Welcome to Winter Whale Fest 2025!
This June, celebrate Victor Harbor’s stunning coast, culture, science, and creativity with over 25 events inspired by Kondoli, the whale from Ngarrindjeri Dreaming. Enjoy lantern workshops, art, live music, cultural experiences, science talks, and more.
Join us by the sea for an unforgettable winter.

Ocean with David Attenborough
Journey beneath the waves with David Attenborough in this stunning documentary celebrating the beauty and power of the ocean. Featuring breathtaking footage and stories of hope, Ocean is a must-see tribute to the sea—and a reminder that it’s not too late to protect it.

Self guided tour: Whale Art Trail
Free activity: Take a self-guided tour of eight whale art pieces located in Victor Harbor. Trail maps available for download online or printed versions are available from the Victor Harbor Information Centre or Coral Street Art Space.

Beneath the Surface: A Whale Festival Art & Sound Experience
Join Art of You for “Beneath the Surface”, a magical series of ocean-themed creative sessions where families, teens, and little ones will help bring an immersive installation to life.
Create UV jellyfish and marine creatures that will be suspended from our ceiling, transforming the space into an undersea wonder. As the festival unfolds, the artwork will grow—and culminate in a stunning sound and light immersion beneath the jellyfish and a majestic whale overhead.

Southern Ocean Adventure - Big Duck Boat Tour
Breathtaking 90-minute tour departing from the iconic Granite Island Causeway, Victor Harbor. Board our specially designed ocean craft ‘Kondoli’ – 12.5m NAIAD Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat & cruise between the mainland and the northern side of Granite Island, affording spectacular views of both the Victor Harbor shoreline and boulder stacked Granite Island.

Guided tour of the SA Whale Centre
Join a passionate guide from Fleurieu Marine Education, as they provide anecdotes and additional educational descriptions of the exhibits, history, and artefacts in the SA Whale Centre.
Be guided through the museum's cellar and learn more about whales, their anatomy and feeding habits.

Water People Art Exhibition - Water on Country
Immerse yourself in Water People 2025 – Water on Country, curated by Ngarrindjeri artist Amanda Westley. This powerful exhibition features works by First Nations artists from across Australia, exploring the deep cultural connection between water, land, and community. Amanda, whose family are among the oldest Aboriginal families in the region, brings her vibrant dot art and coastal storytelling to the heart of the South Coast. Her totems—the whale, pelican and black swan—reflect her strong ties to sea and Country. The exhibition opens with a Smoking Ceremony and Song, with more details on the public program to come.

Welcoming of the Whales and Smoking Ceremony
Join us at 9:00am on Saturday, 7 June 2025, with a traditional Ramindjeri Welcoming of the Whales and Smoking Ceremony at the Foreshore Amphitheatre, Soldiers Memorial Gardens.

Victor Harbor Artisan Market
Free event: The Victor Harbor Artisan Market is a great place to gather with friends and family – in support of 50 plus local and South Australian artisans, creative small businesses, food & beverage vendors and musicians. Held in the heart of Victor Harbor at Railway Plaza, under Moreton Bay fig trees and amongst the towns cherished heritage buildings.

Winter Whale Fest Expo
Free event: A family friendly day in Railway Plaza filled with talks, workshops, music, local artists, and kids’ activities.
Speak to local conservation groups, browse ocean themed local artisan stalls. Join in the junior whale spotter training session, wander the SA Whale Centre and Sea Shepherd exhibit.
Play lawn games and have a great family fun filled day!

Winter Whale Fest Ocean Creatures Drawing Workshop For Children
Join us to celebrate the Winter Whale Fest, learn to draw and design Ocean Creature characters, for ages of 6 -14 yrs.
Paul Rutter demonstrates how to draw the magic dolphin, Granny shark and Hugo the humpback whale. Participants receive a free activity book to work with, as part of their drawing session.

Winter Whale Fest Ocean Creatures Drawing Workshop For Adults
Join us to celebrate the Winter Whale Fest! Learn to draw species of Australian migratory whales, for ages of 14 years - adult.
Paul Rutter will demonstrate how to draw the a Southern right whale, an Orca, a mysterious Bryde’s whale and a majestic Humpback whale.

Walking Tour: Kondoli - The whale journey to Granite Island
Ngarrindjeri have a strong connection with the whale. Come for a walk across the waters from Pultang Victor Harbor to Kaiki-Granite Island with Ngarrindjeri as we explain our connection to Kondoli the whale. 11:30am and.1:00pm Saturday 7 June. Duration 45 minutes (approx). Bookings essential.

Junior Whale Spotter Training
Free, bookings essential: Our Junior Whale Spotter Program aims to teach kids, and adults, about the different types of whales we see here on South Coast, and how to identify them. Suitable for kids aged 8 years to adults. 30 minute sessions with two session times available to choose from, 11:30am 12:30pm and 1:30pm.

Walking Tour: Whale Walk and Talk
Join Fleurieu Marine Education for an immersive stroll along Victor Harbor's stunning foreshore, where the echoes of its whaling history come alive. As you wander, guided by an expert, tales of the bustling whaling industry unfold, painting vivid pictures of days gone by. You'll spot remnants of the old whaling station, now weathered but still resonant with stories. Includes admission to the South Australian Whale Centre.

Flinders University Talks: Penguins, Tuna and Coastal Change
Join Flinders University researchers for an inspiring afternoon of marine science and discovery. Dr Diane Colombelli-Negrel will share her work on little penguin conservation at Granite Island, Jessica Henkens will explore the diet and population changes of southern bluefin tuna, and Professor Patrick Hesp will discuss wave research and coastal dune systems in Victor Harbor. Each talk runs for 20 minutes, followed by a 30-minute Q&A. Perfect for curious minds and ocean lovers alike. Register now to secure your seat.

Flinders University Natural Sciences Career’s Night
Calling all Year 10–12 students from schools across the Fleurieu Peninsula — dive into the world of Natural Sciences and uncover exciting career paths at Flinders University!
Join passionate course coordinators, inspiring lecturers, cutting-edge researchers, recent graduates, and current students as they share their experiences in Marine Biology, Animal Behaviour, Biodiversity and Conservation, and Environmental Sciences.

Bluff Community Planting Festival
Join us for a community planting event at the Bluff Reserve, Encounter Bay on the 21st of June, a funded project by the Bupa Healthy Cities Landcare Program. We will be planting 2,500 native plants to enhance our local environment. This event is a great opportunity to get your hands dirty, connect with the community and contribute to a greener future.

Winter Solstice Drumming Circle
Celebrating the return of our whales. Join us for a heart-pounding Winter Solstice drumming circle celebrating the rhythms of the whale names. Led by Jo Richards at The Joyful Path, this immersive experience is perfect for all skill levels—no drumming experience needed! Drums supplied, or bring your own.

Ocean Film Festival
The Ocean Film Festival World Tour showcases a 3 hour celebration of our oceans comprised of sublime footage taken above and below the water’s surface. This unique collection of short films from around the globe document the beauty and power of the ocean.

The Revenge of Captain Hellfire & the Wretched Brethren, Storm the Crown and Sudden Age
A raucous musical experience with pirate punks Captain Hellfire and the Wretched Brethren, ably assisted by locals Sudden Age and hardcore/metal from Storm the Crown.

Kondoli Lantern Workshops
Come and be part of a week-long community arts project celebrating culture, connection, and creativity. Under the guidance of Ngarrindjeri artists and renowned lantern artists, participants will create stunning whale-inspired lanterns in the lead-up to the Kondoli Lantern Parade.
All ages welcome. Workshops are free, and all materials are provided. This is a special opportunity to contribute to a meaningful community celebration rooted in local culture and environmental storytelling.

Paint and sip with Renee Goulding
SOLD OUT
Join artist Renée Goulding for a relaxed and inspiring 2.5-hour acrylic painting workshop as part of Winter Whale Fest. Held at The Causeway Café, this beginner-friendly session includes all materials—just bring your creativity and a sense of fun! You’ll be guided step-by-step to create your own artwork on a 40 x 50cm stretched canvas.

Wading into Blue Teal Carbon: A Walk and Talk experience.
Free event (bookings essential): Researchers from Flinders University and SARDI Aquatic Sciences will take you on a walk-through coastal swamp paperbark forest (Tokuremoar Reserve) to talk about teal carbon and then on to saltmarsh (Hindmarsh Island) to talk about Blue Carbon. The team will share their knowledge and recent research on the relevance of these ecosystems for climate mitigation (carbon capture) and a variety of co-benefits for biodiversity and people.

Victor Harbor Science Fair
Victor Harbor Science Fair features captivating science shows, robotics, astronomy, and engaging hands-on activities for primary school aged children.

Flinders University Talks: Ocean, Coast, and Creatures
Join Flinders University for a free afternoon of short talks exploring sharks, whales, and the Coorong’s hidden life. Featuring leading researchers Prof. Charlie Huveneers, A/Prof. Luciana Möller, and Prof. Sabine Dittmann.
Bonus: Stay on afterward and enjoy the Kondoli Lantern Parade (5:00pm–8:00pm), making it a full afternoon and evening of discovery, culture, and community celebration.
Free entry

Kondoli Lantern Festival Parade
A highlight of the Winter Whale Fest, the Kondoli Lantern Parade is a breathtaking celebration of land, sea, and sky through light, story, and movement. Join the community as we light the night with hand-crafted lanterns, guided by the story of Kondoli the whale — a significant Ngarrindjeri creation story.
This is a free, family-friendly event — no bookings required. Proudly supported by Flinders University, National Environmental Science Program and Country Arts SA.

Walking Tour: Stories of whaling and their shipwrecks around Encounter Bay
On this tour, you will hear about the local early and successful whaling industry around the Bluff and Granite Island. Also hear some stories of the whalers in the Bay!

Ngarrindjeri/Ramindjeri basket weaving and culture with Cedric Varcoe
Join us for a day of learning traditional weaving with local Ramindjeri/Ngarrindjeri contemporary artist Cedric Varcoe. During the class Cedric will share story of culture and country.

Woven Wall Hanging Workshop
Come and join in for an afternoon of weaving..... creating a beautiful wall hanging with emu feathers, raffia, quandong seeds and shells.
Weaving workshop will be led by Ngarrindjeri artist Amanda Westley.
Tickets $80 pp. All materials provided, just bring your drink bottle .

2024 CLLMM Science Forum
Free event (bookings essential): Join the CLLMM Research team for a day of science at the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) Research Centre.
With four sessions throughout the day there will be activities for all ages.

Beach Clean Up
Join the Big Duck Boat Tour crew for a beach clean-up at Victor Harbor! Convene at Kent Reserve, Encounter Bay, 2pm sharp. Let's safeguard our beautiful beaches together. Remember to bring your own gloves and rubbish bags to make a real impact. See you there for a day of community and environmental action!

Self guided tour: Explore Victor Harbor's unique and sometimes dark whaling history
Take a step back in time and discover the stories of Victor Harbor's unique and sometimes dark Whaling History. The first export industry in the new colony of South Australia. Exhibits and interactive displays, self guided or if available a volunteer may be able to talk to you about this chapter in Victor Harbor's story.