When you think of Australia, you might picture the vast expanses of the Outback—a region that covers most of the country and contributes to Australia being the flattest and driest inhabited continent on Earth. What you may not know is that much of this arid landscape was once an ancient ocean floor, still hiding the fossilized remains of some of the oldest animals on the planet. Learn about life on Earth nearly a billion years ago in this new national park.
Now, you have the rare opportunity to explore these ancient treasures at the newly opened Nilpena Ediacara National Park in South Australia, about a six-hour drive from Adelaide. In April 2024, this park in South Australia began welcoming visitors to witness its world-renowned fossil beds up close and learn about the groundbreaking work of the paleontologists who unearthed these significant fossil sites.
At Nilpena Ediacara National Park, you’ll find nearly 40 discovered fossil beds, and ongoing excavations promise even more discoveries. Your visit includes guided tours where you can see these ancient fossils preserved in place, offering an unparalleled glimpse into early animals. An audio-visual recreation also brings these ancient creatures to life, enhancing your understanding of their significance.
Due to the international importance of these fossils and scientists’ ongoing research, access to the fossil sites is only available through guided tours that must be booked in advance through the only guide authorized to provide these tours: Ross Fargher. Ross owns the nearby Prairie Hotel and he isn’t just a tour guide—he’s an integral part of Nilpena’s history. In the 1980s, he stumbled upon several fossilized life forms himself, which supported an Australian geologist’s earlier findings from the 1940s.
According to scientists studying the fossils at Nilpena, Ediacara biota fossils have been found all over the world, but the specimens in South Australia offer the best-preserved records ever discovered of this ancient life. When you visit, you help contribute to the park’s larger mission: supporting efforts to garner the park a UNESCO designation and preserve the site for future generations.
Learn about life on Earth nearly a billion years ago in this new national park. Just imagine peering half a billion years into the history of Earth. Science nerd? Just curious about the origins of life on Earth? Nilpena Ediacara National Park could be your most unforgettable adventure.
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