WHALES ARE GO WITH LASER SHOW

The connection between the people of Eden and the whales that visit them at Twofold Bay is to be recreated through the magic of lasers during the annual Eden Whale Festival on the last weekend in October.
 
Melbourne-based laser specialist Arthur Ipsaros and his team from Genius Laser Technology are putting the final touches to a very special sound and light show that will tell the past and present story of this whale town on the far south coast of NSW.
 
“Laser animation is created frame by frame, like the old style of animation, with outlines only. We produce a 3D model and then we animate, based on the story we want to tell,” Arthur says.
 
“For the Whale Festival, we will be working in the harbour area, projecting an animated show onto a wall of water that becomes a screen on which the images are visible. We have a team of local people who will create the water screens and it’s something they’ve never done before, but the biggest challenge for all of us is the weather.
 
“We’re certainly hoping it’s calm because water travels in wind so while the lasers won’t be affected, the screen certainly would be, which means people won’t see anything. It’s out of our control, like any outdoor event, but we have to have enough contingencies in place to deal with it.”
 
“Parts of the show are being played out to a sound track from the well-known Aboriginal band Oka who will also be playing live for the Festival. The aim of the exercise for all of us is to achieve something unique to the area, that spectators will walk away from, having really enjoyed.”
 
One of the big stars of the show is one of Australia’s most famous whales – Old Tom, whose death in Twofold Bay 80 years ago led to the creation of Eden’s Killer Whale Museum.

The story of Old Tom and his killer whale pack very much belongs to Eden. They worked with both Aboriginal and European hunters to hunt and kill bigger whales – a pact that, as far as locals are aware, has never happened anywhere else in the world.
 
These days, Eden is a centre for whale hunters of a different kind with tourists stopping in to witness the annual southern migration of the humpback whales. Attracted by the whirlpool-like mixing of the southern and northern currents which brings their food to the surface, the whales stop here to feed before heading out into Bass Strait.
 
While whales are obviously the feature creatures of the annual Festival (visitors should ensure they book a whale watching cruise in advance), other popular activities include the street parade, the model ship display, the capstan pull and carnival rides. There are also plans for seafood cooking demonstrations, a kayak event, a fun run, bike ride, dragon boat display, hot rod show and vintage car display.
 
The tall ship, the Young Endeavour, will sail into Twofold Bay on Saturday and moor in Snug Cove, so it’s also a chance for visitors to check out this beautiful vessel that is used for The Royal Australian Navy's sail training program.
 
Eden is located on the Far South Coast of NSW, Australia. It is approximately halfway between Sydney and Melbourne (six/seven hours’ drive) and about three hours’ drive from Canberra via Cooma.
 
REX operates daily flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Merimbula with land connections easily arranged. There is also a daily bus service from Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.
 
Please click here for accommodation options at Merimbula Beach Holiday Park. You can also email us or call 02 6499 8999.