Newhaven Reserve, protected area in the Northern Territory, Australia
Newhaven Reserve is a large protected area near Alice Springs that displays the diversity of Central Australian landscape. The property spans about 262,000 hectares and sits at the intersection of three bioregions: the Great Sandy Desert, MacDonnell Ranges, and Burt Plain, creating a variety of habitats including woodlands, sand dunes, salt lakes, and clay pans.
The land originated as a cattle station before being transformed into a wildlife sanctuary in the early 2000s. The official establishment as a protected area in 2006 marked a shift toward safeguarding native fauna and flora from introduced predators, particularly feral cats.
The land was formerly used for cattle grazing and retains the name of its station heritage. Today it serves as a place where local Ngalia-Warlpiri and Luritja communities work alongside wildlife organizations to manage the property and protect native species.
The reserve is open for camping from April to September, and visitors should book in advance. The drive from Alice Springs takes about four to five hours over rough dirt roads, so prepare with water and navigation aids like a GPS device.
The reserve is home to the world's largest feral cat removal project, with a fenced area of about 9,400 hectares established for protection. Within this enclosed zone, seven threatened mammal species have been reintroduced, including the mala and golden bandicoot.
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