Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Megafauna of the Great Southern Reef - A VR Experience
4pm - 6pm
$15 Donation to the Friends of Barossa Bushgardens
Step into an unforgettable journey beneath the waves with our immersive VR experience, bringing the Great Southern Reef (GSR) to life like never before!
Participants will embark on a breathtaking virtual dive, exploring stunning 360° footage of iconic marine life, including grey nurse sharks, humpback whales, eagle rays, dolphins, sea dragons, octopuses, blue devil fish, and more.
This captivating experience is created by renowned 360° underwater videographer and storyteller, Carl Charter.
Thursday, 16 July 2026
Why Every Ocean Creature Counts with Olli Sharp
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Join PhD Candidate in Environmental Psychology, Ollie Sharp for some fun, educating activities!
We are not often asked what our favourite animals are in adulthood. However, if I asked you what your favourite marine species is, which species would you choose? Would it be a whale? A dolphin? Perhaps the ever-charismatic sea turtle? Maybe you even like sea lions!
I would be willing to confidently wager that your answer was not krill, phytoplankton, oysters, mussels, or giant clams. Despite the importance of these vulnerable species, humans tend to care more about our species that have a little bit more charisma (or if we use our young peoples’ language, ‘rizz’).
While there is nothing wrong with loving our charismatic species, it’s equally important that we shine the spotlight on our ocean underdogs. Scientific research has discovered that public opinion influences which species receive research and conservation funding. This means that some of our more unpopular ocean species may be facing conservation challenges that we don’t know about.
With these challenges in mind, this workshop has three primary aims:
o To help children understand that charismatic animals are not the only important ocean creatures
o To develop empathy for less popular species
o To foster interest in the ocean and its conservation.
This workshop is targeted to:
- Children aged 7 to 10, though children outside of this age group are welcome.
- Parents who play a key role in connecting their children to the ocean (e.g. borrowing books from the library, organising trips to the beach).
Saturday, 18 July 2026
SALA Art Workshop - Native Bees: Little Lives, Big Work
10am - 4pm (incl. breaks)
Native Bees: Small Lives, Big Work, a community event and accompanying exhibition focused on Australia’s native bees and their critical role in biodiversity, food systems, and healthy ecosystems.
Hosted at the Barossa Bushgardens, the project could combine education, science, creative interpretation, and hands-on learning to engage a broad audience, including families, gardeners, educators, artists, and land-carers.
The project responds to growing environmental pressures on pollinators, including habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change, and aims to empower the community with practical knowledge and inspiration to support native bee populations through gardening, land stewardship, and informed everyday choices.
During the workshop you will learn about local native bees and help create six artworks, using recycled materials, on corflute exhibition panels. You will be working with experienced artists and learn a few art skills along the way.
Saturday, 1 August 2026
SALA Exhibition Official Opening
10:30am - 11:30am
Meet local artists to have a chat, enjoy a cuppa around the fire and explore the gardens to discover a selection of fantastic artworks. Nothing makes a garden more interesting than combining nature, plants and art.
Saturday, 1 August to 31 August 2026
SALA Exhibition
Daily from dawn till dusk
Explore the gardens to discover a selection of fantastic artworks.
Saturday, 8 August 2026
Bio-blitzing to the Universe and Back
Bird ID with Ian Falkenberg
10am to 11am
A finalist of the 2025 South Australian Environment Awards, Ian Falkenberg has dedicated over 45 years to conservation. His passion, birds of prey, closely followed by other native birds.
Join Ian for a walk through the gardens and discover local bird species. Learn the identifying features of birds and fall in love with their sound.
Bring your own binoculars or borrow some of our kids-friendly ones for free.
Saturday, 8 August 2026
Bio-blitzing to the Universe and Back
Native Bees with Dr. Katja Hogendoorn
11:20am to 12:20pm
Dr Katja Hogendoorn is a researcher connected to the University of Adelaide where she studies bees and crop pollination. She has more than 35 years’ experience with bee research in four continents.
Katja has studied and published on the foraging, nesting and mating behaviour of a range of bee species. She also finds and describes new bee species, runs bee conservation projects, promotes the use of honey bees to deliver biological control agents to flowers and of native bee hotels as an educational tool.
There is no one better to learn from about these little fascinating creatures.
Saturday, 8 August 2026
Bio-blitzing to the Universe and Back
Discover Insects with Josh Martin
1pm to 2pm
Become a citizen scientist and join Josh Martin, Honours Student in Ecology and Environmental Sciences, for an afternoon of exploration.
Discover some of the wonderful creatures living in our natural environment. Josh's passion is insects and if you have any questions or find something very unusual, Josh probably knows it.
Saturday, 8 August 2026
Bio-blitzing to the Universe and Back
Habitat Box Workshop
2:20pm to 3:20pm
Build a nestbox to create habitat for native animals. With the decline in old-growth trees, many nesting opportunities for a variety of native animals disappear.
You can help by adding nesting boxes to your backyard and providing an alternative home.
Saturday, 8 August 2026
Bio-blitzing to the Universe and Back
Aboriginal Science with Courtney Hunter-Hebberman
4pm to 5:30pm
Have a yarn around the fire with Peramangk Traditional Custodian, Courtney and learn about connection to country and people. Learn how the use of fire can change the soil, water and support life.