Destinations > South Australia > Limestone Coast

Limestone Coast

Most people speed through this region while travelling between Adelaide and Melbourne, perhaps stopping for no more than a quick bite. If you're driving along the coastal route between Adelaide and the South Australia/Victoria border you'll pass by the Coorong National Park that is noted for its bird life, particularly pelicans. Closer the to border at the extreme South-East of the state, you'll find Mt Gambier, a pleasant regional city known for its crater lakes.

Coorong National Park

This large national park on the coast around mid-way between Adelaide and the Victorian border is known for its lagoons, sand dunes and bird life.

Practical Information

National Park Office

34 Princes Highway, Meningie

Tel (08) 8575 1200

Website www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/coorong/

Open Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-5pm

Coming & Going

Access to the Coorong National Park is via several points on Princes Highway that include Jack's Point, Policeman's Point and Salt Creek. Access from the Princes Highway is normally to bird watching observation points although there is also some access to campgrounds.

Alternatively you can organise tours from Meningie, which is the closest major town. If you're come here for fishing, then Meningie is the best access point for the park. It is also possible to visit the Coorong National Park by taking a cruise from Goolwa on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Accommodation

There are several camping grounds within the national park. Visit the national parks office on Main Street in Meningie for detailed information and to organise camping permits ($6.50 per car). Camping permits are also available from the Shell service station in Salt Creek.

Mount Gambier

Located in South Australia's southeast corner, Mount Gambier is a major regional centre that is worth a look. The main attractions are the two crater lakes, Blue Lake and Valley Lake, which are both located on an extinct volcano overlooking the city.

Mount Gambier is also a good base for exploring the Coonawarra wine region, which is about 30km north of town.

Practical Information

Lady Nelson Visitor Information Centre

Jubilee Highway East, Mount Gambier

Tel 1800 087 187

Open 9am-5pm daily

Accommodation

The Jail

25 Margaret Street, Mount Gambier

Tel (08) 8723 00326

Naracoorte Caves National Park

South Australia's only World Heritage area is comprised of several caves that feature fragile stalactite and stalagmite formations. The caves have earned their World Heritage listing because of the extensive collection of fossils that have been unearthed here.

Fossils found in the caves provide a unique glimpse into the past and the Wonambi Fossil Centre inside the park has an excellent display featuring animatronic depictions of the extinct marsupial megafauna that lived here around 200,000 years ago.

One of the caves is home to a colony of the rare Southern Bentwing Bat and infrared video cameras have been set up that allow you to view the bat from the Bat Cave Teleview Centre.

There are various tours of the different caves, each with its own unique features.

An hour-long tour takes you to a large fossil deposit in the Victorian Fossil Cave where you get to experience the cave's World Heritage values.

Alexandra and Cathedral Caves offers a beautiful glimpse of cave decorations.

Tickets for the Alexandra Cave and Wonambi Fossil Centre also include entrance to Wet Cave, which features a self-guided walk that is ideal if you want to explore the cave at your own pace.

With the exception of adventure caving trips (see below) and the Cathedral Cave tour ($13), cave tours cost $11 for one tour, $17.50 for two tours, $24 for three tours and $30 for four tours.

Most of the cave tours are fairly tame, focusing mostly on the caves' natural history but there are also some excellent value adventure caving tours that operate in Stick-Tomato, Blackberry and Fox Caves. Adventure caving trips cost $27.50-50.

Coming & Going

Naracoorte Caves National Park is 10km south of Naracoorte and it is difficult to reach without your own transport.

Oz Experience stops here, but if you're travelling by regular bus you'll need to take a taxi from Naracoorte.

Accommodation

The closest hostel to the national park is Naracoorte Backpackers in Naracoorte, but it is also an easy trip from the Jail in Mt Gambier, a one-hour drive south of the Naracoorte Caves National Park.

There is also a camping site at the park that is well equipped and features a free laundry.

Naracoorte Backpackers Hostel

4 Jones Street, Naracoorte

Tel (08) 8762 3835