Come join us at Gwoonwardu Mia for a unique culinary experience! As part of our Solar Eclipse festivities, we are excited to present our daily Bush Tucker cafe experience. This immersive experience will take you on a culinary journey as you discover the flavours and ingredients of local Aboriginal cuisine. The menu will feature a variety of dishes made from locally sourced ingredients such as bush fruits, herbs, and meats. You’ll be able to sample a range of dishes, including mouth-watering roasted meats, baked damper bread, and more. The Bush Tucker cafe experience is an unforgettable way to experience the culture and cuisine of Australia’s Indigenous people. Don’t miss this opportunity to taste, learn, and explore at Gwoonwardu Mia as part of our Solar Eclipse festivities!
Dates:
14 April – 19 April 2023
21 April – 25 April 2023
Please note, the venue will be closed 20 April 2023
*Please note the Dark Sky Festival program is subject to change
Join us on Onslow Foreshore! In an event lasting close to three hours, the sun, the moon, and the earth will align to create a Total Solar Eclipse, a unique and fully immersive astronomical event, just off the Western Australian coast. The eclipse will be visible from Onslow and across the Shire of Ashburton which lies just outside the path of totality. The coastal areas around Onslow will experience a deep partial eclipse of over 99% of the Sun covered.
To commemorate this unique event in history, the Shire of Ashburton along with Tourism WA will be hosting a week-long celebration of events in the town of Onslow including a street party along the Onslow Foreshore on the day of the Eclipse. The day will kick off at the beginning of the solar eclipse at 10am, which will occur over a period of 3 hours. Following the eclipse, there will be live music, market stalls, food, and entertainment along the Foreshore. The party will continue into the evening with some big names on the big stage. Don’t miss it!
*Please note the Dark Sky Festival program is subject to change
Get ready to experience an epic musical journey like never before at the A Symphony of Music for Solar Eclipse on the 20 April. Featuring an incredible line-up of talented musicians, this event promises to be a day to remember. The Perth Symphony Orchestra will take you on a journey through the celestial skies with their breathtaking renditions of classical masterpieces. Tura’s Narli Ensemble celebrates Indigenous icons Stephen Pigram and Mark Atkins with renowned Australian artists, taking you on an inspiring musical journey.
Caravana Sun and Murphy Brothers will keep the energy high with their electrifying performances, fusing rock and reggae with world music. The Main Street of Carnarvon will be transformed into a musical paradise as these talented musicians come together to create an unforgettable experience.
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the beauty of the solar eclipse and be swept away by the sounds of some of the most talented musicians in Australia.
*Please note the Dark Sky Festival program is subject to change
Scitech will inspire audiences when they deliver a selection of their awesomely educational STEM-based shows and activities for kids at the Ningaloo Centre. Scitech’s events include:
Start Here, Go Anywhere
A hands-on experience that allows visitors to explore, investigate and discover the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Packed with interactive exhibits, brain-bending challenges and awesome tech, it’s guaranteed to ignite curiosity in kids and adults alike. Open from 9am – 4pm daily. Free! Just drop on by!
Science shows
These free shows are 30 minutes each and there’s no need to book.
Under Pressure (10am and 2pm daily)
Explore just how much pressure we’re really under as we use nothing but the ocean of air around us – and a little bit of science – to turn your world inside out and upside down. Although we can’t see it, air pressure is responsible for loads of everyday phenomena – everything from how to open jars, to how our lungs work, to what happens to humans when they go into space. Join our Science Presenters to investigate, ask questions, make predictions, and test our ideas to understand some of the more surprising and unusual effects it has on the world around us
Hot vs Cold (11am and 3pm daily – please note there will be no 11am show on the day of the eclipse, Thursday 20th of April)
Two temperatures enter, one temperature leaves – and the results are sure to surprise! Our science presenters explore how the hidden properties of materials affect how heat forms, flows and feels with this astonishing demonstration of thermodynamics. Audiences will make predictions and test ideas in this ultimate showdown between hot and cold.
*Please note the Dark Sky Festival program is subject to change
What’s up in the night sky? The spectacular stars in the Milky Way Galaxy are waiting for you to see in these incredible stargazing sessions on our telescope fields at Koobooroo Oval.
Explore the night sky with Astrotourism WA Astronomy Guides and volunteers. See an amazing green laser pointer tour of the southern hemisphere night sky constellations. Everything you need will be supplied for you to view the incredible stellar objects, including Venus, the Southern Cross, Magellanic Clouds, star clusters, nebulae and much more.
This is a rare opportunity for this kind of stargazing in the glow of a solar eclipse – so don’t miss out! Bookings are not necessary. Sessions run from 6.45 pm to 9.15pm with the Green Laser Pointer Tours repeated at 7 pm, 7.45 pm and 8.30 pm nightly in Koobooroo Oval – just next to Federation Park.
*Please note the Dark Sky Festival program is subject to change
Emeritus Professor David Blair, Australian physicist and professor at the University of Western Australia and Director of the Australian International Gravitational Research Centre, will host a fun and exciting talk about the Wallal Experiment and Einsteinian Physics at the Ningaloo Centre.
The Wallal Experiment was a momentous event that proved Einstein’s theory of relativity – right here in WA! A family-friendly show, these talks delight everyone from primary school kids to grandparents, science enthusiasts to those starting out on their scientific understanding. Everyone is encouraged to bring friends – and questions!
Einsteinian Physics is an exhibition and a series of engaging, mind-bending, and intriguing STEM activities for children and families. See first-hand the Einstein First Team do live eclipse simulations and show you earth-moon orbital dynamics on the spacetime simulator!
No need to book – just come along!
*Please note the Dark Sky Festival program is subject to change