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Wildlife Region

Eyre Peninsula

Lincoln National Park

Surrounded by pristine waters on three sides, Lincoln National Park and Memory Cove lays claim to a vast sand dune system, rugged offshore islands, dramatic cliffs, secluded white sandy beaches and the largest natural harbour in Australia. To the south, massive, wind-sculpted sand dunes provide amazing vistas of the pounding surf of the Southern Ocean. A mixture of mallee eucalypts grown atop of granite dominate the area whilst towards the dunes, coastal beared heath, wattle species and a variety of other low coastal shrubs are common, providing habitat for Rosenberg's Goanna, Short-beaked Echidnas, Western Whipbirds and Hooded Dotterels. In beautiful Memory Cove birds encountered include Purple-Gaped Honeyeaters, Striated Pardalotes, Spiney-cheeked Honeyeaters, Dusky Woodswallows, Australian Pipits, Western Yellow Robins, Blue-breasted Fairy Wrens and White-Browed Scrubwrens.

Coffin Bay National Park

This national park occupies the Coffin Bay Peninsula, with sheltered bays to the north, coastal dunes, swamps and a coastline which overlooks islands, reefs, limestone cliffs. Over 150 species of birds have been recorded including plentiful Emus, Western Grey Kangaroos and 20 species of lizards. Coastal shrublands and heaths are abundant in the area including the beautiful cocky tongue, which yields large orange, red and yellow flowers during late winter and spring. The beaches of the peninsula are important summer nesting grounds for the Hooded Dotterel, Pied Oystercatcher and Red-capped Plover, whilst the rugged cliffs provide habitat for White-bellied Sea Eagles and Osprey to nest. Other notable birds include the Eastern Reef Egret, Australiasian Shoveler, Cape Barren Goose, Eastern Curlew, Wood Sandpiper, Latham's Snipe, Buff-banded Rail, Swamp Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Scarlet Robin, Diamond Firetail, White-winged Chough, Blue-breasted Fairy-wren Weebill, Southern Emu-wren and Western Whipbird .

Neptune Islands Marine Park

The Neptune Island Marine Park is best known for cage diving with the Great White Shark and for hosting the largest Australian population of Long-nosed Fur Seals, with half the Australian population breeding on these granite outcrops. Long-nosed Fur Seal pups are born in summer but don’t venture into the ocean until winter, when giant female Great Whites (up to 6-metres) prey upon the unsuspecting pups. The Neptune Islands are influenced by the warm Leeuwin Current in winter and the cold Flinders Current in summer and is also haven for sharks like the Mako, Bronze Whaler and Hammerhead Shark. On the South Neptune Islands populations of Cape Barren Geese, White-bellied Sea Eagles, Osprey and Peregrine Falcons can be found.

Big Swamp Wetlands

Big Swamp Wetland is three seasonal fresh water lakes, that form a water dependant eco system, with a large and ancient Red Gum forest, creating a unique habitat for many documented rare wildlife, bird species of passerines and non-passerines, threatened plant species, fresh water tortoise, native fish and invertebrates.

These wetlands are nationally important wetlands, and are the last true “fresh water wetlands” on Eyre Peninsula and contain many endanerged species including waterfowl, raptors, Southern Emu-wren & Western Whipbird, and five types of migratory waders. A bird hide is available for viewing these species as well as Black Swans, Grey Teal Ducks, Chestnut Teal Ducks, Pink-eared Ducks, Musk Ducks, Black-winged Stilts, Banded Plovers, Common Greenshanks and Cape Barren Geese.