This put up would possibly comprise associate hyperlinks. Learn the entire disclosure
In search of what to do in Mount Gambier? With such a lot to peer and do in Mount Gambier, it may be tricky to understand the place to start out. Thankfully, we’ve put in combination a listing of the most efficient issues to do in Mount Gambier, so you’ll be able to profit from your time on this gorgeous town. From caves and sinkholes to scenic lookouts and lovely lakes, there’s one thing for everybody in Mount Gambier.
So get able to discover one among South Australia’s maximum underrated vacationer locations.
A Temporary Historical past Of Mount Gambier, Australia
Mount Gambier is the second one maximum populated town in South Australia, positioned at the sloping hills of an extinct volcano. The volcanic job created a singular panorama with many geological wonders, such because the Blue Lake and Umpherston Sinkhole.
RECOMMENDED READING: Plan without equal travel to Australia with our Australia Commute Information!
Very best Issues To Do In Mount Gambier South Australia
Mount Gambier is a well-liked position to consult with on an afternoon travel from in different places in SA or on a travel over the border from Victoria, particularly in case you have time beyond regulation on the finish of your Nice Ocean Highway force!
As a child, we used to consult with often from my place of birth of Portland in Victoria, positioned round an hour away so it was once thrilling to get again for a consult with with our personal children after exploring one of the absolute best puts in Victoria.
Listed below are one of the absolute best issues to do at Mount Gambier that you just received’t wish to omit, whether or not you might be visiting for at some point or staying for some time:
The Blue Lake
The Blue Lake is a geological surprise in Mount Gambier that attracts massive crowds on a daily basis to peer the deep cobalt blue water from the lovely viewpoints across the volcanic lake.
The pretty Blue Lake in Mount Gambier is a monomictic crater lake positioned inside of an inactive volcano and one among 4 Crater Lakes at the start at the Mount Gambier maar. Now handiest two stay, Blue Lake and Valley Lake, with the opposite 2 lakes having dried up through the years.
The color of the lake adjustments during the 12 months, with the precise purpose unknown. Then again, throughout the summer season months (similar to our contemporary consult with – no this picture has now not been edited!), the lake is a colourful vibrant blue. Whilst throughout the cooler months, the lake is extra of a metal gray.
Summertime is unquestionably the most efficient time to consult with Mount Gambier if you wish to see the lake at its maximum colourful!
Whilst there is not any swimming allowed within the lake, there are a number of viewpoints and a strolling loop across the perimeter of the lake to realize its good looks.
Blue Lake Aquifer Excursion
The Blue Lake Aquifer Excursion takes guests on a adventure thru underground tunnels and chambers to discover the hidden depths of the lake. Guests can be informed concerning the historical past, geology and biodiversity of the lake from an skilled excursion information.
Umpherston Sinkhole
Situated within the centre of Mount Gambier is without doubt one of the maximum surprising points of interest – the Umpherston Sinkhole. This herbal appeal, sometimes called Balumbul or the Sunken Lawn, has been reworked into some of the gorgeous gardens and a truly cool enjoy to discover inside the sinkhole.
As soon as an underground cave machine shaped via volcanic job tens of millions of years in the past, the ceiling of the cave collapsed, developing the easiest surroundings for the luxurious gardens that you just see now. The gardens have been first evolved again within the overdue 1800s via James Umpherston.
Walk during the brightly colored flora and recognize the huge partitions of vines striking from the highest of the limestone cave sinkhole.
It’s loose to consult with Umperston Sinkhole and it stays open from nightfall til break of day. There’s a small cave house hidden in the back of vines, so be sure you don’t omit the doorway in the back of the stairway.
Surrounding the utopia-like gardens, you’ll to find picnic spaces, BBQ amenities, a small playground, and a parkland house, in addition to the Umperston Kiosk. That is simply probably the most absolute best loose issues to do in Mount Gambier.
The doorway into the sinkhole is by means of relatively a couple of stairs, on the other hand, there are viewing platforms from the highest additionally.
Attention-grabbing Truth: There are over 50 cenotes (sinkholes) inside the Mount Gambier and Limestone Coast house!
Feed The Possums At Umpherston Sinkhole
Because the solar is going down, the native possums pop out to play throughout the gardens of Umperston Sinkhole, so in case you are visiting at evening time, convey some fruit with you. We heard that they love grapes and strawberries particularly!
Simply be sure that it’s fruit you might be bringing to feed them to keep away from getting the possums ill from processed meals that aren’t a part of their local nutrition.
The possums will come proper as much as you for a feed. What a fab enjoy for every age!
Spend A Day At Valley Lake Game Space
For the easiest kin day trip, the Valley Lake Game Space is an effective way to benefit from the outdoor. Relying at the time of 12 months you might be visiting, Valley Lake is in style for water actions similar to jetskiing or standup paddleboarding.
There’s a massive fenced journey playground right here that the children will love, at the side of amenities for BBQs, picnics and public bogs. Or convey your soccer or frisbee for a play at the huge open grassy spaces.
Our children beloved the playground and had a good time letting out some power sooner than our force again to Portland.
Valley Lake Natural world Park & Boardwalk
In case you are searching for loose issues to do in Mount Gambier, that is but some other nice possibility! In truth, Mount Gambier is a brilliant position all spherical in case you are searching for a budget-friendly vacation spot in South Australia.
Valley Lake Natural world Park is a nature reserve simply close to the lake that has been created as a protecting surroundings for plenty of local animals within the house.
You’ll walk during the natural world park and notice kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, birds and most likely some much less not unusual natural world similar to shy echidnas or bandicoots.
The stroll during the nature reserve is gorgeous too, with boardwalks, viewing platforms and bridges during. There are indicators in position providing you with tricks to maximise your natural world recognizing. Simply stay an eye fixed out for snakes at the paths throughout the summer season months. In any case, the conservation park is designed to carefully mirror the herbal Australian bushland.
The conservation park is open from 7 am to six pm day by day.
Engelbrecht Caves
The Engelbrecht Caves, positioned simply a few kilometres from the centre of the city, is some other a laugh factor to do in Mount Gambier and some of the distinctive caves within the Limestone Coast area.
This is without doubt one of the few caves open for vacationers to discover and it’s a great enjoy. The Engelbrecht Cave machine was once in the past privately owned and used as a garbage unload via homeowners.
Fortunately this present day you’ll be able to consult with the sinkhole cave on a guided 45-minute excursion to peer the underground lake and know about its historical past. This cave is a well-liked spot for cave diving too.
Different caves to consult with within the house come with Tantanoola Cave and Naracoorte Caves Nationwide Park.
Experience The Many Strolling Trails
In case you’re feeling lively, the Blue Lake Circuit is a three.6km strolling path across the lake with some impressive perspectives of Blue Lake and Valley Lake. The stroll is straightforward sufficient for any health degree and takes round 1 hour to finish, relying on how frequently you prevent to recognize the view.
In case you’re searching for a tougher strolling observe, the Mountain Path will as a substitute take you across the greater strolling observe of Valley Lake. This can be a reasonable strolling observe with some steep sections and stairs, over a distance of roughly 4.2km.
Different strolling tracks come with the Leg of Mutton Lake stroll and the Pepperpot Path, which can be each and every round 1.7km in period.
Mount Gambier Customer Centre
The Mount Gambier Vacationer Data Centre is greater than only a position to prevent for native knowledge and excursions.
The construction itself is a part of the historical past of Mount Gambier and commemorates the primary send that stated alongside the South Australian sea coast. They have got a reproduction of the send in entrance of the Discovery Centre, so it’s simple to identify as you force via!
The centre homes a museum, with some interesting artefacts from the early days of agreement within the area, interactive shows and shows that includes the original marine lifetime of the world, in addition to the native Boandik tradition too.
And naturally, Woman Nelson Discovery Centre is an ideal position to come back if you wish to know about what is going on on the town throughout your consult with and get suggestions for extra issues to peer and do from their certified personnel.
Cave Gardens
Any other surprising sight proper within the centre of Mount Gambier is the Cave Gardens.
This foliage and floral show are positioned in a sinkhole with viewing platforms. Whilst you’ll be able to’t move down into the sinkhole as you’ll be able to at Umpherston, this is a great spot to take a walk.
There are gorgeous rose gardens and quite a few puts for a picnic within sight.
Sadly, the ground of the cave lawn has accumulated a large number of garbage or even a few buying groceries trolleys, which is unlucky when some folks attempt to spoil it for everybody, however it’s nonetheless neatly price visiting.
Centenary Tower
For one of the absolute best perspectives of Mount Gambier, head as much as Centenary Tower.
This medieval-style tower would possibly appear just a little misplaced in a small Aussie the city, having opened to the general public again in 1904, but it stays some of the in style points of interest, with 360-degree panoramic perspectives of Mount Gambier and the sea coast.
The tower sits 190 metres above sea degree and this is a little bit of a hike to rise up to the tower itself, however neatly price it if you happen to do.
To grasp if Centenary Tower is open for guests, test to peer if the Tower Flag is flying! There’s a small admission price to go into the tower, which additionally has a show of pictures of the world over time inside the tower construction. There may be a restaurant inside of.
Make sure to head up early morning in case you are visiting on a sizzling summer season day, to keep away from the freshest a part of the day!
Little Blue Lake
Little Blue Lake is a gorgeous water-filled sinkhole only a brief distance south of Mount Gambier. Not like the Blue Lake, you’ll be able to if truth be told swim right here! It’s a well-liked swimming hollow for locals and guests alike.
Whilst nowhere close to the spectacular color of the massive Blue Lake, it’s nonetheless an exquisite spot. It is usually freezing chilly because the water is round 40 or extra metres deep, so you’ll unquestionably cool off temporarily on a sizzling day!
There are stairs and a floating pontoon platform down into the lake for simple get admission to.
See Mount Schank Crater
The volcanic panorama of Mount Gambier is unquestionably probably the most greatest drawcards that brings guests to town and Mount Schank Crater is a type of cool herbal points of interest this is price a glance. The dormant volcano crater is located midway between Port MacDonnell and Mount Gambier and is gigantic!
Attending to the rim of the volcanic crater is round a 1.3km go back stroll with spectacular perspectives from the highest. Or if you happen to’re feeling truly lively, you’ll be able to stroll the two.7km lap of the rim too.
The strolling tracks aren’t overly neatly stored so do take care if you happen to do come to a decision to stroll down into the volcano and stay an eye fixed out for natural world… together with snakes, relying at the time of 12 months you might be visiting.
Meet The Echo Farm Animals
Echo Farm is a brilliant possibility for visiting with children! Situated simply north of Mount Gambier, Echo Farm supplies a a laugh surroundings for youngsters to be informed about animals and nature.
This small running farm has a self-guided excursion to fulfill the cattle together with chickens, goats, geese, turkeys, pigs, sheep, wallabies, emus, donkeys and extra. You’ll lend a hand feed the animals throughout your consult with.
In addition they have do-it-yourself preserves, biscuits and souvenirs on the market.
See Mount Gambier On Motorcycle
Rent a bicycle in Mount Gambier and benefit from the contemporary air alongside probably the most many motorcycle and mountain climbing trails. There are tracks to fit all problem ranges and this can be a nice method to see the points of interest whilst getting some workout on the identical time.
There’s a loose motorcycle rent carrier on the Mount Gambier Customer Centre, Mount Gambier Library, and the Riddoch Arts & Cultural Centre.
To rent a motorbike, it is very important have a photograph ID, similar to a motive force’s licence or passport and a bank card for verification.
Day Journeys From Mount Gambier
For the reason that town of Mount Gambier is located so just about the South Australia and Victorian border, this opens up a large number of cool choices for day journeys or as a prevent alongside an extended south coast highway travel in case you are visiting and making plans to stick for a couple of days. Listed below are one of the absolute best Mount Gambier day journeys:
Portland, Victoria
In case you are willing to discover a few of South Australia’s neighbours, head an hour east of Mount Gambier and consult with the pretty seashore the city of Portland, Victoria.
The birthplace of Victoria has some fascinating points of interest, together with Cape Bridgewater and the Bridgewater seal stroll, the petrified wooded area, Portland Powerhouse Motor Museum and the gannet colony.
Warrnambool, Victoria
Slightly over a two-hour force from Mount Gambier is the coastal town of Warrnambool. The Shipwreck Coast is without doubt one of the greatest points of interest right here, with over 700 shipwrecks alongside this stretch of coast.
Seek advice from for whale observing and discover historical websites like Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village or Lake Pertobe Journey Playground. Tower Hill may be a great spot to identify wild emus and koalas.
Port MacDonnell, South Australia
This small fishing the city is located only a brief force from Mount Gambier, previous Mount Schank and residential to a couple of South Australia’s absolute best seafood. It’s widely recognized for its rock lobster fishing. Experience contemporary fish and chips whilst observing the sundown over the port.
No longer a ways from Port MacDonnell is Cape Northumberland which is essentially the most southern level of South Australia. There are some nice viewing platforms right here to peer Frog Rock, Rhino Rock and the Cape Northumberland Lighthouse.
There also are strolling tracks to make an afternoon of it.
Commute Insurance coverage: Make sure to don’t go away house with out go back and forth insurance coverage. Agree with us, it’s a type of stuff you don’t wish to skip, particularly when travelling with children. Take a look at our go back and forth insurance coverage comparability information.
Mount Gambier With Children
Mount Gambier is a brilliant position to consult with with children, with lots of outside actions and family-friendly points of interest to experience. There are a number of playgrounds round the city, together with the huge fenced journey playground at Valley Lake Natural world Park and Railway Lands Nature Play.
You actually have a nice probability of recognizing local Australian natural world within the wild, with the original panorama and local weather.
In case you’re searching for indoor actions in Mount Gambier for wet days, there’s a cinema, indoor play centre and library that can stay the children entertained.
Making plans Your Mt Gambier Seek advice from
In a position to plot your consult with to Mount Gambier? Whether or not you might be staying for an evening or per week, there may be lots to peer and do. Listed below are the necessities you wish to have to plot your keep in Mount Gambier, South Australia:
The place Is Mount Gambier?
Mount Gambier is positioned roughly 434 km southeast of Adelaide, South Australia and roughly the similar distance from Melbourne. It’s located simply 11km from the Victoria-South Australia border.
When Is The Very best Time To Seek advice from Mount Gambier?
The most productive time to consult with Mount Gambier is throughout the months of October to March when temperatures are hotter and extra delightful. It’s going to be at its busiest throughout January with the Australian college vacations
Getting Round Mount Gambier
One of the simplest ways to get round Mount Gambier is via automobile. You’ll rent a automobile from Adelaide or Melbourne airport or any of the opposite large towns in case you are visiting from in different places. This may occasionally make it a lot more straightforward to get to all of the other Mount Gambier points of interest since a few of them are positioned farther from the centre of the city.
Very best Puts To Keep In Mount Gambier
There’s quite a few lodging in Mount Gambier to fit all budgets, together with kin lodging. Listed below are one of the absolute best puts to stick in Mount Gambier, SA.
- The Previous Mount Gambier Gaol – If you need a truly distinctive lodging enjoy, the previous prison has been transformed right into a hostel with kin rooms and it’s an ideal funds lodging for someone who likes to stick someplace memorable. It’s handiest a few mins from the Crater Lakes district and the centre of the city too.
- The Barn – It may be tough to search out lodging to fit huge households and teams, so The Barn is an unbelievable possibility with lodging to fit as much as 9 folks or smaller choices for {couples}. Set on 5 acres of gardens, it’s only 5 mins from the city.
- Blue Lake Vacation Park – This vacation park is positioned proper close to Blue Lake, with a playground and outside swimming pool and a lot of lodging choices.
There also are campgrounds, together with loose campsites, and a number of other caravan parks within the Mount Gambier area.
Those are simply one of the issues to do in Mount Gambier, Australia. From outside actions to historic and cultural websites, there’s something for everybody. So why now not plan a travel to Mount Gambier and experience all this nice town has to provide?
Extra Australia Making plans Assets:
