What is Mount Gambier known for?
Mount Gambier is South Australia's second-largest city, built on the slopes of an extinct volcano. It is famous for the Blue Lake, sinkholes and limestone caves.
The city lies in the state's southeast, about halfway between Adelaide and Melbourne. Lieutenant James Grant named the volcano in 1800 after Admiral James Gambier, as he sailed past on HMS Lady Nelson.
The volcano last erupted around 5,000 years ago, making it one of the youngest volcanoes on the Australian mainland. Its craters now hold lakes, including the famous Blue Lake.
Sinkholes and gardens
The Umpherston Sinkhole is a collapsed limestone cave turned into a sunken garden, where possums come out at night to feed. The Cave Garden, in the centre of the city, is another sinkhole with gardens and a light show.
Underground, the region's limestone holds clear water-filled caves that attract experienced cave divers. Kilsbys Sinkhole is used for diving and filming.
The surrounding Limestone Coast is known for pine forests, dairy farming and the Coonawarra wine region, famous for Cabernet Sauvignon grown on red terra rossa soil.
Did You Know?
The Boandik people are the Traditional Owners of the Mount Gambier area, which they call Berrin.