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More and more tourists are coming to Whyalla and the feedback is all positive.
We all know Whyalla has something special to offer visitors, and locals, and this is being reflected in the visitor figures to the Whyalla Visitor Centre & Maritime Museum.
The last financial year saw rises across the board in regards those dropping in to the visitor centre and, just as encouragingly, enjoying what is on offer at the gateway into Whyalla on the Lincoln Highway
Leading the way was a 21% increase in local visitation to the Maritime Museum. Whyalla residents are coming to appreciate what a great museum we have here on our doorstep and overall there was a big increase in museum visitors of 10%.
A 5% increases in people overall using the visitor centre, a 5% increase in steelworks tours and a rise of 6% in people staying at the Point Lowly Lighthouse Cottages further shows Whyalla is becoming more and more popular for locals, Aussie travellers and international tourists.
Gian and Eleonora from Italy are two such overseas visitors who were blown away by Whyalla and impressed with the service they received at the visitor centre. Not only did they feel the need to let us know how happy they were, they will also be singing the praises of Whyalla all over Italy.
This is the sort of publicity money can’t buy.
Gian and Eleonora wrote to Danielle Edwards at the visitor centre and while praising her service they also said Whyalla was “one of the most interesting and unusual places we (have) ever visited”.
“Now we are back home, jumped from sweet Australian spring into cold European winter, looking to gardens covered with snow, we remember (Whyalla) with a lot of pleasure and nostalgia,” they wrote in their delightful Italian/English with their full letter reproduced below.
Team leader from the visitor centre, Teresa Coles said the staff at the centre, and the whole of Whyalla, should be proud of this sort of feedback.
“This is great acknowledgment of the connections we made with visitors and the perceptions of our city that our visitors take away with them,” Teresa said.
“They share their story and their experiences with so many others along the way, making our interactions with them more than simple information exchange.”
The Whyalla Visitor Information Centre has been busy again over Christmas as it stayed open every day except for Christmas Day. Just today (Monday, January 8), the crew at the visitor centre took groups of 28 and 17 on tours of the HMAS Whyalla.
Throughout the school holidays, it is also offering free admission for children, attending as a family, to the museum and for the Aussie Animal Adventure.
The Aussie Animal Adventure is being held in the gardens of the museum where kids can go looking for hidden puzzle pieces.
Visit the Whyalla Maritime Museum these school holidays and go in pursuit of the hidden puzzle pieces in the Puzzle Piece Pursuit. Find the 12 Aussie animals guarding a puzzle box and in each puzzle box you will find a unique puzzle piece, which will get you one step closer to completing the final puzzle.
Or you can just take advantage of the timeless Maritime Museum, a guided tour on board the HMAS Whyalla (the first ship ever built in Whyalla) and the stunning botanic gardens with barbecue/picnic facilities and a newly established Bush Theatre.
The team at the Whyalla Visitor Centre look forward to seeing you and the family this holiday season. Contact them on 8645 7900
Maritime Museum and Gardens: Open 7 Days 10am – 4pm (Only Closed Christmas Day!)
Ship Tours: 11.30am and 1.30pm every day (Only Closed Christmas Day!)
Steelworks Tours: 9.30am, Monday, Wednesday and Friday’s (exc. Public Holidays) - Bookings Essential: 8645 7900
