Archives: Discovery Centres

Wildlife Wonders is a wildlife sanctuary like no other nestled in Apollo Bay, Victoria. Here, you have the unique opportunity to experience wildlife living as they would in the wild.   Our sanctuary showcases the native Australian landscape as it once was and as it should be: full of life! Immerse yourself in nature with a…

The Aquarium opened in 1988 to showcase Western Australian marine life. The aquarium, Australia’s largest, holds 3 million litres of water, and the underwater tunnel is almost 100 m long. Specimens include the western rock lobster, peacock mantis shrimp, sharks, turtles, rays, and saltwater crocodiles. There are special programs and experiences like shark dives, glass…

The Gullen Range Wind Farm near Crookwell features 73 turbines, each with a capacity of 1.5 MW or 2.5 MW. The towers on the larger 2.5 MW turbines are 80 m high, with blades 50 m long. They produce electricity in wind blowing from 3 – 25 m/s, and produce their rated power from wind…

Hoochery Distillery is on a farm in the Ord River Valley, just north of Kununurra. The spirit is made from fermented molasses, and aged for years in charred oak barrels. See the hand-made double-pot still on a 30 minute tour of the distillery.  There’s a café for coffee and cake or lunch, as well as…

Monarto Safari Park in the Murraylands is home to more than 500 animals across more than 50 species. The park spans more than 1500 ha and the animal enclosures are connected by a network of walking trails, as well as a free hop-on hop-off bus loop. The park’s residents include black and southern white rhinos,…

TwistEd Science is a hands-on science centre on the eastern side of Melbourne. Most of the exhibits don’t include instructions and visitors have to try and explore to use them. There is a special zone for preschoolers, and a cosy space for under 2s. There is some crossover with TwistEd Science in Echuca, but most…

Discover the animals that lived in central Australia during the Miocene, about 8 million years ago. Megafauna Central displays the fossils uncovered by scientists working in the Alcoota Scientific Reserve, 115 km north-east of Alice Springs. The fossilised remains of 30 species have been discovered at Alcoota, including the world’s largest bird, Dromornis stirtoni, that…

The Museum of Vehicle Evolution’s (MOVE) collection includes historical cars from around the world, motorbikes, trucks and vintage bicycles. There is also a display of Furphy water carts and other products from their foundry in Shepparton. The fashion gallery draws on a collection of more than 7500 objects going back 200 years. The museum hold…

The Mountain Maid Gold Mine near Gloucester operated for about 50 years after alluvial gold was discovered in 1876, and more than 1800 kg of gold was extracted from the district. On this walking tour you’ll see heritage gold mining equipment including a stamper battery, separator and mine carts, and have a chance to pan…

The Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens surround lagoons that have been an important part of the landscape throughout white settlement, and were the site of feasting grounds for Indigenous peoples before that. The garden is divided into zones and small gardens including plants indigenous to central Queensland, a Japanese garden celebrating Mackay’s sister city Matsuura, the…