Sturt National Park
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Sturt National Park is located in the north western region of New South Wales, Australia. Sturt National Park was used on an British documentary called "Planet Earth". 330 km north of the town along the Silver City Highway is Sturt National Park which covers 344,000 hectares of classic outback terrain. Formerly five pastoral properties, it is estimated that between 1880 and 1910 over 50 per cent of all the wildlife in the area was driven from the land by graziers who overstocked to a point where most of the edible saltbush and copper-burr was destroyed. Nonetheless, since the park's dedication in 1972 the vegetation is returning to what remains the best stretch of real outback desert to be seen in New South Wales. The reserve contains relics of both Aboriginal habitation (mostly middens and stone remnants) and European pastoral history. The park's topography is startlingly different ranging from red sandhills rising up to 15 m above the claypans, to dry creek beds and small rocky gorges, to gibber plains (stony desert) and 'jump-up' country - isolated mesas which rise forlornly above their flat surroundings to a height of 150 m. The flora is predominantly mulga bushland and arid shrubland, although a rich carpet of wildflowers can emerge after heavy rains. The park is inhabited by red kangaroos, euros and a large variety of lizards and birds including emus, dotterels, the pratincole (which does an interesting broken-wing imitation to lead predators away from its nest), wedge-tailed eagles, kestrels and babblers (which characteristically follow each other through the trees and along the ground). A lake appears occasionally providing a temporary haven for waterbirds. At the western end of the reserve is Explorers Tree where Sturt once buried food. Drives and walks are popular in this unique reserve and there are camping places at at Dead Horse Gully, Mount Wood, Olive Downs and Fort Grey. They all have toilets, gas barbecues and water. Camping fees apply, but bookings are not necessary, Ring (08) 8091 3308 for further information.
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