South Australia’s wide array of caves make for a thrilling subterranean adventure on a weekend getaway.
From getting up close to ancient fossils to braving a deep dive under the Earth’s surface, the caves in South Australia offer travellers a unique way to experience the region’s stunning natural beauty and rich history.
Giant’s Cave
Giant’s Cave is an awesome back-to-nature activity if you’re spending time in Adelaide, as it’s just a short 20-minute drive from the city centre. The cave is located in Morialta Conservation Park, which is also home to a creek, gorges, and beautiful waterfalls. And, it’s a place that can be visited virtually any time of the year.
Simply follow the Morialta Falls Plateau Hike and keep an eye out for the cave, which is situated in the cliffs. Sit down, unwind, and enjoy views of other cliffs and vegetation. It’s truly an all-encompassing experience.
Experienced rock climbers will love the Morialta Rock Climbing Zone. It is the most popular natural climbing area in South Australia because it is home to an exciting array of climbs with varying difficulty that can be accessed from Climbers Track, right off Norton Summit Road.
Victoria Fossil Cave
Located in Naracoorte Caves National Park – South Australia’s only World Heritage site – Victoria Fossil Cave has been home to the remains of thousands of animals for more than 200,000 years. It’s a paleontological site where thousands of fossil bones have been recovered, making it a scientific wonder and something truly unique to experience in Australia.
Take a tour and hear about the cave’s amazing history from local experts, while also learning how the fossils are excavated. There’s even the opportunity to analyse the skeletons of megafauna species. Cave lovers won’t want to miss this experience, and it’s just one hour north of Mount Gambier.
Kelly Hill Caves
Looking for an island getaway and a neat cave to explore? Kelly Hill Caves on Kangaroo Island is the place to delve into.
Around two million years ago, the sea levels in this area were consistently changing from present levels to a much lower 125 metre-depth, causing the dunes at Kelly Hill to be formed from shell fragments scattered across Kangaroo Island’s south and west coast. Eventually the dunes hardened into limestone, creating a maze of caves and sinkholes filled with stunning tall columns and stalactites.
Be sure to check out the site’s brand new audio-visual tour, which includes a light display and a great narration.
Tantanoola Caves
Just 20 minutes from Mount Gambier on the beautiful Limestone Coast, the Tantanoola Caves in Tantanoola Caves Conservation Park is one to put on your bucket list. It is home to some incredible displays of cave decorations known as speleothems, in stunning shades of pink and brown, coloured by its dolomite base rock. The ‘Up and Down Rocks’ is a special highlight.
The cave is set into a cliff face, and formed because of the constant pounding from the ocean. Now, the sea has retreated and has left behind an array of seal bones, shells, and pebbles.
Outside of the cave, enjoy a picture-perfect picnic site with a play area for children, and a walking trail on the cliff top. It’s a great experience for the whole family, and importantly, it is one of Australia’s only wheelchair-accessible caves.
Talia Caves
Located on the shores of stunning Waterloo Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, Talia Caves are a must-do beach day activity, where you can also fit in some rock fishing.
Make sure you check out ‘The Woolshed’ – which is a big cavern that was carved into a granite cliff by waves. It’s a magnificent site that includes a honeycombed ceiling, crevices, and blowholes. Not too far away, discover ‘The Tub’, which is a large crater that has a tunnel connecting it to the sea. Beyond it is a cliff face that offers gorgeous views along Talia Beach. It’s truly one of the most gorgeous seaside caves in South Australia.
Talia Caves is a 2-hour drive from both Port Lincoln and Ceduna, making it easy to access, and a lovely day trip.
Flinders Ranges
Flinders Ranges is a perfect destination for an exploration of caves while experiencing the true Australian outback. This 600 million-year-old region also has many national parks with incredible Aboriginal history, including the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges, Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre and Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park. The ranges are also home to more wildlife than you’ll be able to photograph, in places such as Blinman Pools and Innamincka Regional Reserve.
On the cave front, The Flinders (as its known), is home to 220 cave features, alongside several mines in the region that intersect with cave development. The caves are mainly situated in pockets of old limestones and dolomites, which is a white mineral. Caves include the Narrina Lake Cave, Mairs Cave, Mount Sims Cave, and Wooltana Cave.
If you are looking to go on a road trip, it’s a 5-hour drive from Adelaide, so you might want to consider camping under the stars for a night or two in one of the parks.
Engelbrecht Cave
Unbelievably, this popular tourist attraction was once a rubbish dump for the locals. Thank goodness is was cleaned up in the 1980s and is now being returned to its former glory days. Right in the centre of Mount Gambier, Engelbrecht Cave is home to guided walking tours and is a popular dive site for certified cave divers. In just 45 minutes, you can see a sinkhole, two different caverns, and a breath-taking underground lake with clear blue water.
After the tour, head aboveground to the cave’s cafe for coffee and cake while overlooking the cave’s sinkhole entrance.
Engelbrecht Cave is the perfect addition to a day exploring Mount Gambier. Check out flights to Mount Gambier through Rex Airlines here.
If you liked this story about caves in South Australia, check out our feature on 7 must-see caves in Western Australia.
