Mount Gambier, South Australia

When you pass Discovery Bay on the way from Nelson over the South Australian border to Mount Gambier, take your time, collect some mussles, go for a walk in ther fresh breeze on the 55km Beach stretching to the horizon. Discovery Bay Park is part of the Great South West Walk, initiated by Bill Golding and maintained in some 4000 workhours with a mere 100 volunteers. Golding comments the region: The beach sweeps to infinity in any direction and people find it an extremely uplifting thing."

The walk which combines some of the most beautiful spots in the region, can be done in single parts or as a whole when you have a tent and food with you. There are 16 campsites with all the facilities you need to pass the night not far away from the numerous attractions.

There are huge, mobile sand dunes around Swan Lake with some stunning wildlife like the "Hooded Plover". Only about 600 of them are remaining in Victoria and so they are protected.

The Discovery Bay Park meets the Lower Glenelg National Park in Nelson, the main access for the important Glenelg River. Parts of it are accessible by canoe or boat. Bring the time and take a ride on the river, preferrably in the tidal estuary.

In Mount Gambier (22'000 inhabitants), we booked the Blue Lake Motel, as there are no YHAs in town. For 14 AU$ you get bunk bed in a basic room or you can have a regular motel room for two if you think of spending 50 dollars.

Mount Gambier is the heart of the volcanic limestone region in South Australia and derives its name from the extinct volcano it is built on. There are many volanic attractions. Easily accessible is the Blue Lake which is deep blue from November through March and turns then to a light grey and again blue in November. It is believed that thriving microorganisms growing in November cause the colour change. The crater lake can be surrounded by car or bike on a 5km path.

After driving around the Blue Lake, we continue to Mount Shank, an inactive but not yet extinct volcano. You can climb to the crater and notice the different vegetation on the outside of the volcano. Beware of the strong winds that can occur on top of Mount Shank.

 

Mount Shank Volcano

Blue Lake, Cater Lake, Mount Gambier

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I strongly recommend visiting Umpherston Sinkholes at dusk or during the night as there are many possums to be seen. If you don't feed them - watch your pockets as they tend so self-service. The sinkhole is originally a limestone cave where the top fell of so that only a hole remains.

Caves are very typical for the region and there's many to visit. The other day we took a guided tour through Engelbrecht Caves, named after a german industrial from Magdeburg who opened his business in Mount Gambier. Engelbrecht caves consist of several ares, some of them only accessible by cave divers who come from all over the continent to extend the diving record in a cave from the 50 hours at the moment. But as the ground water level drops because of the intensive use for the wine areas and the increasing population more and more of the cave system is conventionally accessible.

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