Mt Gambier is the perfect holiday location for many. Located right in the middle of Adelaide and Melbourne, it’s within relatively easy driving distance from both cities. Mt Gambier sits on South Australia’s Limestone Caves, therefore when you travel to this beautiful location, you can expect the best of everything: caves, lakes, a rugged coastline, volcanoes, and so much more. With so much to do, it can be hard to decide on your perfect itinerary. Take your time and enjoy a long weekend at this stunning destination. This blog will be all about how to spend three days in Mt Gambier.

The Blue Lake is a great way to familiarise yourself with the beauty of Mt Gambier. The Blue Lake Circuit is an easy 3.6-kilometre hike around the beautiful blue waters. This is particularly special during the summer months when the water turns into a more sapphire colour - have your camera ready!

Of course, no visit to somewhere new is quite complete without trying the local food available. We recommend fitting in as many stops to local cafes and restaurants as possible, including Bay Blue Espresso Bar, Presto Eatery, Scroll Queen, and Metro Bakery and Cafe. 

This day is all about familiarising yourself with the local area, and what better way to do that than to head to the visitor centre? Find out about the local history and culture during the first afternoon at the centre. Make sure to check out a local highlight, the life-sized replica of the Lady Nelson. Commissioned in 1799 to sail the coastline of South Australia, this replica helps visitors to Mt Gambier learn about its history and its fate. You’ll also learn about local and Indigenous history, too. 

This sinkhole is one of the main attractions in Mt Gambier, and it’s so easy to see why. The Kilsby Sinkhole is one of the top dive sites in the world, and you can snorkel, scuba dive, and free dive here to your heart’s content. 

There’s actually a sinkhole trail that you can follow if you want a day of natural adventures and activities. The Mt Gambier region is home to an array of sinkholes, lava caves, and lakes, all of which are simply a must-see for those that love to get outside and explore. We recommend checking out Engelbrecht Cave, the Little Blue Lake, and Umpherston Sinkhole. 

The adventures never end on day two! Now it’s time to hike the Crater Lakes Trail, which is a 4.2-kilometre track that’ll take around 90 minutes to complete. You’ll see sights like Lions Lookout, Rotary Clubs Lookout, and Marks Lookout while you walk along. 

One of the best parts about visiting somewhere new is trying the local food! For dinners, we recommend venues like Commodore on the Park, Nalou Kitchen, the Mount Gambier Hotel, Mayura Station, and the Macs Hotel. 

No visit to Mt Gambier is complete without a trip to the cellars! Today is all about the wine, so prepare yourself with some delicious breakfast before choosing which winery you’d like to visit. There are plenty around, like Caroline Hills Winery, Herbert Vineyard, Haig Vineyard, and Noski Wines to name a few. There are over 40 cellar doors here, so you could spend the whole day wining and dining if you so choose. Please remember to always have a designated driver on any trip to a winery.

There’s so much to see and do while in Mt Gambier! From adventuring and exploring both in the sea and on land, to sipping your way around 40 different vineyards and wineries, the possibilities are both varied and fun. Make sure to bring your sense of adventure on any trip here, because there are new places to discover on every corner.