Piccaninny Plains is a large-scale conservation property in Cape York Peninsula, Far North Queensland.
 

The property spans more than 170,000 hectares and is jointly owned and managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) and LewisWildlife.
 

Cape York Peninsula is widely recognised for its ecological importance. Piccaninny Plains contains a mix of rainforests, woodlands, wetlands and grasslands, supporting high levels of biodiversity.

For much of the last 250,000 years, Cape York was periodically connected to New Guinea during glacial periods when sea levels were lower. Rising sea levels approximately 6,500 years ago submerged the land bridge. As a result of this historical connection, the region’s fauna reflects influences from both Australia and New Guinea.

Piccaninny Plains supports a diverse range of species. These include well-known Australian wildlife such as wallabies, emu, brolga, jabiru (black-necked stork), and yellow-billed kingfisher, alongside species with strong New Guinean affinities such as the spotted cuscus, Papuan frogmouth and palm cockatoo. Other notable birds recorded in the region include eclectus parrots, trumpet manucodes and riflebirds.

In total, the property supports more than 400 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and over 900 plant species, with many species endemic to Cape York Peninsula.

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Land management at Piccaninny Plains focuses on practical conservation measures, particularly strategic fire management and the control of feral animals and invasive weeds. These programs are designed to maintain habitat condition and support long-term species protection across the property.