 | | Peterborough and surrounding districts has an abundance of things to see and do. The first thing that you will notice when you enter the town are the unique scale model steam trains which have been made by a local blacksmith and placed at all four entrances. They were funded by the District Council of Peterborough, took three years to complete and cost in excess of $10,000. In the centre of town along side the rotunda is a restored 'Y' Class locomotive which was sandblasted, painted and placed into position in June 2000. This locomotive was used extensively in this area from 1888 until 1960 when it was condemned. Your next stop must be the Peterborough Tourist Information Centre which is a 1917 Passenger Sleeping Cabin which once formed part of the East West Express. The Centre is operated by volunteers and is open from 10am to 3pm daily.
The Indian Pacific Transcontinental passenger train travels through the town four times a week. It can be seen at approximately 1pm on Tuesdays and Fridays and 11.30am on Wednesdays and Sundays Peterborough's history has chiefly centred around the railways so the most obvious thing to do is look through Steamtown.
Steamtown has a wonderful collection of rolling stock, workshops and is the only place in the southern hemisphere where you can still see the three different railway gauges together. Broad (5 ft 3 in), standard (4 ft 81/2 in) and narrow (3 ft 6 in) gauge.
Eric Rann's Museum is a must for anyone remotely interested in stationary engines. There is also an excellent collection of historic items.
Ivan Ley's Museum features a large collection of dolls, bottles, antiques and memorabilia. Both of these are private museums and are certainly worth more than a casual glance.
The quality of our museums will pleasantly surprise you.
South Australia's only Government owned Gold Battery is situated in Peterborough.
Inspections are possible but must be organised through the Tourist Information Centre.
The Town Hall is one of the largest, most decorative and well equipped halls of its kind outside the metropolitan area. Inspection is free during office hours Monday to Friday. There is a Tourist Walk which takes in some of some of the significant buildings in the Main Street and streets close to it. Several drives of the surrounding area and towns of Terowie, Yongala, and Orroroo are available from the Information Centre . These are self guided tours which range from 45 minutes through to several hours.
 Heritage Listed Police Station and Courthouse
 A large proportion of the buildings in the area are constructed out of sandstone.
A Guided Bus Tour is the best way to see the town. It is available for those people who would like a comprehensive tour with a guide who explains the full history of the town from the beginning to the current day. Contact the Peterborough Caravan Park for more information on these tours. If relaxation is all you are after then Victoria Park is the ideal place to go. It has a large man made lake and islands with ducks, swan, bbqs, a large modern playground and a kangaroo and deer enclosure.
 Mini Golf is a good way for all the members of the family to have a bit of fun.
  Peterborough Golf Course.
 Birdwatching - Anyone Can Do It
With a good pair of binoculars and a Field Guide to Australian Birds, bird watching can be enjoyed anywhere there is vegetation. Drive along our scenic bush tracks, park near some trees, then sit quietly and wait for the birds to appear. Mallee and native pine woodland, mixed scrubland and tree-lined dry creeks make up a diverse habitat for birdlife in the Peterborough area. Look for wedge-tail eagles, hawks and kites hunting over open paddocks and flashes of green parrots in eucalyptus. Kingfishers ands swallows nest in creek banks. Wrens, robins and honeyeaters flit through shrubs after insects. Ask for our bird checklist and map from the Peterborough Information Centre or Caravan Park, head for the bush, and see how many birds you can identify. | |
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