MOUNT GAMBIER is the southeast's commercial centre; not far from the border with Victoria, the small city sprawls up the slopes of an extinct volcano which has three craters, each with its own lake surrounded by heavily wooded slopes and filled from underground waterways that are perfect for unusual subterranean pursuits. The Blue Lake is the largest of the crater lakes, up to 204m deep and 5km in circumference. From November to March it's a stunning cobalt blue, reverting to duller grey in the colder months. There are lookout spots and a scenic drive around the lake, and guided tours to the surface are offered by Aquifer Tours (Nov-Jan: daily on the hour 9am-5pm; Thurs also 7pm, Feb-Oct: daily on the hour 9am-3pm; 45min; $4). The second largest crater holds Valley Lake and a Wildlife Park (daily 7am-dusk; free) where indigenous animals range free amid native flora; there are lookouts, walking trails and boardwalks.
The centerpiece of the city is Cave Gardens, a shady park surrounding a deep limestone cavern with steps leading some way down; the stream running into it eventually filters into the Blue Lake. At the rear of the park the municipal offices contain the Civic Centre, library and a small theatre. Fronting the park is the former Town Hall and the Riddoch Art Gallery (Tues-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-2pm, Sun noon-3pm; free) whose focus is the impressive Rodney Gooch collection of Aboriginal art from Utopia, Central Australia, which includes work by the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye. In the same building, Studio One sells the work of local artists (Mon-Fri 10.30am-4pm).
West of the centre, on Jubilee Highway West, is the extensive complex of underground caverns at Engelbrecht Cave (guided tours hourly 11am-3pm; 45min; $5.50), while east of the city, Umpherston Sinkhole (open access) is also known as the Sunken Garden, since it contains Victorian-era terraced gardens - they are floodlit at night when possums come out to feed. |
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