Have you heard of the city of Mount Gambier?

A four-hour drive from Adelaide, Mount Gambier is a mere 20-minute drive from the southernmost point of South Australia.

Mount Gambier is the second most populated city in South Australia with a population of around 30,000. Off the limestone coast, this town is home to many natural attractions, and on my trip, I visited some of them – namely the Umpherston Sinkhole, Cave Garden and the Blue Lake Lookout.

Umpherston Sinkhole

Known as The Sunken Garden, the Umpherston Sinkhole definitely resembles one. On a late wintry Saturday morning, the attraction was breath-taking. Peppered with flora and fauna, the park is a remnant of a late 19^th century garden of which the sinkhole was the focal point.

While small, this well-managed garden required us to take a few steps down into the sinkhole. From the top, the sinkhole literally looked like a garden that had fallen a few stories down. However, from the bottom, when looking upwards, it made me feel like a little kid looking out into a pretty world.

Even looking at the image below makes me want to go back to the peaceful Umpherston Sinkhole. I can only imagine how wonderful it’ll be to have a picnic in the sinkhole on a cool spring day.

Cave Gardens and Weekend Farmers’ Market

The Cave Gardens is located within the city centre, just next to the Mount Gambier Public Library. It boasts a small waterfall, larger than the one at the Umpherston Sinkhole, within a small sinkhole itself.

However, having arrived at the Cave Gardens after the visit to the Umperston Sinkhole, it did not seem as impressive as I had imagined it to be. Perhaps, the first attraction left such an impression on me.

As it was a Saturday, I attempted to look for the Weekend Farmers’ Market which was apparently within the vicinity. Walked around the area a couple of times only to realize that the three stalls that had a team of buskers nearby constituted the market. I think the rain caused the poor turnout at the market, which made it seem small.

Blue Lake Lookout

A volcanic crater formed by a volcanic eruption almost 5,000 years ago, the Blue Lake is a key attraction in Mount Gambier. It became well-known due to its rich blue colour.

Being the town’s resource for water, the Blue Lake cannot be swum in. However, the lake’s surroundings boasts multiple walking trails to which residents and tourists alike can walk on. If you’re a geology fanatic, you’d be happy to know that there are signs with information on how the lake was formed around the lake 😉

Mount Gambier is located midway if you’re heading from Melbourne to Adelaide and is a great pit-stop! If you’re traveling along this route or are just heading to South Australia for a road-trip, why not stop by Mount Gambier? Go be amazed by nature at Mount Gambier!