Adel Aide & South Au
Str Ali A
LIMESTONE
COAST
Adel Aide & South Au
Str Ali A
INFORMATION
Adel Aide & South Au
Str Ali A
BEACHPORT
88 Information
Robe Visitor Information Centre(%08-8768
2465,1300 367 144; www �robe �com �au; Mundy
Tce, PublicLibrary;h9am-5pmMon-Fri,10am-
4pm Sat &Sun; W)Displays,brochuresand
free internet� Look for Scenic Drive, Heritage
Driveand A Walk Through Historypamphlets�Beachport
POP 350
‘See and be seen: headlights 24 hours!’ say
billboards on the way into Beachport. A
town that’s desperate to be noticed? A plain-
tive cry for attention? We like it the way it is:
low-key and beachy, with aquamarine surf,
the famous 800m-long jetty, staunch stone
buildings and rows of Norfolk Island pines.
Forget about being seen − your time here
will be perfectly anonymous.1 ̈Sights ̈& ̈Activities
Old ̈Wool ̈& ̈Grain ̈Store ̈Museum ̈ MUSEUM
(%08-8735 8029; www �nationaltrust�org �au/sa; 5
RailwayTce; adult/child/family$5/2/10;h10am-
4pm) In a National Trust building on the
main street. Inside are relics from Beach-
port’s whaling and shipping days, rooms
decked out in 1870s style and a new display
on the local Buandi people.Beachport ̈Conservation ̈
Park ̈ NATURERESERVE
(www�environment�sa �gov �au) There are some
great walking tracks in the 710-hectare
park, sandwiched between the coast and
Lake George 2km north of town. Aboriginal
middens, sheltered coves, lagoons and bush
camping (per person/car $7/13).Pool ̈of ̈Siloam ̈ SWIMMING
(BowmanScenicDr) In the dunes on the west-
ern outskirts of town, the pool is great for
swimming; the water is seven times saltier
than the ocean. Ask at the vistor informa-
tion centre for directions.4 ̈Sleeping ̈& ̈Eating
Bompas ̈ HOTEL,CAFE$
(%08-87358333;www �bompas�com �au; 3Railway
Tce; dwithout/withbathroomfrom $100/125;W)
In what was Beachport’s first pub, Bompas
is an all-in-one small hotel and licensed
restaurant-cafe. Rooms upstairs are gener-
ously sized and strewn with modern art
(shoot for room No 3 − more expensive, but
worth it for the million-dollar views and
deep balcony). Menu offerings downstairs(mains $9 to $23, serving noon to 2pm and
6pm to 8pm, plus breakfast on weekends)
include curries, schnitzels and pies, with lo-
cal and imported beers.Southern ̈Ocean ̈Tourist ̈Park ̈CARAVANPARK$
(%08-87358153; sotp@bigpond�net �au; Somerville
St; unpowered/poweredsites $26/30,cabinsfrom
$105;a) This well-pruned, shady park is
nooked into the base of a hill in the town
centre. Facilities include a laundry, covered
barbecues, crayfish cookers and a great little
playground. The new kitchen cabins on the
hilltop are lovely.88 Information
Beachport Visitor Information Centre
(%08-87358029;www �wattlerange�sa �gov �au;
MillicentRd; h9am-5pmMon-Fri,10am-4pm
Sat &Sun) Info-packed,on the road into town �
Look for the Beachport’s Bowman Scenic Drive
brochure�Mount Gambier
POP 24,900
Strung out along the flatlands below an ex-
tinct volcano, Mount Gambier is the Lime-
stone Coast’s major town and service hub.
‘The Mount’ sometimes seems a little short
on urban virtues, but it’s not what’s above
the streets that makes Mount Gambier spe-
cial − it’s the deep Blue Lake and caves that
worm their way though the limestone be-
neath the town. Amazing!1 ̈Sights ̈& ̈Activities
Blue ̈Lake ̈ LAKE
(JohnWatsonDr; h24hr) F Mount Gam-
bier’s big-ticket item is the luminous, 75m-
deep lake, which turns an insane hue of blue
during summer. Perplexed scientists think it
has to do with calcite crystals suspended in
the water, which form at a faster rate during
the warmer months. Consequently, if you
visit between April and November, the lake
will look much like any other − a steely grey.
Acquifer ̈Tours ̈ (%08-87231199; www �aquifer
tours �com; cnr Bay Rd & John Watson Dr; adult/
child/family $9/4/25;htours 9am-5pm Nov-Jan,
9am-2pmFeb-May&Sep-Oct,9am-noonJun-Aug)
runs hourly tours, taking you down near the
lake shore in a glass-panelled lift.Riddoch ̈Art ̈Gallery ̈ GALLERY
(www�riddochartgallery�org �au; 1 Bay Rd; h10am-
5pm Mon-Fri,11am-3pmSat &Sun) F If the lake
isn’t blue, don’t feel blue − cheer yourself