Naracoorte

Naracoorte, only about a four hour drive south-east of Adelaide (capital of South Australia) is an excellent base for the traveller wishing to explore this region further. South of Naracoorte is the historic township of Penola, where the Blessed Mother Mary MacKillop (destined to be Australia's first Saint), set up her school in a stable. Mt Gambier, further to the south is the major city in the region.

Between Naracoorte and Penola is the famous Coonawarra vineyard area which has produced many famous award winning wines. Motels offer excellent accommodation along with good restaurants serving fine, local food. There are also many opportunities to "get away from it all" by trying alternative accommodation such as Bed & Breakfast Cottages or by staying on a Host Farm and experiencing the farm life. The main industry is farming - including wool production, fat lambs, beef cattle, dairy production, wine, pine plantations and timber/paper production.

Scenically, the region offers visitors attractive drives through the rolling countryside dotted with large River Red Gums (some 300-400 years old) and other native species. Although devastated by raging bushfires in 1983, the vegetation is showing little sign of the scarring now. Take a drive through the many small townships towards the coast. This is a pleasant way to spend a day or two - viewing the scenic coastline, fishing or exploring the environment. Small billabongs (or lagoons) dot the region, especially in the winter months after lengthy periods of rain, and one is often rewarded with sightings of emus, kangaroos, myriads of colourful parakeets, rosellas, parrots, galahs and corellas. Tiny fairy wrens, with splashes of vivid blue plumage, nest in low-growing scrub, which in spring is transformed into a garden of native flowers.

On the coast, there are the townships of Robe, Beachport, Kingston - all within an easy reach from Naracoorte. Other attractions that are not too far away, include Picanninie Ponds, Bool Lagoon, Princess Margaret Rose Caves, Tantanoola Caves, the Glenelg River (over the State border into Victoria), the Blue Lake and associated lakes created by volcanic activity centuries (and more) ago. The Blue Lake is famous for its mysterious colour change, from grey to turquoise each November, increasing to a vivid royal blue (at times) before reverting slowly back to grey again in late March. Theories about as plentiful as the Loch Ness Monster stories abound as to why this occurs year after year!

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