Belair National Park

Belair National Park South Australia
IUCN category II (national park)
Belair National Park
Nearest town or city	Adelaide city centre
Coordinates
Established	1891
Area	8.35 km2 (3.2 sq mi)
Visitation	358,619 (in 2003)
Managing authorities	Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
Website	Belair National Park
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

Belair National Park (formerly known as Belair Recreation Park) is a protected area located at Belair in South Australia (Australia), south of Adelaide city centre and which covers an area of . It was proclaimed in 1891 and was the first national park in South Australia, second in Australia (after Sydney's Royal National Park which was proclaimed in 1879) and the tenth in the world. The national park lies within the Adelaide Hills and Mitcham council area, and forms part of a chain of protected areas located along the Adelaide Hills Face Zone. The national park is administered by the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.

The Belair National Park has excellent recreation and social facilities within an outdoor environment. There are many areas of interest within the park, including Old Government House, the Nursery, Playford Lake and the Adventure Playground. It has numerous tennis courts and ovals, and has walking, bike and horse-riding trails. The national park has an outstanding presentation of the State’s native fauna, attracting visitors, showcasing the State’s park system and contributing to the community awareness of the natural environment. Some species of fauna commonly encountered in the national park include the southern brown bandicoot, tawny frogmouth, brown tree frog and shingleback lizard.

Weed invasion

File:Hypericum perforatum field belair park.jpg

Invasive weed Hypericum perforatum in the Park

The first European people traversed the Belair area in 1837. In 1840, Governor Gawler raised a government farm on which sick horses and bullocks from government departments could be agisted. In 1881, a proposal was put forward for small agricultural holdings and also, the national park was dedicated, making it the first National Park in South Australia. Many exotic and non-indigenous plants were introduced and are now found in the park as weeds. Numerous native plants, such as Cootamundra wattle, have become environmental weeds after being introduced into areas outside their natural range.

The Belair National Park has suffered major disturbance to its natural ecosystems and natural vegetation communities through the accidental invasion of non-indigenous plants as well as the deliberate introduction of exotic and non-indigenous plants to certain zones within the park.

Walking Trails

File:Belair Old Government House.jpg

Old Government House, a historic building in Belair National Park.

File:Old log belair national park.jpg

The end of the Waterfall Hike

Wood Duck Dawdle

A short circuit around Playford Lake.

Lorikeet Loop Walk

A 3 km circuit walk from the main car park to the Adventure Playground.

Valley Loop Walk

A 3 km circuit walk to Long Gully.

Microcarpa Walk

A 4 km circuit departing from near Playford Lake.

Waterfall Hike

The national park 's best walk. A 6.5 km circuit that visits the park's waterfalls and travels to the higher areas away from the recreation areas.

Yurrebilla Trail

The first 5 km of the Yurrebilla Trail is in the national park . It begins at the Belair railway station and continues toward the Lower Waterfall before departing the park at the Sheoak Road boundary.

See also

• Protected areas of South Australia
• List of protected areas in Adelaide

External links

• Belair National Park official webpage
• Belair National Park webpage on protected planet