Best Things to Do in the Limestone Coast

A volcanic crater lake at Mount Gambier that turns a vivid cobalt blue each summer, ringed by a 3.6km walking trail. It is the region's signature natural icon and an easy, rewarding stop for walkers and photographers alike.

South Australia's only World Heritage site, a network of fossil-rich limestone caves preserving an ice-age record stretching back hundreds of thousands of years. Guided show-cave tours make it a standout for families and curious travellers.

A collapsed limestone cave at Mount Gambier transformed into a terraced sunken garden of hydrangeas, ivy and ferns. Visit at dusk to watch possums emerge - a magical, free and family-friendly spot.

A beloved holiday town with a colonial port history, heritage main street and fresh crayfish. Robe is the place to base yourself for a few unhurried days of beaches, good food and seaside walks.

Coonawarra's most recognisable winery, its 1896 triple-gabled cellar set among the oldest vines on the famous terra rossa strip. A must for anyone wanting to taste the district's benchmark Cabernet at the source.

A Ramsar-listed coastal wetland whose crystal-clear freshwater springs and deep "Chasm" draw snorkellers and divers from around the world. The clarity of the water here is genuinely extraordinary.

A wild coastal park of towering dunes, surf beaches and rugged cliffs stretching along the Southern Ocean. It is the place to come for big, untamed scenery, four-wheel-driving and bracing clifftop walks.

A 17km sweep of firm white sand at Robe where you can drive your car right onto the beach. It is perfect for a leisurely family day of swimming, fishing and sandcastles.

The museum and heritage precinct in Penola telling the story of St Mary MacKillop, Australia's first saint, who founded her teaching order here. A moving and beautifully presented slice of national history.

Robe's iconic red-and-white striped obelisk, built in 1855 as a navigation marker on the limestone coast. A short clifftop stroll delivers one of the region's most photographed landmarks.

A spectacular coastal drive south of Beachport, hugging limestone cliffs above the wild Southern Ocean. Pull over often for blowholes, lookouts and crashing surf along this short but memorable route.

A family-owned Coonawarra estate whose terra rossa Cabernet, led by the acclaimed The Tally, has earned a devoted following. A relaxed, friendly cellar door for tasting some of the district's best.

A 772-metre jetty reaching out over clear water at Beachport, a favourite for fishing, walking and watching the sunset. One of South Australia's longest jetties and a quintessential coastal-town experience.

The stone tower crowning Mount Gambier's highest point, reached by a short uphill climb. Your reward is a 360-degree panorama taking in the city, the volcanic lakes and the surrounding country.