7 reasons Mt Gambier rocks
Posted 22 October, 2018
John Pedler
Driving through the lush farmlands and pine forests of the Limestone Coast, it’s hard to imagine the mayhem that ravaged the area around 5,000 years ago.
Mt Gambier sits atop Australia’s most recently active volcanic region, but there’s no need to change your travel plans just yet. The local volcanoes are considered dormant (never say extinct, that’s just asking for trouble).
Rather than leaving behind a desolate wasteland, the fiery chaos has created some remarkable scenery. The underlying limestone is riddled with caves and sinkholes, adding to the region’s scenic wonders, and the area is also home to some of the country’s best red wines.
Here are seven attractions to include in your Mount Gambier touring itinerary.
Coonawarra Wine District
65 kilometres north of Mt Gambier, Coonawarra is one of the state’s most well-known wine regions, particularly among Cabernet Sauvignon enthusiasts. Thanks to an ideal climate, together with the area’s rich red soil, Coonawarra produces its fair share of premium wine.
For those who don’t like waiting too long between tastings, most of the cellar doors are located close together beside the main road, or are a stone’s throw away from it. Best of all, RAA members save on tours with
Coonawarra Experiences.
Blue Lake
When you name a lake ‘Blue Lake’, you’re setting tourists’ expectations pretty high. But In the case of Mt Gambier’s water-filled volcanic crater, there’s little chance visitors will be disappointed. Every summer the 77-metre deep lake turns so blue it seems to have been photoshopped.
There’s a road and walking trail around the crater rim, with several viewing areas along the way. For a closer look, take an organised tour down to the lake surface via the elevator that descends from the 1880s-era pumping station.
Umpherston Sinkhole
Hats off to James Umpherston who, in 1884, created a Victorian-era garden in the big limestone hole on his sprawling estate. Here, you’ll find lawned terraces covered in ferns, assorted leafy shrubs, and hundreds of hydrangeas that burst into colour each summer.
The walls of the sinkhole are draped in curtains of ivy, and two towering palms reach for the sky. This is just the sort of place you’d expect to bump into a nervous white rabbit wearing a waist coat and clutching a fob watch.
At night when the lights are switched on, possums emerge from their daytime hideouts to feed.
Valley Lake/Brownes Lake
Valley Lake and the currently-dry Brownes Lake are nestled in a volcanic crater beside their famous neighbour, Blue Lake. This is one of the best picnic spots in the state. There are expansive lawns, lots of barbecues, an impressive playground, and even a small wildlife park. If you’re looking for a lovely family day out inside a volcano, this is the place.
