Despite the chill in the air, South Australia’s coastal environments are wonderful places to explore in the colder months of the year.

The state’s spectacular marine parks are being celebrated as the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) July Parks of the Month, with a series of fun and educational activities planned.

These parks provide important protections to aquatic environments, which boast of iconic species such as southern right whales, bottlenose dolphins, leafy sea dragons,

great white sharks and Australian sea lions.

Marine parks are also vital areas for a number of bird species like hooded plovers, Australian pelicans and little penguins.

NPWS Marine Parks Coordinator Dr Shelley Paull says South Australians are lucky to have such an incredible network of marine parks.

“Marine parks protect and conserve our precious oceans, with their diverse habitats and spectacular coastal scenery,” she says.

“Winter is a special time in our marine parks and provides us with a number of unique opportunities to witness what truly is an array of amazing species.”

NPWS has created a program of activities to celebrate marine parks, including:

• Whale watching with the Marine Park Rangers at Basham Beach.
• Kondoli, a Ngarrindjeri cultural tour at Granite Island.
• Ranger-guided Granite Island and Encounter Marine Park walk.
• A 50 per cent discount on Fleurieu Marine Education guided walks and school holiday activities in Victor Harbor.
• Sea Shepherd beach clean-up at Waitpinga Beach.
• Free film screening in Victor Harbor of ‘Sea Lions: Life by a Whisker’, a documentary taking viewers on an intimate journey inside a colony of Australian sea lions.
• A 20 per cent discount off Seal Island and Southern Ocean Adventure tours with Big Duck Boat Tours at Victor Harbor.

To book, visit the Parks SA website.