unesco heritage sites - australia and oceania

AUSTRALIA AND OCEANIA

LORD HOWE ISLAND GROUP

A remarkable example of isolated oceanic islands, born of volcanic activity more than 2,000 m under the sea, these islands boast a spectacular topography and are home to numerous endemic species, especially birds.

Location: New South WalesDate of Inscription: 1982Criteria: (vii)(x)Property : 146,300 ha 

WILLANDRA LAKES REGION

The fossil remains of a series of lakes and sand formations that date from the Pleistocene can be found in this region, together with archaeological evidence of human occupation dating from 45–60,000 years ago. It is a unique landmark in the study of human evolution on the Australian continent. Several well-preserved fossils of giant marsupials have also been found here. Location: Balranald and Wentworth shires, New South WalesDate of Inscription: 1981Criteria: (iii)(viii)Property : 240,000 ha

KAKADU NATIONAL PARK

This unique archaeological and ethnological reserve, located in the Northern Territory, has been inhabited continuously for more than 40,000 years. The cave paintings, rock carvings and archaeological sites record the skills and way of life of the region’s inhabitants, from the hunter-gatherers of prehistoric times to the Aboriginal people still living there. It is a unique example of a complex of ecosystems, including tidal flats, floodplains, lowlands and plateaux, and provides a habitat for a wide range of rare or endemic species of plants and animals. Location: Northern territoryDate of Inscription: 1981Criteria: (i)(vi)(vii)(ix)(x)Property : 1,980,995 ha 

SPECIES

GREAT BARRIER REEF

The Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety and beauty on the north-east coast of Australia. It contains the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, with 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusc. It also holds great scientific interest as the habitat of species such as the dugong (‘sea cow’) and the large green turtle, which are threatened with extinction. Location: Off the east coast of the Queensland mainlandDate of Inscription: 1981Criteria: (vii)(viii)(ix)(x)Property : 34,870,000 ha 

NEW ZEALAND

TE WAHIPOUNAMU – SOUTH WEST NEW ZEALAND

The landscape in this park, situated in south-west New Zealand, has been shaped by successive glaciations into fjords, rocky coasts, towering cliffs, lakes and waterfalls. Two-thirds of the park is covered with southern beech and podocarps, some of which are over 800 years old. The kea, the only alpine parrot in the world, lives in the park, as does the rare and endangered takahe, a large flightless bird. Location: Southwest of South IslandDate of Inscription: 1990Criteria: (vii)(viii)(ix)(x)Property : 2,600,000 ha  

SPECIES

TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK

In 1993 Tongariro became the first property to be inscribed on the World Heritage List under the revised criteria describing cultural landscapes. The mountains at the heart of the park have cultural and religious significance for the Maori people and symbolize the spiritual links between this community and its environment. The park has active and extinct volcanoes, a diverse range of ecosystems and some spectacular landscapes. Date of Inscription: 1990Extension: 1993Criteria: (vi)(vii)(viii)Property : 79,596 ha 

NEW ZEALAND SUB-ANTARCTIC ISLANDS

The New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands consist of five island groups (the Snares, Bounty Islands, Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands and Campbell Island) in the Southern Ocean south-east of New Zealand. The islands, lying between the Antarctic and Subtropical Convergences and the seas, have a high level of productivity, biodiversity, wildlife population densities and endemism among birds, plants and invertebrates. They are particularly notable for the large number and diversity of pelagic seabirds and penguins that nest there. There are 126 bird species in total, including 40 seabirds of which five breed nowhere else in the world.

Location: New Zealand Subantartic zoneDate of Inscription: 1998Criteria: (ix)(x)Property : 76,458 ha

FIJI

LEVUKA HISTORICAL PORT TOWN

The town and its low line of buildings set among coconut and mango trees along the beach front was the first colonial capital of Fiji, ceded to the British in 1874. It developed from the early 19th century as a centre of commercial activity by Americans and Europeans who built warehouses, stores, port facilities, residences, and religious, educational and social institutions around the villages of the South Pacific island’s indigenous population. It is a rare example of a late colonial port town that was influenced in its development by the indigenous community which continued to outnumber the European settlers. Thus the town, an outstanding example of late 19th century Pacific port settlements, reflects the integration of local building traditions by a supreme naval power, leading to the emergence of a unique landscape.

Date of Inscription: 2013Criteria: (ii)(iv)Property : 70 ha Buffer zone: 363 ha

KIRIBATI

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA

The Phoenix Island Protected Area (PIPA) is a 408,250 sq.km expanse of marine and terrestrial habitats in the Southern Pacific Ocean. The property encompasses the Phoenix Island Group, one of three island groups in Kiribati, and is the largest designated Marine Protected Area in the world. PIPA conserves one of the world's largest intact oceanic coral archipelago ecosystems, together with 14 known underwater sea mounts (presumed to be extinct volcanoes) and other deep-sea habitats. The area contains approximately 800 known species of fauna, including about 200 coral species, 500 fish species, 18 marine mammals and 44 bird species. The structure and functioning of PIPA's ecosystems illustrates its pristine nature and importance as a migration route and reservoir. This is the first site in Kiribati to be inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Date of Inscription: 2010Criteria: (vii)(ix)Property : 40,825,000 ha