Whales, Penguins & Wildlife

Whale Watching
Whale season is from June to October every year. For the latest in what is happening, call the Whale Info Hotline on 1900 942 537 (or 1900 WHALES). It provides information on the most recent sightings. Or drop into the SA Whale Centre at Victor Harbor for great insights into whales.

Victor Harbor is one of the easiest places in South Australia to see Southern Right Whales, which often come close to shore along the coastlines of the peninsula, especially in Encounter Bay, during their winter migrations.

The South Australian Whale Centre will celebrate the 2009 whale season with four weeks of activities, workshops and demonstrations until 5 July 2009.

Little Penguins
On the Fleurieu Peninsula, you may also see the enchanting Little Penguin, the world's smallest penguin species, found in Granite Island Recreation Park. Take one of the guided penguin tours at dusk to see these shy creatures up close, and learn about them in the underground Penguin Interpretation Centre to which you'll receive free admission as part of your tour.

From the coast, you may see winter whales, and year-round colonies of seals, dolphins, sea lions and penguins. Kangaroos can be found in many of the parks and even seen grazing like sheep in the paddocks on the fringe of towns.

Other wildlife
Dolphins and Fur Seals are commonly seen off the peninsula's southern coast and along the beaches of Gulf St Vincent and, while the Leafy Seadragon may seem a bit tame to some, scuba divers search for this rare, delicate creature in Rapid Bay, Second Valley and Victor Harbor.

And you're likely to see the Western Grey Kangaroo which, at certain times of day, can be seen in mobs grazing like sheep in paddocks. One place where Grey Kangaroos can be reliably seen is around Tent Hill in Deep Creek Conservation Park. This 4500 hectare park has many less obvious inhabitants worth seeking out such as such as Shortbeaked Echidna, Ring-tailed Possum and Yellow-footed Antechinus.

Perhaps the most prolific and spectacular wildlife is to be found in the air with more than 230 species of birds inhabiting the region.

Coorong National Park is famous for its migratory waders. Birdwatchers are rewarded at the Onkaparinga Estuary, Aldinga Scrub and areas around Mount Compass, Goolwa and Hindmarsh Island. And the Murray River is alive with birdlife including black swans, egrets and many species of ducks thriving in the shallow waters and river reeds.

If all this sounds too energetic, the armchair way to appreciate the region's wildlife - and to take it home - is to visit Goolwa's Porter St Wildlife Gallery, where wildlife artists show their paintings and prints.

Children enjoy the Urimbirra Wildlife Park, near Victor Harbor, which is home to more than 400 Australian native animals and bird species.