Mount Gambier, South Australia.The flourishing City of Mount Gambier is located in South Australia about halfway between Adelaide and Melbourne and 27 kilometres from the South Australian coast. It has been called the city round a cave, but it's better known as the Blue Lake City, and it took its name from the highest point of a volcanic crater, Mt. Gambier. It’s an area of ancient volcanic landscapes, beautiful cave gardens and stately civic buildings. 
One of Mt Gambier's main tourism draw-cards is its location on the slopes of an extinct volcano, and the city itself climbs almost to the lip of the famous Blue Lake with the outskirts extending to the rich volcanic soil of the surrounding plain.Blue Lake is one of the craters of the volcano and is a huge lake of high-quality artesian drinking water which changes colour with the seasons. In winter it’s a steel grey and then changes to a spectacular cobalt blue in the summer, giving rise to its name, Blue Lake. The peak of Mt Gambier itself was spotted from a small British survey vessel in 1800 and as Lieutenant. James Grant chartered it on board the Lady Nelson the mount became the first mark on the English chart in what is now South Australia. Most visitors to Mount Gambier know about the Blue Lake, but the staff at the Lady Nelson Visitors Information Centre, on the main road east, point people to the regions best vantage point.
It’s a steep walk that is well worth the effort with panoramic 360-degree views over the rich farm country close by to the beautifully green pine forests beyond the city. Another dormant volcano, Mt. Schank, sits southwards towards Pt. MacDonnell and the ocean. Towards the Blue Lake's own great crater the precipitous sides of the Valley Lake’s crater soften and that is what the first European visitors found so attractive. It became a cradle for the pastoral industry, I believe the first shepherd's hut was built on the lake bank. The vast forestry industry of the South East was also born within its craggy walls when an experimental plantation of exotic hardwoods and pines was planted last century. 
Valley Lake also contains a water skiing lake, scenic picnic grounds and wildlife walk.The Leg of Mutton Lake bowl offers spectacular autumn walks for today's visitors. The Blue Lake, however, is deservedly the main attraction. From any vantage point round the three and a half kilometre circumference, the crater and the colour of the water are stunningly attractive especially in the summer months. The Blue Lake is its own mysterious magic and a colour which is all it’s own. It is believed to be caused by calcite crystals coming out of solution in warmer water of the summer, they apparently absorb all but that blue light, which is enhanced by a summer blue sky.
Within a half hour drive of Mount Gambier one can also experience the wineries of the Coonawarra, pine plantation tours, a shipwreck, beaches, and river fishing. In the nearby coastal towns of Millicent, Beachport, Robe and Kingston you can enjoy delicious fresh caught seafood, historic lighthouses or test your skills at the areas many water sports. Of course, when you visit us in Mount Gambier you'll need somewhere to stay, ...well... the little search box below will find you all the best accommodation in Mount Gambier and at prices that will surprise you. Try it, you'll like it!!! Yes, Mount Gambier is a beautiful spot and one I’m sure you’ll want to visit again and again…………..enjoy, John. Our RSS feed will be updated periodically with all the latest travel deals and special offers. Please subscribe by clicking the button to the left (XML/RSS) to receive notice of these updates without any risk or obligation. PLEASE NOTE: If you don't know what an RSS feed is just click this link. Click here to return from Mount Gambier to The Discount Travel Guide home page. |
At the “Top of the mount”, which is impressive from across the huge second crater with its Valley Lake, sits the Centenary Tower. 
The region has many water-filled caves and sinkholes which attract cave divers from around the globe, and such places as Ewan Ponds, Piccaninnie Ponds, Tantanoola Caves, Umpherston Sinkhole, Cave gardens and Englebrecht Cave can all be visited by tourists.