Archives: Discovery Centres

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…

The Australian National Botanic Garden is a collection of native plants from all across Australia, including an arid red centre garden and a rainforest gully. The broad expanse of the eucalypt lawn is ideal for picnics and there are many species of birds and animals to find. There are free guided walks held twice each…

The Mary Kathleen uranium mine operated from 1958 – 1981. The mine is about halfway between Mount Isa and Cloncurry and it supported a town of 1000 people .  Uranium from the mine was exported to the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, and West Germany as 8800 tonnes of ammonium diuranate – (NH4)2U2O7 –…

The Long Tunnel gold mine at Walhalla in Gippsland began in 1865 and eventually reached more than a kilometre underground. The 8 kilometres of tunnels yielded 13 tonnes of gold from 859,000 tonnes of quartz. Tours of the mine last for about 50 minutes, and take visitors 260m underground to the 150 year old large…

Dubbo Observatory have a number of reflector and refractor telescopes on outdoor mounts, as well as a 17″ reflector in a dome. Night sky tours are conducted outdoors with a laser pointer, as well as with telescope viewing, with 6 guests sharing each telescope. The shows start 90 minutes after sunset and they last for…

Adelaide Zoo is Australia’s second oldest (after Melbourne Zoo), and is now home to more than 2500 animals representing 250 species. As well as free keeper talks held at various enclosures throughout the day, there are a range of paid up-close animal experiences available to book, including face-to-face giraffe feeding, the meerkat encounter, and being…

Mt Martha Observatory is the dark sky home of the Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society in south eastern Victoria. The site is mobility-friendly with concrete paths throughout, no steps, and instruments to suit all. The registered observatory site has an auditorium lecture theatre, library and gallery, a battery of telescopes under the primary roll-off roof facility,…

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Discovery Centre is open every day from 9am to 4pm, with a selection of hands-on activities and information about nuclear science. To make the most out of your visit to ANSTO, you are encouraged to take a tour. Tours open to the general public operate during the school…

Puffing Billy Railway is a heritage narrow gauge railway in the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne. The rail line opened in 1900 to help open up the ranges to new settlers. The scenic Upper Ferntree Gully –  Gembrook line was one of four narrow gauge (2’6″) lines built in Victoria. The line was closed in…