Explore three floors of exhibitions and interactive displays at the South Australian Whale Centre to learn about whaling history and the lives of whales. The aquatic attraction features skeletons, models, whaling artifacts and a replica ship.
Go to the 3-D theater for the 12-minute film about southern right whales in Patagonia, South America. There is also a short black-and-white documentary filmed during the time when whaling was an important industry here. Browse whaling artifacts, such as harpoons and pots used to boil blubber to make oil. Look for a flenser, a sharp tool used to strip blubber and skin from a whale.
Study the skull of a southern right whale and the vertebra of a sperm whale. See models of whales, read information panels about different species and view the many murals with whale and fish themes.
Let the younger children in your party enter the Kids Zone where they can crawl through a representation of a giant squid's belly. Tour the aboriginal exhibit, which tells the story of Kondoli, the whale man. This is an old aboriginal tale from the Ramindjeri people of Encounter Bay and is set in the countryside near Adelaide.
In the museum's cellar, find the Sea Shepherd Steve Irwin MV Exhibit, which is a small replica of one of the Australian nature expert's ships. Look through its portholes, step into the captain’s office, take the wheel at the helm and watch footage of some of the real vessel’s expeditions.
Located just behind the whale tale fountain in the Warland Reserve, this family-friendly attraction is easy to get to on foot from anywhere else in the small town. Alternatively, drive and use the free parking spots by the center or the free and paid spaces in the immediate vicinity.
The South Australian Whale Centre is open every day except Christmas Day and charges for admission. Get discounted family tickets based on two adults and two children. Children age 4 and under have free entry.