South Australia’s best April Fool’s Day jokes for 2022

Anyone for WineChocs or an ancient hop Coopers Ale? Maybe more giant pigeons? We wrap up some of the best April Fool’s Day pranks that got South Aussies talking.

The Big Rocking Horse at Gumeracha is China bound.

The Advertiser had some fun with three April Fool’s Day stories in the April 1 printed edition on the Big Rocking Horse, a one-way South-Eastern Freeway plan and a whale farming ring off the Eyre Peninsula.

Did any of these stories catch you out this year?

Scroll down to also see some other great South Aussie gotcha jokes.

The Big Rocking Horse will move to China

The Gumeracha institution has been purchased by a Beijing-based conglomerate that plans to mount the giant wooden horse on top of the Great Wall in an attempt to lure more tourists to the city of Datong.

“This is an auspicious day for Datong,” a spokesman said.

“The horse has a long history as a symbol of power and beauty, and the Big Rocking Horse perfectly embodies this trait.”

The horse will travel to China in May on a specially constructed barge, currently being built at Outer Harbor.

Have it both ways. Picture: Keryn Stevens

One-way freeway gets over Hills traffic snarl

A plan to convert a 30km stretch of the South-Eastern Freeway between Mt Barker and the tollgate into a reversible one-way road is being considered by the newly elected Labor government.

Modelled on the original version of the Southern Expressway, the proposal would have the freeway running one way from Mt Barker to Adelaide in the morning, reversing in the afternoon.

A government spokesman said the rapid growth of Mt Barker and the increasing traffic congestion on the South-Eastern Freeway meant that all options were on the table to improve commuting times for Hills residents.

“The plan, drawn up by consulting firm AFD, was shelved by the previous government but we think it has merit,” the spokesman said.

Southern right whales in the Great Australian Bight. Picture: Fowlers Bay Whale Tours

Police smash underground whale farming ring

A whale farming ring has been smashed off the Eyre Peninsula town of Port Lincoln, with authorities freeing dozens of southern right whales being illegally held in ocean pens.

Police say the cetaceans were caught to supply the lucrative underground whale song market, said to be worth several billion dollars globally.

“Exclusive whale song recordings can change hands for hundreds of thousands of dollars on the streets of Byron Bay and Bali,” a police spokesman said.

Three men have been arrested and are in custody, due to face court later this month.

Please note: None of the above stories are true. Happy April Fool’s Day from The Advertiser!

SA’s top April Fool’s Day jokes

Did any of these fun social posts catch you out today? Here’s a wrap of some of South Australia’s best April Fool’s Day posts.

PIGEON STATUE FLOCK TO GROW

Lord Mayor of Adelaide Sandy Verschoor suggested what the city really, really needed was not one but 10 pigeon statues dotted at key locations such as inside the Central Market and along the River Torrens.

“I have made the executive decision that what this city really needs is more Pigeons!,” she write on Instagram.

And so, we are going to install TEN more Pigeons around the city and create a flock to celebrate Adelaide’s favourite feathered friend.”

COOPERS ANCIENT HOP DISCOVERY

“Look what we dug up at Regency Park,” Coopers Brewery announced to its Instagram followers. “Coopers are excited to announce the discovery of a hop from the Mesozoic era trapped in amber! From this hop, we plan to brew a very special beer.”

To which one fan replied: “Brewassic Park Amber Ale of course, release date 01/04/2022”.

WINECHOCS FOR WINE O’CLOCK

If you gotta have FruChocs, you’re really gonna need WineChocs.

“With a FruChocs Shop in McLaren Vale and our brand new store in Tanunda in the Barossa Valley, it made perfect sense to team up with some of our favourite wineries to bring you a new Limited Edition range of ‘WineChocs’,” Menz shared on Instagram on Friday.

“Our 2022 Vintage FruChocs will be light, fruity, easy on the palate with chocolatey undertones, and because we know you couldn’t cellar them if you tried, are perfect for eating right now. (Each 150g pack is approximately 1.5 standard drinks, so please eat responsibly.)”

MUSEUM PLAYS SQUID GAME

The South Australian Museum offered up one of its giant quids to free up some storage space.

“The SA Museum will be hosting a ‘Squid Festival’ on our front lawns during @tastingaustralia to dispose of a second unwanted Giant Squid specimen,” the museum told social followers.

“We’ll be serving up your favourite squid dishes – from crumbed, to marinated, to salt & pepper – you name it, the squid must go!”

Did you get caught out on April Fool’s Day? Tell us in the comments below.