Rosemary Park
Surroundings
WHAT TO VISIT?
The Town of Zadar is the central spot for excursions to national and nature parks. Kornati National Park is located 30km away, Krka National Park is 80km away, Paklenica national Park is 45km away, Plitvice Lakes National Park is 120km away, while Vransko Lake Nature Park and Telaščica Nature Park are 40km and 30km away, respectively.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
The famous Plitvice Lakes are only 1.5-hour drive from the villa. Plitvice Lakes are the oldest national park in Croatia famous for its 16 crystal-clear emerald-blue terraced lakes with different shades bleeding into each other. They are interconnected by cascades and waterfalls and separated by sedimentary travertine barriers. They are situated among the beautiful wooded mountains and the main tourist attraction is the Large Waterfall (Cro. Veliki slap) which is 78 m high and is also the highest waterfall in Croatia. In addition to the lakes, the park also contains several caves, and the caves of Golubnjača and Šupljara are open to visitors.
Paklenica National Park
It is situated among the spectacular gorges of the Velebit Mountain. The Paklenica National Park abounds in lush forests (located within a predominantly rocky and sparsely wooded area) with amazing natural phenomena formed through geomorphological processes, such as the canyons of Mala and Velika Paklenica, caves and mountain tops popular among free climbing enthusiasts, the most popular among them being Anića Kuk. The Park is a paradise for climbers and has got many mountain trails. There is a mountain lodge and several mountain shelters in the park.
Kornati National Park
This unique national park located within the archipelago of Kornati includes almost 100 islands, islets and reefs. It is located between the towns of Šibenik and Zadar and offers you an ideal opportunity for a day trip by boat. The largest island of the archipelago after which the park was named is Kornat. Today, the island is uninhabited, but it used to be a populated area in the past, as evidenced by the small churches and the remains of houses and the Byzantine fortress of Tureta. The custom of celebrating Our Lady of Tarca (Cro. Gospa od Tarca) with pilgrimage by boat to a small church at the Bay of Tarac has remained to this day.
Krka National Park
In the vicinity of the Town of Šibenik, in its hinterland, you will find this national park which covers the entire course of the River Krka. There are 7 waterfalls on the river, the largest and the most popular one being Skradinski Buk, bustling with visitors in the summer months who can swim in the river in the close proximity of the waterfall. In addition to the amazing waterfalls, karst landscape forms, caves, as well as the river flora and fauna, Krka National Park has got an exceptionally rich historical and cultural heritage, with the islet of Visovac with the Franciscan monastery and the Krka monastery located within the park.
Vransko Lake Nature Park
The largest lake in Croatia is situated by the sea, in the vicinity of the Village of Pakoštane which is located near the Town of Zadar and has certainly earned its title of a nature park. There are numerous wading bird species occupying this wetland habitat, and in addition to the variety of bird life, the lake abounds in freshwater fish species. The park has got many well-kept hiking and biking trails, and we also recommend you visit the Cape Kamenjak scenic viewpoint offering an unforgettable view of the lake, the shore and the surrounding islands.
Telašćica National Park
The Telašćica Nature Park on Dugi Otok is another insular area worth visiting by boat. The Park includes the Bay of Telašćica, which is the largest and the safest natural port on the Adriatic Sea with as many as 25 creeks and 5 islets. It is protected from the wind blowing from any direction, and this is what makes it the boaters’ favourite spot. In the Telašćica National Park, you will also see the salt lake named Mir (meaning ‘peace’), as well as the magnificent cliffs on the outer side of the island. The cliffs drop down sharply into the sea, offering a truly magnificent sight. There is a donkey sanctuary in the park, as well.