Mount Gambier

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We got to Mount Gambier on Friday and booked into the caravan park at the show grounds. (Show grounds usually have cheaper camping and good basic facilities whichis all we want.) We ended staying for 3 nights, there being so much to see in the town and surrounds. Their big attraction is the sink holes in the area - and allover town. We started by gong to the old town hall for an hour film show on the formation of the volcanic action and sink holes in the area. It was extremely interesting. To the southern side of town there are two very big volcanic lakes. The Blue Lake and the Valley Lake, both lying inside craters. They have an excellent roadway around and the Blue Lake and right into the Valley Lake so one can get views from all sides. The town and districts only water supply is from the Blue Lake and they annually pump the equivalent to 10% from the lake, but it replenishes from the surrounding water table. There are no rivers here - all the water "disappears" into the ground and then takes 30 years to get to the sea about 25km away. I did a walk up to the main lookout tower on the highest point of Mount Gambier, which was finished in 1905, to get the whole picture. A spectacular view. Back in town in the late 1800's they set one of the sink holes up as a sunken garden. Over years it fell into disrepair, but in the 1970 some locals cleaned it up and in 1995 the council took it over. It is absolutely amazing with long ivy hanging from the top to bottom looking like tapestry. A good opponent to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon!

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Comments

[William Lilly]

Australia trip
I am following your travels on the map. At the rate you are moving, you will cover your proposed trip in a month. God speed.

[Cecile]

Mt Gambier
Great, found it on my map, no active volcanoes in Aus but plenty old ones...Any fresh sinkholes ? Keep it up xoxo