Australia's National Parks Trivia Quiz

Answer: 25.7 million hectares

In 2008, there were approximately 25.7 million hectares of land protected in 516 national parks which covers about 3.42 percent of the continent and territories. In addition to the national parks, there is a further 34.7 million hectares of protected conservation areas (non national parks) on the mainland, islands and territories which combined with the national parks, totals 60.7 million hectares. That equates to 7.85 percent of the land of Australia and its territories.

Answer: All of them

Australia is responsible for many islands within its region and some of them such as Heard and McDonald Islands and the Australian Antarctic areas are very sensitive eco-systems. There are strict rules governing access to some of these areas and they are carefully managed to prevent their destruction and declaring them as national parks goes some way to helping with this.

Answer: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

The 'Great Barrier Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003' made the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park the largest protected marine area in the world (which was surpassed by the formation of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument in 2006.) Fishing is protected in 33.3 percent of the park. The park was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1981.

Answer: Mungo National Park

Mungo National Park is a part of the Wilandra Lakes World Heritage Site which was listed in 1981. The discovery of 'Mungo Man' was made in 1974 by ANU geologist, Dr Jim Bowler at Lake Mungo in NSW. Analysis in 2003 has shown Mungo Man's age to be about 40,000 years. Mungo National Park is a semi-arid area and contains the geological feature called 'The Walls of China,' a 33 kilometre long eroded escarpment of colourful sand and clay.

Answer: Wilson's Promontory

Wilson's Promontory was declared a national park in 1908 after lobbying since 1898. It is situated about 200 kilometres south east of Melbourne in Victoria. It is home to many kangaroos, emus and wombats which are regularly seen at dawn and dusk along the main road through the park. Most of the promontory is accessible only on foot. Seals used to be found on the promontory but were hunted to extinction in the nineteenth century.

Answer: Cradle Mountain National Park

Cradle Mountain National Park which includes Lake St Clair, is a part of the Tasmanian Wilderness area and is used extensively on Tasmanian tourist advertising. The terrain in this area was created by glaciers over the last 2 million years. Cradle Mountain NP is also the start of the Overland Track which takes hikers about six days through some of the most beautiful scenery in Australia.

The other listed answers are national parks located in Queensland.

Answer: Flinders Ranges National Park

Wilpena Pound is a natural amphitheatre covering eighty square kilometres of the Flinders ranges and contains an abundance of native fauna and flora, canyons, rocky outcrops and rugged mountains. South Australia's second highest point, St Mary Peak (1170 metres) is also located here.

The other listed answers are national parks in South Australia. Flinders Chase NP is located on Kangaroo Island.

Answer: Grampians National Park

The Grampians National Park was discovered by Europeans and named by Sir Thomas Mitchell in 1836. Mitchell named the ranges after the Grampian Mountains in his native Scotland. Zumstein Picnic Ground, a popular picnic spot for tourists, is home to tame Eastern Grey Kangaroos. A major bushfire burned about 50 percent of the park in 2006.

The local aboriginal name for the mountains is 'Gariwerd.' There is evidence of Aboriginal occupation of the ranges up to 5000 years ago and the area has many aboriginal rock paintings.

The other listed answers are national parks also located in Victoria.

Answer: Fraser Island National Park

Situated between Hervey Bay and the South Pacific Ocean and located 300 kilometres north of Brisbane is Fraser Island National Park. It is almost entirely made from sand accumulated over many thousands of years. Many freshwater lakes exist on the island along with tall forests and streams of clear freshwater. The first Europeans to see Fraser Island were when Captain James Cook sailed passed the island in 1770 however aboriginal settlement is dated to at least 5000 years ago.

Fraser Island was listed as a world heritage area in 1992.

The other listed answers are national parks also located in Queensland.

Answer: Ningaloo Marine Park

Ningaloo Marine Park is home to dugongs, dolphins, and occasionally manta rays, whale sharks and humpback whales as they pass by, and nesting loggerhead turtles. The park also encompasses one of Australia's most accessible coral reefs. The reef is 280 kilometres long and at places is only 500 metres from the coast.

In the early 2000's, the park was the scene of a major protest against a planned tourist development within the park boundaries. The protest was successful and the development was cancelled, however there is still some concern that it may still go ahead.

I hope you enjoyed this quiz.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au
Queensland Government
http://www.australiannationalparks.com
http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
http://www.csiro.au
http://www.save-ningaloo.org/