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ATTRACTIONS
Attractions/Inspections
Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden
Situated 1.4 km from the start of the Stuart Highway heading towards the Northern Territory.
The garden occupies an area of more
than 200 hectares. About 12 km of walking tracks have been established to allow you to view the existing and introduced arid native plants. Group plantings with interpretive signage showcase the various regional arid zone environments of Southern Australia.
It is free to inspect the garden, however you can either pick up a self guided tour brochure from the Visitor Centre to learn more about the arid land plants yourself or stroll around at your own pace. Most of the plants are labled with many informative interpretive signs to give you a little more information.
Experienced Tour Guides are also eager to show case their Garden to you. The Garden is also a bird lovers paradise with two bird hides having been established for the real enthusiast. Nesting boxes have also been established throughout the Garden.
The Award winning Visitor Centre, contains
interpretive displays and a small theatrett. The licensed Bluebush Café has some of the best food and cakes in town, all made on site, a gift shop that stocks only Australian-made products that depict the Arid Zone of Australia.
The WMC Herbarium - Meeting Room can be hired for meetings and conferences.
The Visitor Centre is open Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5pm.
Saturday-Sunday 10.00am - 4.00pm,
Open all public holidays except Christmas Day.
The Garden - opens at 7.30am and closes at sundown.
Guided Tours - Monday-Friday at 10am (Charge applies.
For large groups, including weekend tours by appointment.
Phone: (08) 86411 049 Fax (08) 86411 241.
Email: aridlands@portaugusta.sa.gov.au
Web: http://www.australian-aridlands-botanic-garden.org
Curdnatta Art Pottery Gallery - 105 Commercial Road.
The building was opened in
1878, as Port Augusta first Railway Station, known as Railway Terminus.
The Gallery is run by local volunteer artists who produce high-quality paintings, pottery, crafts and fabric art.
Open Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm.
Entry by donation.
Phone 08 86 410195
Fountain Gallery - 43 Flinders Tce.
This is one of Port Augusta’s newer
attractions, but ironically positioned in one of the cities most oldest and charming
buildings, being the Chapel of the old Saint Joseph’s Convent on Flinders
Terrace, next to the Wadlata Outback Centre.
It provides a unique, quality
venue for the display of a variety of local contemporary cultural products,
as well as professional travelling exhibitions, including acrylic and oil painting,
sketching, bronze and wood sculpture, textiles, ceramics and photography.
Open Monday to Saturday 10am - 4pm during exhibitions only.
No Charge.
Phone 08 86 424557
Homestead Park Pioneer Museum - Elsie Street.
Turn east at McDonalds, Highway One.
The 140-year old log station homestead, originally
at Yudnapinna Station 100 km to the northwest of Port Augusta, now houses Port Augusta’s
museum of the pioneer era.
The Homestead is fully furnished in period
style and accessorized with hundreds of authentic items from the 19th century.
A
buggy shed is equipped with saddles, harnesses and bridles, along with two
1920 carriages.
There is an original blacksmith’s shop complete with
machinery that can be fired up upon request.
Open 7 days, 9am - 4pm.
Closed lunch 12pm-1pm.
Ph 08 8642 2035.
Mural on the Hill - All Saints Church Hill -Highway One.
The story of Port Augusta from the Aboriginal Dreaming to European settlement to the present day, is interpreted as, “Our Story, Our Pride”,
The beautiful work of art is a mural made
up of 2,500 hand made and painted tiles.
The very special display tells the story of Port Augusta in a very artistic, interpretive way.
It was created by Dianne Turner and local Port Augusta artists.
The mural was funded by the Port Augusta City Council and Country Arts South Australia.
Royal Flying Doctor Service - at the Port Augusta Airport.
Due to their operational relocation to the Airport, tours or inspections of the base have been cancelled untill further notice. You can normally visit the Base where Communication Operators attend to emergency flights and inter hospial transfers for people living or visiting the Outback areas of South Australia.
See a video show and a display Museum or purchase a souvenir from the shop.
Normally open Monday-Friday 10am - 3pm;
Donation entry.
Phone 08 86 42 2044.
Wadlata Outback Centre - 41 Flinders Tce.
A visit to Wadlata’s “Tunnel of Time” is a must do when visiting Port Augusta and the Region.
You would have experienced nothing like
it and it is new again with a $1millian dollar upgrand just being completed.
Visitors to the multi award winning attraction have written in the Visitors Book that Wadlata is the best attraction and Visitor Centre they have experienced in Australia.
For more information Refer to "About Wadlata".
You could walk through in 10 minutes or
take 3 hours - but do not worry if you do not have time or want to see something
else in the City – just ask for a Pass Out to return when you can.
Phone 08 86 42 4511 (Conditions
apply.)
Lookouts/Parks
Foreshore
Spend some time at our beautiful foreshore areas,
equipped with excellent BBQ facilities and a modern playground suitable for all ageas and a self cleaning toilet systm.
Walking
tracks can take you along the southern shores of the Gulf, swimming pontoons, public toilets and a wash-down shower for beachgoers
- and a basketball and netball half-court. .
The Swimmers Memorial Garden has
been restored to its former glory and pays tribute to Port Augusta Swimming
Club’s members who died while paying the supreme sacrifice, protecting Australia on our behalf. It is a lovely relaxing area.
Gladstone Square - Marryatt Street in the City Centre.
The scenic parklands provide a shady landscaped area suitable for a picnic or BBQ lunch.
Facilities include a BBQ, sheltered gazebo, playground area, a drinking fountain, the Rotunda, a memorial to AD Tassie, Port Augusta's first white settler, Thomas Young Junior and our War Memorial.
Matthew Flinders/Redcliff Lookout (via the Arid Lands Botanic Garden)
Enjoy
a short walk to the Memorial cairn, dedicated to Matthew Flinders, where he stood and named Mt Brown, Mt Arden, Point Lowly and Curlew Point
in the Flinders Ranges.
This lookout provides the visitor with excellent
views of the Flinders Ranges and the very top of the Gulf.
Flinders
Ranges Water Cruises can take you past the striking Redbanks or Redcliffs to the very tip of the Gulf - tide permitting.
The area has recently been redeveloped with excellent walking tracks that allow you to stroll through to the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden.
Park your vehicle in the newly developed parking area and experience the views of the Flinders Ranges or take a stroll along the tracks.
McLellan Lookout - at the end of Edinburgh Tce.
A stone cairn marks the spot where Captain
Matthew Flinders stepped ashore on the 10th of March 1802.
The cairn was named in 1976 after Allan McLellan, an early historian of Port Augusta.
An excellent view
of the Gulf, NRG Flinders Power Stations and the picturesque Flinders and Bluff Ranges can be enjoyed.
Water Tower Lookout - Mitchell Terrace
Surrounded by lovely gardens, this tower
was built in 1882 to provide a reserve water supply for the residents of Port
Augusta West.
Excellent 360 degrees views of Port Augusta overlooking the Flinders
Ranges, Spencer Gulf and the Outback can be experienced from the water tank at the top of
the tower.
It is a great place to relax and take photos.
NOTE: Some of the editorial has been extracted from the Port Augusta Visitor Guide produced by Tourism Port Augusta.
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