The Breakaways Conservation Park (prior to July 2013 called The Breakaways Reserve or just simply The Breakaways) is a protected area in northern South Australia, just off the Stuart Highway 33 km (21 mi) north of Coober Pedy. The Breakaways CP is managed under a co-management agreement by the Department of Environment, Water, and Natural Resources in conjunction with the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal Corporation and the District Council of Coober Pedy.© Wikipedia
Would you like to enter your own description & more? It's free, click HERE.
Breakaways Conservation Park is located just north of Coober Pedy in South Australia. We headed out on the 70 kilometre return drive from town to look at some of the features of this amazing landscape.
We headed to Lookouts 1 and 2 that are viewing areas looking over the colourful low hill in the desert area. Apparently these hills look as though they have broken away from the Stuart Range - thus the name. Signs near the car parking areas provide information on the Aboriginal names of the hills and significance of this area. The desert seems to change colour as the sun moves across the sky and it has been used as a film location for movies such as Mad Max.
Surprisingly this baron looking area is home to a variety of plant species and wildlife such as the red kangaroo, echicna and the fat-tailed dunnart (a small marsupial not much bigger than a mouse). I understand that a sign saying "Dust Drop Here" means you stop your vehicle and allow dust to drop off the tyres before proceeding along the track.
The entire park is an Aboriginal Heritage area which is of cultural importance - read the signs and they will explain dreamtime stores about the creation of hills such as "salt and pepper".
The road back to Coober Pedy from The Breakaways runs along part of the Dog Fence or “Dingo Fence”. This fence stretches for over 5,300 kilometres across Three states to protect the sheep county in the south. Part of the area along the fence is known as the moon plain which consists of rocks, soft clay and cracks in the earth as far as the eye can see.
Fees apply to enter Breakaways Conservation Park and permits can be purchased form the Visitor Information Centre in Coober Pedy - I think this was $10 for our day visit.