2-Day Adventure in Mount Gambier Itinerary: Lakes, Sinkholes and Volcanoes
Mount Gambier is a town that should not be missed if you're travelling across the South Australia and Victoria border. The town’s deep blue lakes, mysterious sinkholes, and volcanoes make it a true gem. As our first stop on a South Australian road trip, it set the bar high for the rest of our adventure. Despite spending a week in Mount Gambier waiting for a package, we've condensed our itinerary into 48 hours to help you make the most of your time in Mount Gambier. So, without further ado, let's dive into our unforgettable 48-hour itinerary!
Day 1:
As you drive into the town, the first sinkhole you'll encounter is the Umpherston Sinkhole, also known as the sunken garden. This sinkhole was once a typical limestone cave until it was transformed into a beautiful garden by James Umpherston in the late 1800s. Today, it's completely free to explore, and you'll be blown away by the hanging vines that cascade down the walls. Once you're inside the sinkhole, it feels like you've entered a fantasy world. The gardens are absolutely stunning. At night it’s also a popular spot to see possums gather in large numbers.
The next stop we recommend visiting is Little Blue Lake, a popular diving and swimming spot just 11 km from the town centre of Mount Gambier. While the lake used to be a vibrant blue, when we visited it had more of a green hue to it, but it was still incredibly beautiful. Instead of swimming, we admired the crystal-clear water from the floating pontoon as the weather wasn't ideal and the water can be cold - 12 degrees all year round). We recommend visiting on a warm day so you can fully enjoy this unique swimming spot. Even without getting into the water, you can see how clear it is, with a 10-20 metres visibility. However, we couldn't see all the way to the bottom as the deepest part of the lake reaches depths of 47 metres.
Note: Little Blue Lake is only recommended for confident swimmers. Once you leave the floating pontoon, the water is incredibly deep, with a maximum depth of about 47 metres and the shallowest point of around 25 metres.
We suggest making Mount Schank your last stop of the day - a stunning dormant volcano. You can park your car at the designated car park, and from there, you can start the 1.3km walk to the crater rim. The walk may be a bit challenging as it mostly consists of stairs, but it only takes around 25-30 minutes. Once you reach the top, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking 360-degree views of the surrounding area and the crater. And the best part? The way back down from the crater rim is all downhill, making it a lot easier to descend.
If you're planning to spend the night in Mount Gambier, there are a few options to choose from. You can stay at one of the five caravan parks located near the town centre, such as Limestone Coast Tourist Park, Big4 Blue Lake Holiday Park, Pine Country Caravan Park, Kalganyi Holiday Park, or Mount Gambier Central Caravan Park. Alternatively, if you're not travelling with a caravan or camping gear, there are also several hotels available in the area.
We decided to spend the night at Browns Bay Beach, which was just a 25-minute drive from town. It's a free camp that can be found on the app 'WikiCamps' and offers a few beachside campsites along with a large car park where you can park up for the night. We absolutely loved this campground because it was quiet and secluded, yet still close to all the attractions on our itinerary. Plus, there were toilets available which was definitely a bonus.
Day 2:
The next morning we recommend getting up early and heading to Ewens Ponds Conservation Park - a must-do when you’re visiting South Australia. We were very excited to snorkel in the crystal clear, spring-fed ponds, and it did not disappoint. Ewens Ponds consists of three basin-shaped ponds, each around 10 metres deep, and are connected by narrow channels with a gentle current. This makes it super easy to float from one pond to the next without any hassle.
To secure our spot, we purchased a permit and booked our time slot online a few days prior. It only cost us $32 for two people, and the allocated hour was more than enough time for us to float through all three ponds. Here is the link to purchase a permit and book a timeslot.
Hint: If you need to rent a wetsuit and snorkel equipment, we suggest going to the Allendale General Store nearby. They have a range of options to choose from with prices ranging from $25-$35, including the option to rent a wetsuit with a hood and gloves.
Once we arrived at the Ewens Ponds Conservation Park, we suited up in our wetsuits and carefully slid into the water at the first pond. And let us tell you, the water was COLD! Everyone online is not lying. It stays at a consistent 15 degrees throughout the year, so make sure to prepare accordingly. However, the visibility was incredible, living up to all our high expectations.
Hint: If you're planning on capturing some breathtaking footage of your time at Ewens Ponds try to move slowly and smoothly through the ponds, avoiding sudden movements or flailing about. During our visit, we noticed that when we kicked a lot, it stirred up debris on the bottom and decreased our visibility. So, if you want to get the best possible shots, make sure to avoid stirring up the water too much.
Pond one is the largest of the three, with plenty of space to explore and take photos. We recommend taking advantage of this and snapping a few extra shots here before heading through the narrow channel to pond two. The channel is easy to navigate, with a gentle current that helps carry you through.
Pond two is a bit smaller than the first, but still offers plenty of opportunities for exploration and photography. Take your time here, and keep an eye out for the fish that call the ponds home
Finally, Pond three is the deepest of the three ponds, reaching a depth of 13 metres. It's important to take things slowly and carefully here, as the depth can be a bit intimidating for some. However, the stunning clarity of the water makes it well worth the effort.
All in all, we spent around 30-45 minutes gently swimming through all three ponds, taking plenty of photos and soaking up the unique experience. When you reach the third pond, you'll find a pontoon and ladder to help you exit the water. From there, a path leads you back to the car park at Ewens Ponds Conservation Park.
Note: If you're looking for another unforgettable snorkelling experience or an alternative to Ewen Ponds, you can’t go past Kilsby Sinkhole. Located on a private sheep farm, about 14 km south of Mount Gambier, this sinkhole boasts 60-metre-deep crystal clear waters that you can explore with snorkel tours and scuba diving tours. You can find more information on their website.
After your refreshing snorkel, trade your wetsuits for workout clothes and head back to Mount Gambier to visit the last stop - Blue Lake. This natural wonder is actually a crater of the maar volcano that the town is named after. To fully appreciate the stunning scenery, we suggest doing the 3.6 km Blue Lake circuit, which starts at the Pioneer Memorial parking area and takes about 45 minutes to complete.
During our visit in early summer, we were awed by the intense vibrant turquoise-blue colour of the lake, which was a unique and beautiful sight that we had never seen before. Although swimming is not permitted in Blue Lake, it's still worth a visit as it's a significant part of Mount Gambier's history and identity.
If you have extra time and are not in a rush to leave, we also recommend checking out Valley Lake, which is located near Blue Lake in Mount Gambier.
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The Blue Lake in Mount Gambier is a large crater lake that is one of the town's most significant natural attractions. It is part of the maar volcano that the town is named after and is known for its vivid blue colour that changes seasonally. The lake's origin and striking colour have made it an important part of Mount Gambier's history and identity. The Blue Lake in Mount Gambier is not just a tourist attraction, but it is also the primary source of water for the town. Even though you can soak up the gorgeous views of the Blue Lake from the shoreline, unfortunately taking a dip in the lake is off-limits because it's the town's main water source.
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The Blue Lake in Mount Gambier was formed by the eruption of a maar volcano around 4,500 years ago. A maar volcano is a shallow, broad crater formed by explosive volcanic activity. Over time, groundwater seeped into the crater and filled it with water, resulting in the formation of the Blue Lake.
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The Blue Lake in Mount Gambier is incredibly deep, with a maximum depth of around 75 metres. Scientists and divers discovered the lake's depth using echo-sounding technology and underwater surveys, which allowed them to create a detailed map of the lake's bottom. It is one of the deepest lakes in Australia.
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Located near the border of Victoria and South Australia, Mount Gambier is a popular destination for tourists travelling between the two states. If you're travelling from Adelaide, it's approximately 435 kilometres away, and driving takes around 5-6 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. If you’re travelling across the state border from Melbourne, the distance to Mount Gambier is approximately 440 kilometres, and it takes around 4-5 hours to drive via the most direct route that takes you through Geelong, Colac, and Camperdown. Alternatively, some people may choose to take a more scenic coastal route by driving along the Great Ocean Road, which adds more travel time but provides stunning coastal views.
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Mount Gambier is a hidden gem full of natural wonders that are just waiting to be explored. If you're planning a trip to the area, some of the top things you won't want to miss include the stunning lakes, sinkholes and volcanoes. For a unique experience, make sure to explore these top 8 attractions:
Umpherston Sinkhole
Little Blue Lake
Mount Schank
Browns Bay Beach
Ewens Ponds Conservation Park
Kilsby Sinkhole
Blue Lake
Valley Lake
Mount Gambier is a town that you won't want to miss if you're travelling across the South Australia and Victoria border.