Nature Education Centre

Nature Education Centre https://nature.sa.edu.au/

We provide native animals, educational talks, preserved specimens and resource kits to schools and teachers to inspire and engage students across the Adelaide metropolitan area through hands-on learning. The Nature Education Centre sells and lends out animals, natural history specimens and kits to its members so that children are encouraged to study animals and their habitats by coming into direct

contact with them. The Centre, which is run as a non-profit organisation, is administered by a committee drawn from education and animal management fields and was set up as a project by the South Australian Science Teachers Association.

👀 There's a butterfly hiding in this picture... can you find it?Butterflies don't always need to disappear completely to...
05/09/2026

👀 There's a butterfly hiding in this picture... can you find it?
Butterflies don't always need to disappear completely to avoid being noticed. Their colours, patterns and shapes can help them blend into their surroundings and make them harder for predators to spot.
Did you find it?
It's a Catopsilia scylla (Orange Migrant), they are often seen drifting through warm forests, roadside vegetation, gardens, and creek lines, this species is known for its pale orange to yellow colouring and its habit of appearing in sudden numbers after rain or seasonal plant growth.
This is just one of the incredible adaptations we can explore through our preserved specimen collections at the NEC.

How does a lizard survive in the Aussie outback? What makes a bird's beak so special? Why do some animals have stripes, ...
04/09/2026

How does a lizard survive in the Aussie outback? What makes a bird's beak so special? Why do some animals have stripes, spines or shells?
🐾All theses features tell you so much about how animals have adapted to their habitats!
Our WildEd scientists have been investigating animal adaptations, creating their own diagrams to discover how different body parts and behaviours help animals survive. Get inspired by our educational kits and share how you use our materials out in the wild with us!
What animal adaptation would you choose to investigate?

03/09/2026

The Wedge-tailed Eagle is Australia's largest bird of prey, and its body is perfectly adapted to life as a powerful soaring hunter.
👁️ Exceptional eyesight helps Wedge-tailed Eagles spot potential prey
🦅 Powerful talons are designed for capturing and carrying prey
🌬️ A wedge-shaped tail helps the eagle control its direction and movement while flying

Every feature tells us something about how these remarkable birds survive in the Australian environment.
Explore Australian wildlife up close with our preserved specimen loans, designed to give students hands-on opportunities to investigate animal adaptations.

This week for WildEd, it's Dino-mite! Become a palaeontologist for the day as we uncover fossils, compare dinosaur sizes...
01/09/2026

This week for WildEd, it's Dino-mite! Become a palaeontologist for the day as we uncover fossils, compare dinosaur sizes and discover the incredible creatures that once roamed Australia.
Next week we're becoming architects of the animal kingdom!
From nests and burrows to dreys and dens, we'll discover the amazing homes animals build and even create one of our own.
Classes are designed for children aged 5–13 years and support homeschool learning goals!
Price: $25 per child (discounts apply for multiple bookings)
Sensory sessions available by request. See our website for more details.

For more details and to book, click here:
https://nature.sa.edu.au/homeschooling-workshops/
Any questions? Let us know in the comments!

29/08/2026

It looks like our echidnas have started a little conga line! 🦔 Why do they actually follow each other?
Echidnas are generally solitary animals, so they don't usually travel around together like a herd. However, during breeding season, males can form “echidna trains”, with several males following a female nose-to-tail!
Want to get your students up close with Australian wildlife? Hire one of our live animals or specimen collections for your classroom today!
Members can hire specimens here: https://nature.sa.edu.au/

28/08/2026

🌷🐸Join in the spring FrogWatch SA Seasonal Census from 1 - 8 September!

Many of SA’s frogs have been enjoying our wet and woolly winter weather, but spring can bring about changes for them to party (well, mate). As the weather warms up, frogs become more active and vocal, making spring the perfect time to record their calls.

Green Adelaide and the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board invite you to get outside smell the flowers springing and record frog calls via the FrogWatch SA website or smartphone app – FrogSpotter.

📲 Download the FrogSpotter app and get ready to record frog calls!

Learn more about the seasonal frog census - link in comments

27/08/2026

Out spotted marsh frogs have been busy with a record number of tadpoles for us! They must like their little pond 💚🐸

Tadpoles available for purchase at the Nature Education Centre, perfect for your classroom, ELC or community space! These are a local species of frog and will grow to around 2.5cm

27/08/2026

Join Steve Walker from FrogWatch SA to learn about our fascinating local frog species! Part of Nature Festival SA

Our collection has been growing, and we’ve just added a selection of fossils, crystals and minerals available to purchas...
27/08/2026

Our collection has been growing, and we’ve just added a selection of fossils, crystals and minerals available to purchase in store!
From fossilised fish and wood to beautiful crystals and mineral samples, there’s something for curious minds, budding geologists and anyone who loves a good piece of natural history.
Best of all, we’ve kept our prices student-friendly and affordable, making it easy to take home a little piece of Earth’s history without breaking the bank. Available during opening hours and after WildEd sessions.
Pop into the Nature Education Centre and have a browse while stocks last!

Koalas might look cuddly, but their bodies are full of clever adaptations that help them survive life in the trees!🐨 Two...
26/08/2026

Koalas might look cuddly, but their bodies are full of clever adaptations that help them survive life in the trees!
🐨 Two thumbs! - Koalas have two opposable digits on each front paw, helping them grip branches and climb safely.
🌧️ A built-in raincoat! - Their thick, woolly fur helps keep them warm and dry, with longer hairs on their back helping water run off.
🌳 A built-in cushion! - That hard, bony bottom isn't just for sitting around! Koalas have extra-thick cartilage and tough skin that helps cushion them as they rest on branches for hours at a time.

Every part of an animal can tell us something about how it lives. Our Preserved Specimen Loans give students the chance to investigate real Australian wildlife up close and discover the adaptations that make each species unique. Hire one today!

What would you want to investigate about a koala?

Address

505 Fullarton Road
Adelaide, SA
5062

Opening Hours

Monday 2pm - 5:30pm
Tuesday 2pm - 5:30pm
Friday 2pm - 5:30pm
Saturday 2pm - 5pm

Telephone

+61883573413

Website

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