Whispering Wall
Barossa Valley, South Australia, 5351
The Whispering Wall is a time-honored stop at the southern end of the world-famous Barossa Valley. A walk across the dam perches you 9-stories high, with the Barossa Reservoir water on one side and a long drop on the other. The unique acoustics of the concave concrete dam wall allows you to hear sounds from afar, including whispered utterances.
The basics
Listen to sounds echoing in strange ways at the Whispering Wall, part of the parabolic concrete dam. Even the quietest sounds travel to far away ears. Long before the Barossa Valley became synonymous with wine, visitors have been fascinated by the unique acoustics of this attraction—making it a popular stop on Barossa Valley day trips. Today, the surrounding area is a protected wilderness, where native plants and species thrive, making it a peaceful picnic stop.
Things to know before you go
Barossa Reservoir Park has public toilets, car parking, shaded seating, and a lawn area.
Wheelchair-accessible picnic areas are available as well as an accessible ramp leads down to the Whisper Station and access across the dam wall.
Do not bring your dogs (except assistance animals) to the reservoir as they can contaminate the water and threaten the water supply.
Pack a picnic to enjoy the serene wilderness of the area, as well as a secret to whisper across the dam.
How to get there
The Whispering Wall is roughly a 10-minute drive from the center of Williamstown, the closest town in the Barossa Valley. Head northwest on Yettie Road towards the Barossa Reservoir and take a left on Whispering Wall Road. You can access the Whispering Wall, located at the dam wall, after parking your car.
When to get there
You can access the Whispering Wall from morning to late afternoon daily. Surrounded by nature and the enormous Barossa Reservoir, the wilderness and a serene environment are great reasons to visit here—after trying out the Whispering Wall, of course. It doesn’t matter the season, you’ll find it beautiful any time of the year.
The Parabola Effect in effect
Many ask: What makes the Whispering Wall able to carry sounds so well? The answer lies in the shape of the dam, erected at the turn of the 20th-century as back up water supply. The dam reaches the height of a 9-story building in a concave half-circle. This bounces sound waves in all different directions, creating the effect of hearing someone at the other end of the dam, 460 feet (140 meters) away. It’s a great place to take the family and play around with acoustics.
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