9-641: The Neales River is a watercourse located in the Far North region of the Australian state of South Australia . The river is a tributary of Lake Eyre . The Central Australia Railway , on which The Ghan passenger train operated until 1980, crossed the Neales River floodplain over Algebuckina Bridge . Neales River was named by explorer John McDouall Stuart after businessman and politician John Bentham Neales . Far North (South Australia) The Far North
18-607: A museum and underground accommodation where opal is mined, natural springs, and vast landscapes of salt lakes, sandstone tablelands, and vividly coloured hills. Permits are required to enter Aboriginal-owned land . As of 2023 , a National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia Desert Parks Pass was also needed to visit the Simpson Desert Conservation Park and Regional Reserve and east of Dalhousie Springs in Witjira National Park . A tourist pass
27-624: Is a region that covers about 70 per cent of the Australian state of South Australia . It extends across the entire width of the state – about 1200 kilometres (750 miles) – for approximately the northernmost 750 kilometres (470 miles). The state government defines the Far North region similarly, although it separately delineates the Maralinga Tjarutja Lands, the Yalata Aboriginal community and other unincorporated crown lands in
36-760: Is known as the unincorporated area , municipal services to communities outside of the foregoing local government areas are provided directly by the South Australian Government via the Outback Communities Authority . It is within the extent of the state electoral districts of Giles and Stuart , and at a national level the Division of Grey . The region has abundant national parks and reserves and widely scattered tourist attractions and facilities. Experiences and attractions include farmstays on sheep stations , unique native flora and fauna,
45-541: The national park was gazetted as a locality in April 2013 under the name "Witjira". On 26 November 2021, the government changed the conditions of the park, to forever exclude mining in the Dalhousie Springs National Heritage Area. As of 2018, it covered an area of 7,726.73 square kilometres (2,983.31 sq mi). The national park is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area . It
54-693: The north-east are the Simpson Desert , Tirari Desert , Painted Desert and Pedirka Desert . To the north and north-west is the Great Victoria Desert . The Far North is also known as the Arid Lands as a more descriptive term than " desert ". The Far North includes the following local government areas : Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY), City of Port Augusta , District Council of Coober Pedy , Flinders Ranges Council and Municipal Council of Roxby Downs . Since most of it lies within what
63-543: The state capital of Adelaide . The national park was proclaimed on 21 November 1985 to "protect Australia’s largest array of artesian springs : the nationally significant Dalhousie Mound Springs complex ". In 2007, it became the first protected area in South Australia to have formal joint management arrangements between its traditional owners and the Government of South Australia . The extent of land occupied by
72-496: The state's far west, which are officially considered part of the Eyre and Western region. Colloquially, South Australians regard anywhere north of Port Augusta as the Far North. The Far North is by far the least populated region of South Australia. The landscape comprises mainly rugged outback wilderness and desert, including some of the most arid parts of the continent, with a Köppen climate classification of BWh hot desert . In
81-729: Was also required to enter the Woomera Prohibited Area . Some significant roads in the area include the Stuart Highway from Port Augusta to Alice Springs , the Oodnadatta Track , and both the Birdsville Track and the Strzelecki Track to Queensland. Witjira National Park Witjira National Park is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia about 987 kilometres (613 miles) north of
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