Mount Gambier - Home of the Blue Lake

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For more climate information with average temperatures and rainfall, see the chart at the bottom of this page.

Mount Gambier in South Australia. The city is located 436 road kilometre south of Adelaide. The border to Victoria is only 17 kilometres away. The distance to Melbourne is 430 road kilometres.

With around 25000 people population, Mount Gambier is the second largest city of South Australia. Around Mount Gambier are a lot of pine plantations. The forestry industry is a major economy factor for the city and the region. I saw pine plantations as far as Nangwarry which is located around 30 kilometres north of Mount Gambier.

Transport is another business leg of the city. A lot of trucking companies are based in Mount Gambier. The third big economy factor is tourism. And of course the city is well worth a visit.

I visited the city in December 2011 for two and a half days and enjoyed it very much. It has all the services of a big city, some great attractions and plenty of accommodation to choose from.

The Lady Nelson Visitor and Discovery Centre is located on the main highway. Here you get all the advice to find your way around to the unique attractions.

One of them is the Umpherston Sinkhole also know as the Sunken Garden. You find this amazing place on the edge of the city next to the Jubilee Highway (east) heading towards Melbourne. I find it absolutely amazing. I have never seen something like that before.

This huge sinkhole developed once when the top of a cave collapsed. The garden was established in 1886 by James Umpherston. It is one of the most visited attractions of Mount Gambier. You find beautiful flowers and plants on different levels, a small artificial water cascade and some tables and benches including a barbeque. The cave ambience makes the place very special, particularly at night.

If you like that sort of thing you shouldn’t miss the Cave Garden in the city. The garden is well known for its wonderful roses. You find the Cave Garden between the Public Library and the Old Town Hall on Bay Road. There is a walkway to several viewing platforms which give you good sights into the cave. Great floodlights create a fantastic atmosphere after dawn.

Mount Gambier has quite a big cave system under the city. You can do guided tours through the Engelbrecht Cave to see some of that system. The region is well known for is fantastic caves, like the Tantanoola Cave in the west or the Naracoorte Cave in the north.

Another unique attraction is the Blue Lake. You find the place south of the city; just go up the hill along Bay Road. The Blue Lake is not always blue. It changes its colour during the four seasons of the year. The best time for a deep blue colour is the summer. So I was quite lucky with my visit in early December to see some amazing blue colour. Why does the colour changes so dramatically? It is well explained on the website of Blue Lake Water Care. You find this information also in the printed Mount Gambier Visitors Guide. The Blue Lakes provides also the drinking water for the city. Therefore is no swimming or diving permitted. The distance from one bank to the other is around 500 metres and the lake is 70 metres deep.

The second Crater Lake is the Valley Lake which has lots of opportunity for recreation. There are a wildlife park, playgrounds, as well as barbeques and shelters on wide grassed areas. It is a very popular spot for families with kids. The third Crater Lake, the Leg of Mutton Lake is dry since 1859. There is also a walking trail.

Accommodation shouldn’t be a problem in Mount Gambier. There are plenty to choose, from a caravan park to luxury accommodation. By the way I stayed at the Pine Country Caravan Park in my tent.

The Old Mount Gambier Goal
25 Margaret Street
See website

Mount Gambier gets definitely more rain than Adelaide. But the average temperatures are only between 2 and 3 degrees Celsius lower than in the state capital. See climate chart below for details. Temperatures rounded to nearest degree.

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