Duyfken replica sails into Geraldton

Members of the public will have a rare opportunity to interact with the Duyfken replica as it sails into Geraldton this Saturday.

As part of the Festivals on the Foreshore Programme, the floating museum has been specifically built to tell the compelling and relatively unknown story of European contact with Australia in the 1600s.

Visitors can interact with sailing and navigational equipment used 400 years ago to traverse thousands of kilometres across the globe with great accuracy.

The stopover in Geraldton is part of the Duyfken ’s 400th anniversary Dirk Hartog commemorative voyage and exhibition program that will see the ship undertake a 10 week, 1,000 kilometre journey along the Western Australian coast.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn will experience sailing on the vessel first hand as he will be a crew member from the Dongara to Geraldton leg of the journey.

“It was an honour to be chosen as one of seven locations that the Duyfken replica will be making port at during the voyage,” he said.

“Being provided the opportunity to interact with the ship that played a pivotal role in mapping our coastline while catching a glimpse at some of the hard living conditions endured by those sailors is one that doesn’t happen often.

“I highly encourage anyone who is interested to book a ticket and take a tour of this floating piece of history.”

The Duyfken will sail into the Geraldton Marina on Saturday 8 October and will be open until 8pm. The vessel will stay in Geraldton untilFriday 16 October with tours running every day.

Once on board, you can begin your journey of discovery via an audio guided tour.

Visitors will get to see, touch and interact with the sailing and navigational technology of the early 1600s that enabled Dutch mariners to sail halfway around the world from The Netherlands to the Spice Islands of Indonesia.

There will be a Duyfken Open Day on Sunday 9 October which will be the official welcome celebrations with the community invited to dress up as a pirate.

Tickets for a one hour tour of the Duyfken Replica cost $12.75 for adults aged 17 and older, and $5.10 for children aged 5-16 years. They are on sale now via www.ticketek.com.au