Natural wonders of the Limestone Coast
Crater lakes, sinkholes and World Heritage caves
There is nowhere in Australia quite like the Limestone Coast. Volcanic craters cradle lakes that change colour with the seasons, the porous rock collapses into sinkholes and caves, and freshwater springs rise so clear you can drift over the rocks below. These are the natural wonders worth crossing the state for.
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1
Mount GambierBlue Lake
A crater lake that turns from steel grey to brilliant cobalt every summer.
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2
NaracoorteNaracoorte Caves National Park
World Heritage fossil caves recording half a million years of Australian wildlife.
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3
Mount GambierUmpherston Sinkhole
A floodlit sunken garden draped over a collapsed limestone cavern.
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4
Mount GambierPiccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park
Spring-fed ponds of astonishing clarity, a bucket-list snorkel and dive.
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5
Mount GambierEwens Ponds Conservation Park
Crystal-clear spring water you can drift along on a hot day.
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6
MillicentTantanoola Caves Conservation Park
Stalactite-hung chambers hidden beneath a roadside hill.
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7
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9
NaracoorteBool Lagoon Game Reserve
A vast wetland alive with waterbirds, threaded by boardwalks.
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10
Mount GambierEngelbrecht Cave
Water-filled cave chambers right at the edge of the city.
Check seasonal access and permits for the ponds and caves before you go - many are protected, and worth the effort.
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Guide
Mount Gambier volcanic lakes loop
Mount Gambier sits on a dormant volcanic complex, and its strangest sights - a lake that turns cobalt every summer, sunken gardens and water-filled caves - are all within a few minutes of the main street.
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Volcanoes & Craters Day
Trace the volcanic story of Mount Gambier and Mount Schank, from brilliant crater lakes to a climb around a young volcano.
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A Caves & Sinkholes Day
Spend a day exploring the caves, sinkholes and springs that riddle the limestone beneath Mount Gambier and Naracoorte.
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Coast and caves road trip
A three-day arc from the seaside charm of Robe to the World Heritage caves of Naracoorte, taking in wild surf parks, salt lakes and a fossil record stretching back half a million years.
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Best Family Things to Do on the Limestone Coast
From fossil caves and crater lakes to safe swimming beaches and a towering lobster, the Limestone Coast is a natural fit for families. Here are the best stops with kids.
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Best Free Things to Do on the Limestone Coast
Volcano lakes, sunken gardens, salt-lake floats and big lobsters: some of the Limestone Coast's best experiences are completely free.
Image credits
- Naracoorte Caves National Park 1.jpg by Feral Arts , CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons