Today has been yet another jam packed day on the Law family's epic holiday adventure. After a couple of coffees and Vegemite toast our first stop for the day was the Lady Nelson. "Woohoo," stated Miss 9 in her best imitation wolf whistle. Only for her smirk to become an embarrassed smile when we told her it was the name of a ship. Not just a ship though, also a great Information Centre with well informed staff and a FREE museum which showed the development of the local area over centuries. It had a great short film display with a lady from the original European settlement, she steps out of a photograph to tell her story and while she does she lights a fire, a candle, a gun goes off... Just a fascinating, educational display. Our son, a Master 10 was trying to find out how they did it. Our youngest, Miss 6 was a little scared of the 'ghost lady' until I told her it was all run by computer.
From our great start at the tiny, but impressive Lady Nelson we then jumped back onto the Jubilee Highway East and headed back towards Melbourne, but only ad far as the majestic Umpherston Sinkhole. This place was so beautiful and fascinating, a delightful green and floral garden set against a backdrop of chalky white limestone, hanging vines and busy buzzing bees. So many steps down into the sinkhole and so many back up again, but our legs were fresh and the Laws' spirits were high so we powered on down and back up again with a spring in our step.
Then we headed back past the little ship that discovered and named Mount Gambier and took a left at the roundabout onto Glenelg River Road headed for (and straight on past) the Aquifier Tours (thanks Google Maps) which gave us the option to stop at a lookout of view the picturesque Blue Lake. It is a greyish green this time of year but still massive in size and impressive to look upon. The Aquifier Tour was a great way to find out more about this amazing landmark, volcano and lake both at the same time. One thing that stuck in my mind was that the Blue Lake is a good source for trout, but only 150mm at a maximum length. Undersize in anyone's book...
Exhausted from our 45 minute walking tour of the 'Blue' Lake we decided on Hungry Heidi's for lunch followed by a hunt for the Cave Gardens. These 'gardens' would possibly be more impressive tonight with the light show but I was still impressed by the natural beauty of the limestone cave and the gardens integrated amongst it (above, around, within). For some of us though these gardens only meant more steps. I must admit the Cave Gardens were smaller than Umpherston Sinkhole, but I thought it pretty cool to see where the first settlers of Mount Gambier sourced their water...
Not done yet the epically adventurous day for the Laws took it up a notch and popped in to the old Railway Lands. These lands have been given (sold or donated I'm not sure) to the local council (I think) who created a lovely family picnic area with a nature playground the kind of which I have never ever experienced. Murray Bridge needs to take a leaf out of Mount Gambier's book... Our nature playground opposite Coles supermarket is pretty awesome but the one here is twenty times better at least... The kids and I loved finding the native animal statues (HUGE in size and fun to clamber all over or balance on) and the smaller natives artistically carved into the stepping stones themselves.
We have returned to Limestone Coast Tourist Park much wiser and far more exhausted. Tomorrow is a 'quick' trip to the highly praised Mount Gambier Library and hopefully a catch up with my colleague Vicki. Then it is back on the road again. We'll be headed for Naracoorte to catch up with a few familiar faces and some deep, dark caves... I can't wait!!
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