The Limestone Coast

Stretching south from the Coorong National Park along a spectacular coastline to the Victorian border, the region also encompasses inland pastoral districts and the Coonawarra wine region.

The area was named in honour of its ancient bedrock, which has formed the basis of many industries including limestone quarrying, the rich terra rossa soils that support a thriving wine industry and the limestone ledges which house the valuable rock lobster.

Art and culture

Discover some of the visual inspiration behind famous poets John Shaw Neilson and Adam Lindsay Gordon in the many galleries dotted around the area.

Visitors can learn about Mary MacKillop, an important figure in the Roman Catholic Church who changed the nature of education in Australia, at her Interpretive Centre in Penola.

Diverse attractions

The Limestone Coast also encompasses the remarkable Coorong National Park, home to many shore bird species and rare coastal flora. These wetlands of international importance curve along the southern coast of South Australia.

The region of pine forests and extinct volcanoes possesses many unexpected wonders. Sightseers must visit Mount Gambier's famed Blue Lake, a water filled volcanic centre that mysteriously turns a startling turquoise blue each November. An excursion to the World Heritage Listed Naracoorte Caves is also a must. The honeycomb system of underground caves is layered with prehistoric animal fossils.

The Limestone Coast offers some fantastic spots for cave diving including Piccaninnie Ponds and the shallower Ewens Ponds.