The 'Duyfken' opens to the public

Another outdoor experience opens at the Maritime Museum – the largest floating fleet in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Duyfken, a replica 1606 vessel is now open to the public after arriving at the Australian National Maritime Museum in late December.

Kevin Sumption, Director and CEO of the museum said, ‘This vessel tells a remarkable story. It tells of the earliest visitation by a European vessel to this continent when the Dutch vessel visited Cape York in 1606, 164 years before James Cook charted the east coast.

‘It is a great opportunity to discuss Dutch and other European visits to the continent and of course, more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander narratives.

‘We will be rolling out both new interpretive and educational programs around the vessel and sailing opportunities on the harbour over the next months.

‘The Duyfken is a wonderful addition to our fleet, we have the largest collection of floating vessels in the Southern Hemisphere and with a large outdoor footprint, we provide a wealth of activities for the whole family outside as well as inside in a COVID safe environment.’

The museum is open from 9.30am to 5pm daily. The Duyfken is open from 10am - 3pm

For further information about the Duyfken or the other activities of the museum, please visit: https://www.sea.museum/