PAR - Public Access Routes

What is a PAR?

These are public routes that cross private property to an area of public interest (eg historical sites). Do not assume they are accessible either by 2WD or 4WD - permission is not required per se, but note that PARs can be closed for a variety of reasons (eg stock movement, weather and seasonal closures ). Assume that are pets not allowed. Allow roads to dry out after rain before traversing them.

PARS came about because of the hardwork of delegates from the FWDSA association, 4WD clubs, and cooperation of goverment, leasees, and owners - so please respect that effort and the property you traverse.

Report on the condition of a PAR

PAR Report Form (MS Word document) - report on the condition of a public access route using our standardised reporting template - you need to read it before travelling to get an idea of the information that helps.

Bear in mind that the PARs are primarily unmaintained 4wd tracks. We are looking at conditions that are at least suitable for off-the-shelf high clearance 4WD’s with low range facility.

Camping rules

The following is a general guide. Please refer to the pdf available via www.pir.sa.gov.au/primary_industry/pastoral_leases_in_sa/travelling_across_pastoral_leases for conditions of use and requirements. Also landscape.sa.gov.au has some brochures on the Oodnadatta, Birdsville and Strzelecki tracks (also available as Apple and Android apps).

13/02/23 Update: FWDSA now has documentary evidence that PARs 1-8 inclusive are constituted by a 100 metre corridor centred on the existing track. The gazette notices creating those 8 PARs only refer to a line between 2 points, however they also refer to rack plans (maps) held within the dept, and in each case, these rack plans contain an endorsement that the PAR is 100 metres wide.

In the case of PARs 9-24, the gazette notices refer to the coordinates (a line between 2 points, but do not refer to a rack plan.

DEW are working to review all written material in relation to PARs and camping, and have agreed to involve FWDSA inc. before publishing any misleading material. In addition, the NRAU will be proposing that the definition issue be fixed.

Camping is permitted anywhere within 50 metres of the track along all routes except the Copper King Mine route and the Tallaringa Route. On the Copper King route camping is only allowed along the gum creek. No camping is allowed on the Tallaringa PAR while traversing Mabel Creek Station.

On other routes, camping is not permitted within one kilometre of any house or occupied dwelling, or within 500 metres of a constructed stock watering point. Please ensure that only dead wood is used for campfires, and do not use fires during the fire-ban season. All rubbish is to be taken out, not buried.

If the PAR terminates at an historic or natural feature of interest, camp only where indicated.

Do not pollute waterways with soap etc. Do not bath in troughs, tanks. Do not interfere with stock. Carry out your rubbish.

PARS in the Flinders

These include Nuccaleena, Artimore, Mount Hack, Hannigans Gap, and Patawarta.

Nuccaleena Mine: 42km north east of Parachilna, on Moolooloo Station. 14km length, slow.
Artimore Ruins: 28km north east of Blinman, on Oratunga Station
Patawartha Gap: 42km north east of Blinman, on Moolooloo Station
Copper King Mine: Puttapa Station (Beltana area)

PARS elsewhere

As at early 2013, there are 24 PARs (many as a result of the focus created in 2002 by the Year of The Outback). The following are amongst the earliest created:

Lake Eyre: Muloorina Station
Tallaringa: Mabel Creek Station
Curdimurka: Stuarts Creek Station
Pedirka: Eringa Station

PAR tracks are signposted as such. Unless otherwise specified a PAR is a corridor 100m in width; and with the track as a centre line camping is allowed only within this corridoor.⁽¹⁾

How is a PAR created?

The Pastoral Board identifies and formally delineates public access to points of interest on and through land held under pastoral lease (as needs and resources permit). The process of identification involves consultation with lessees, conservation interests, tourism, operators, 4WD vehicle clubs, and other interested groups. Tracks are signposted before being formally gazetted.⁽¹⁾

How to find out more about PARS

Always check the latest status. Some PARS may be officillay closed indefinitely due to severe weather damage etc. See PAR special noitices at www.dit.sa.gov.au/OutbackRoads/outback_road_warnings/special_notices. Also outback road conditions at DPTI (it's a PDF).

Visit www.pir.sa.gov.au/primary_industry/pastoral_leases_in_sa/travelling_across_pastoral_leases where you will find details on the 24 PARs via a pdf document.. Due to their occasional website redesign the link may no longer be current. Alternatively, a great publication can be found at the Outback Communities Authority's website called "4WD TRACKS & REPEATER TOWERS", and may be able to be picked up for instance at the Wadlata Outback Interpretive Centre in Port Augusta. This copy of the PAR publication also lists the Public Access Routes (PARS).