Australia’s newest National Park!

The headwaters and rainforests of the Chester River are now protected in the new Kulla National Park. Photo: Kerry Trapnell

Kulla NP - A special gift for all Australians

On Wednesday 6 August, 2008, Australia’s newest National Park was created - following a special ceremony in the tiny town of Coen, in central Cape York Peninsula. The ceremony was attended by traditional owners, environmentalists and the Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh.

The new National Park protects 160 000 hectares of irreplaceable wild country.

The aboriginal owned Kulla National Park protects the tropical rainforests of an area known as the McIlwraith Range in eastern Cape York.

This is a region of outstanding biodiversity which will now be jointly managed and protected by traditional owners and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

Map of Kulla NP - Cape York Peninsula (Qld)

The forests of the McIlwraith are the largest remaining tract of wilderness tropical rainforest in Australia.

These forests provide a safe haven for a dazzling range of species with very strong ecological and historical connections to Papua New Guinea. 

At least 223 different species of butterfly are found in these forests as is 16% of the entire Australian species of orchid. More than 1000 different plant species have been recorded in this forest which is also home to the southern Cassowary, the grey cuscus and the beautiful eclectus parrot.

The McIlwraith Range is the northern most section of the Great Dividing Range. The Great Dividing Range is an ancient network of high country that runs the entire length of the east Coast of Australia.

Looking eastward from the McIlwraith Range are the turquoise waters of Great Barrier Reef whilst westwards are the vast floodplains of the stately Archer River.

The headwaters of the Archer are located in the dense rainforests of the new National Park. The river then winds westward, inundating the famous Aurukun wetlands before terminating in the rich waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The Archer is proposed for protection under the Queensland Government’s wild rivers initiative.

The creation of this new aboriginal owned National Park is the result of more than a decade of sensitive negotiations between the Queensland Government, traditional owners and conservation groups, including The Wilderness Society.

These old growth hoop pines are now protected in the Kulla National Park. Photo: Kerry Trapnell

The Kulla National Park was first proposed for protection in 1989.

Over the past decade, 200 000 hectares of country adjoining the new National Park have also been returned to the stewardship of traditional owners.

This new National Park is a wonderful addition to our protected area estate and an incredible gift from the traditional owners to all Australians.

In time, the Kulla National Park will be recognised as one of the great National Parks and will be mentioned in the same breath as Kakadu, Lamington and Fraser Island.

Lyndon Schneiders is the Northern Australia Campaign Manager for The Wilderness Society.