Charnley River–Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Wildlife sanctuary in Kimberley region, Australia.
Charnley River-Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in the Kimberley region of Western Australia covering 300,000 hectares of diverse terrain. The landscape displays red sandstone ranges, deep gorges, scattered rainforest pockets, savannah woodlands, and inland wetlands connected by flowing waterways.
The land served as Beverley Springs Station, a cattle operation, until the Australian Wildlife Conservancy acquired it in 1990 to protect native wildlife. This transition marked a shift from livestock farming to active conservation focused on preserving the region's animals and ecosystems.
The sanctuary borders the Wilinggin Indigenous Protected Area, connecting to the historical Munja Aboriginal Cattle Station where 700 Aboriginal people lived in 1927.
The sanctuary is accessible by vehicle but only fully navigable during the dry season, as heavy rains make access roads impassable during other times. Visitors should bring their own supplies, including water and food, and plan accordingly since facilities on site are limited.
This region ranks among the few mainland Australian areas where no animal species have vanished since European settlement began. This remarkable preservation makes it exceptionally rare for retaining its complete native fauna across centuries.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
