Destination Guides > Australia > South Australia > Limestone Coast > Naracoorte Caves National Park
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 ($15), cave tours cost $12 for one tour, $19.50 for two tours, $27 for three tours and $34.50 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 $30-55.
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 Mount Gambier, a one-hour drive south of the Naracoorte Caves National Park.
There is also a camping site at the park ($21 per car) that is well equipped and features a free laundry.
Naracoorte Backpackers Hostel
4 Jones Street, Naracoorte
Tel (08) 8762 3835
