access-date=20 December 2021}} The NPW Act provides for the establishment and administration of reserves for conservation of wildlife in a natural environment, public benefit and pleasure and for other purposes.{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/NATIONAL%20PARKS%20AND%20WILDLIFE%20ACT%201972/CURRENT/1972.56.AUTH.PDF|title=South Australia National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 |website=www.legislation.sa.gov.au}}

The Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board, which replaced the Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges (AMLR) in November 2020, is responsible for managing the natural assets of Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula regions.{{cite web | title=Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board – NRM Regions Australia | website=NRM Regions Australia – NRM Regions Australia is the national collaborative group for Australia’s 56 regional NRM organisations. | url=https://nrmregionsaustralia.com.au/hills-fleurieu-lb/ | access-date=19 December 2021}}

Cleland was formerly maintained by the South Australian Department for Environment & Water, and before that its predecessor, the Department for Water & Natural Resources.{{cite web |title=Cleland Conservation Park |url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find_a_Park/Browse_by_region/Adelaide_Hills/Cleland_Conservation_Park |publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources |access-date=18 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115040028/http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find_a_Park/Browse_by_region/Adelaide_Hills/Cleland_Conservation_Park }} This url now redicts to the National Parks web page for the new national park.

Cleland Wildlife Park is managed separately from the national park, as a major tourist destination since 1967{{cite web | title=Our approach | website=Cleland Wildlife Park | url= https://www.clelandwildlifepark.sa.gov.au/about-cleland/our-approach | access-date=20 December 2021}} and {{as of|lc=yes|2021}} attracting around 100,000 tourists every year. It is a member of the South Australian Tourism Hall of Fame, having won the "Significant Tourism Attraction" category in 2007, 2008 and 2009 at the South Australian Tourism Awards, and in 2021 won the Silver Award for South Australia's best tourist attraction.{{cite web | title=Home | website=Cleland Wildlife Park | date=24 May 2021 | url=https://www.clelandwildlifepark.sa.gov.au/ | access-date=20 December 2021}}

The park allows visitors to get close to the native animals in their natural environment, and offers a number of experiences such as being photographed while holding a koala, interacting with reptiles every day of the week, observing and listening to the keepers at feeding times, meeting a short-beaked echidna, various guided day and night walks and children's experiences.{{cite web | title=Cleland experiences | website=Cleland Wildlife Park | date=17 November 2014 | url=https://www.clelandwildlifepark.sa.gov.au/cleland-experiences | access-date=20 December 2021}} Wandering around the enclosures, some of the animals are able to be patted, such as the kangaroos (red and western grey) and swamp wallabies. Other animals at the park include Tasmanian devils, southern hairy-nosed wombats, western pygmy possums, bilbies, yellow-footed rock wallabies, dingoes and many native birds, and reptiles including snakes and goannas.{{cite web | title=What animals will I see? | website=Cleland Wildlife Park | url=https://www.clelandwildlifepark.sa.gov.au/plan-your-visit/discover-cleland/what-animals-will-i-see | access-date=20 December 2021}}

It is accessible by sealed road from both the South Eastern Freeway and Greenhill Road, and on foot on a formed but steep track from Waterfall Gully or Mount Lofty.{{Cite web |url=http://www.southaustraliantrails.com/trails.asp?id=13811 |title=Cleland CP - Waterfall Gully To Mount Lofty Hike |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016232730/http://www.southaustraliantrails.com/trails.asp?id=13811 |archive-date=2016-10-16}} A limited public bus service operates.{{cite web |url=https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/clelandwildlife/plan-your-visit/opening-hours-and-getting-here |title=Opening hours & getting here |website=www.environment.sa.gov.au |publisher=Cleland Wildlife Park}}

{{Further|Mount Lofty}}

Mount Lofty summit is {{Convert|727|m}} above sea level. It provides sweeping vistas across the Adelaide Plains and Gulf St Vincent. Flinders Column, a white painted obelisk shaped like a lighthouse, is a landmark which can be seen from far away on a clear day. Car parking facilities are provided: charges are payable. Public bus route 823 serves the summit with three journeys a day (including weekends and most holidays). Other facilities include an information centre/ souvenir shop, a cafe/restaurant (closed Mondays) and public toilets.

{{further|Waterfall Gully}}

Waterfall Gully, another popular part of the park, is located on its western edge. It can be accessed via the sealed Waterfall Gully Road. The main attraction is a waterfall, the largest of several in the park. The base is a short walk from the car park and the top can be reached by a formed but steep footpath, which continues to Cleland Wildlife Park and Mount Lofty summit.

• List of protected areas in Adelaide
• Cleland (disambiguation)

{{Reflist}}

• {{Citation | author1=Hardy, Anne | title=The nature of Cleland | date=1989 | publisher=State Publishing | edition=2nd | isbn=978-0-7243-6542-5 }}

• {{official|https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/cleland-national-park|Cleland National Park}}
• {{official|https://www.clelandwildlifepark.sa.gov.au/|Cleland Wildlife Park}}
• [https://www.protectedplanet.net/24317 Protected Planet]

{{Commons category-inline|Cleland Wildlife Park}}

{{Protected areas of South Australia}}

{{Zoos of South Australia}}

Category:Protected areas in Adelaide

Category:Wildlife sanctuaries of Australia

Category:1945 establishments in Australia

Category:Protected areas established in 1945

Category:Wildlife parks in Australia

Category:2021 establishments in Australia

Category:Protected areas established in 2021

Category:National parks of South Australia