20 THINGS TO DISCOVERAT NARACOORTE CAVES NATIONAL PARK

Naracoorte Caves National Park is a unique part of the world. Once roamed by megafauna it is now characterised by ancient caves, fossils, wildlife, walking trails, and some amazing things to discover. It is one of nineteen World Heritage Sites and only one of two listed fossil sites in Australia! It is home to wombats, echidnas, possums, kangaroos and of real significance is the critically endangered Southern Bentwing Bat.

Park maps are available at the Caves Café and Wonambi Fossil Centre. For further information on tours and others things to see visit www.naracoortecaves.sa.gov.au

AGREEMENT When playing in nature I agree to:

1 Have fun

2 Get dirty

3 Learn something

4 Explore new places

5 Discover new things

6 Be kind to the plants and animals

7 Leave nothing but footprints

8 Come back to play again!

1. World Heritage Walk and Hike This nature walk will take you through a Stringybark Forest, which was burnt in 2015. Throughout the year you will see wombat, kangaroo and possum scats as well as echidna diggings. The walk begins at the rear of the Fossil Centre and extends into the Hike which takes you to Stoney Point (2.2km one way) but you can turn back at any time. On your walk see how many signs of wildlife you can discover?

4. Bat Teleview Centre and/or Bat Cave The Bat Cave in is one of only two known breeding places for the Southern Bentwing Bat. These bats have been breeding, feeding and hibernating here for thousands of years. A tour will take you through the Bat Teleview Centre where you can watch the bats on an infrared camera (if you’re lucky you may see a rare albino one!). From there you will venture into the majestic Blanche Cave ($25 Adult, $15 Child).

7. Superb Blue Fairywren One of the most brightly coloured birds. Males are bright blue and black. Females are brown with red above their eye. They weave small dome-shaped nests. Can you see how many males and females are in a group? They can be seen around the Caves Café or on the lawn and in surrounding shrubs.

2. Wonambi Fossil Centre The Wonambi Fossil Centre is for all ages and has plenty of displays about local flora, fauna and natural history. It contains an eerie cave with life-size examples of megafauna who make the strangest of sounds. How many animals can you spot in the cave? ($13 Adult and $8 for Child)

5. Wet Cave The Wet Cave is for all ages and is the only cave you can visit without a guide. It is dark and mysterious with strange and wonderful rock formations. The caves have their own lighting so it is easy to navigate. As you walk keep an eye out on the cave walls as you might see a bat or two. ($9 Adult, $5.50 Child)

8. Western Grey Kangaroo These Kangaroos can be seen on the many walking trails around the Park. They may have Joeys in their pouch or staying close to their mum. Watch them from a distance. If you look closely you may be able to see a Joey.

3. Wirreanda Camp Ground The camp grounds are nestled amongst beautiful scrub with 13 powered sites, a tennis court, plenty of areas to pitch a tent with barbecue, toilet and shower facilities. It also has the Wirreanda Bunkhouses ideal for groups up to 49 people (contact the fossil centre for more info)

6. Southern Bentwing Bat One of four critically endangered mammals in Australia, these tiny bats rely on Naracoorte Caves to breed between October and January. Their babies are called pups. They hibernate in huddles on cave ceilings in the winter months. In summer at dusk, you can watch the bats’ spectacular flight from the Bat Cave as they head out to feed on insects. See how many bats can you can spot hibernating or in flight.

9. Common Wombat Weighing over 30 kilograms, wombats may look slow but can run up to 40km an hour. They are nocturnal and have large burrow systems and live with other wombats. When you are walking keep an eye out for any large mounds with multiple entrances – but keep your distance, as we don’t want to disturb them.

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PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

natureplaysa.org.au

Thanks to all the passionate staff at the Naracoorte Caves National Park

and the Friends of Naracoorte Caves, NRM Education Natural Resources

Management SE for their contribution to this poster. This Poster is part of the

Park of the Month initiative driven by Nature Play SA and supported by the

Department for Environment Water and Natural Resources. Photography:

Jason Tyndall (JT), Natasha Dawson (ND), Peter Tucker (PT), Steve Bourne (SB),

Jeremy Gramp (JG).

10. Brush-tailed Possum A nocturnal creature with a bushy tail and pointy ears. Like all marsupials they carry their babies (joeys) in a pouch, measuring 1.5cm when they are born! They make dens in tree hollows taking over 100 years to develop! But there aren’t many old trees left so they find their way into peoples rooves. If you have a torch you may see some in the canopies at night.

13. Dryland Tea TreeThis tree has creamy bottlebrush-like flowers that emerge in spring. They attract birds and insects. The flowers develop into woody seed capsules that stay on the tree for many years. If you look closely at their branches/stems how many seed capsules can you see?

19. Kangaroo Scats Kangaroo scats are oval-shaped measuring up to 2 cm. They are shiny when fresh and fade as they get older. Based on what you find do you think Kangaroos are near by?

16. Sheoak Cones Sheoak cones can be found on the ground once they have dropped from a Sheaok tree. They are small, round and are very rough to touch. They are an important food source for both the Yellow-tailed and Red-tailed Black Cockatoos. How many Sheoak cones can you find?

11. Short-beaked Echidna Echidnas don’t have teeth. They use their long tongue to eat ants, termites, grubs, and worms. They are one of only two mammals in the world to lay eggs (the other one is the platypus). If you see one be very quiet and let them continue on their way. See how many Echidna diggings can you find?

14. Golden Wattle Our national floral emblem. In winter the yellow ball-like flowers can be seen and smelt throughout the Park. You may also notice shiny sap/gum coming from the trunk. This was eaten by local Aboriginal people and mixed with water and nectar from flowers to make sweet drinks.

20. Wombat Scats Wombat scats are squarish measuring up to 2cm. They can be found along the World Heritage Walk. You may even see the odd Wombat burrow if you look out into the trees.

17. Ant Holes/Nests Ants are very social creatures that live in colonies. Throughout the Park you will see ant holes/nests. If you watch the ants carefully, how big are the items they’re carrying? They have been known to carry things 50 times their own body weight! When walking around a nest be careful as some ants can bite or sting if disturbed.

12. Sundew Sundews are small green plants with white flowers that grow flat on the ground. When insects land on their sticky leaves they get stuck and are slowly absorbed as food! Can you see any tiny insects on their leaves? You can see them in winter/spring along the Heritage Walk.

15. Stringy Bark Trees Stringy Bark trees can be found growing all through the Park. They can take over 100 years to develop tree hollows important for shelter and breeding for possums, bats, rosellas, and cockatoos. The best place to see these trees is on the Heritage Walk. Feel their bark – does it feel stringy?

18. Echidna Diggings Echidna diggings are sure signs that Echidnas have been active and are close by. If you look closely at the base of the diggings you may see a small point where the nose of the Echidna has been digging.

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