Umpherston Caves - Mount Gambier

Mount Gambier is well known for its sinkholes, especially the cave gardens, right smack bang in the middle of town. 

Umpherston Caves is another beautifully gardened sinkhole within the city limits.

The girls and I went for a drive with my Mum and Dad a week ago, a spontaneous idea of Mum's, and a good idea it was. We went op shopping, had Maccas at the playground, took the girls to the aquatic centre and visited here. I have never been! It's beautiful. It was the perfect itme to come with the hydrangeas out in full bloom.

Apparently the possums come out at night time here too. We'll have to come back again.

Summer was hot and bothered from running around with her sister, and I had to capture her grumpiness.

Blackfellows Caves in the Limestone Coast

Just down the road from our holiday house is the small village of Blackfellows Caves. We call it Blackfellas, for short.

The caves have eroded into the limestone bluffs and it makes for great viewing. As I walked around the edge of the caves I could hear the echoing of the waves thundering into the caves below me. 

We like this spot, it has a playground and barbeque area as well as places to fish. Isabel is becoming a keen fisherperson.

We did try some fishing after we took Summer back to the house to stay with Dad, while he put the roof on our new pergola. She'd had enough. Isabel caught two undersized salmon that we threw back. Looking forward to more fishing with her, I enjoy it too.

McLennans Punt on the Glenelg River

If you missed my last post, we went camping over the weekend.

The gorgeous scenery made up for the amount of rain we had.

A man from another camp site came looking for me, having seen me taking photos the previous day, to let me know there was a pelican perched on a post in the morning. Just Izzy and I were up, so I ditched making breakfast to head down to the landing.

We toured the Princess Margaret Rose caves also and the first photo is from the lookout on the river view walk.

The Tantanoola caves - school holiday jaunts

My place in time #52 - This place has been here my whole life

I was out doing the big fortnightly grocery shop last Monday when I bumped into a friend (let's call her Kat). I was on my own, it must have been my lucky day, hubby had knocked off work early and I escaped out the door without the kids. It was the first day of school holidays and I was dreading taking both of them. It would have been fine anyway, but was much better without them.

Kat suggested I join herself and her son for a visit to the Tant caves. I agreed it was a fab idea and went on my merry way, completing the shopping and even trotting off to Target afterwards to take full advantage of having no kids. It's always nice to have that time alone, without the latest Frozen fashion offering being shoved in my face and having to find AWOL kids (so they could show me more cool stuff I should be buying).

In the supermarket it's easy, I will find my kids in the lolly aisle, or giggling at and wasting the batteries of all the funny, and sometimes rude greeting cards. Our small Target Country is like a rabbit warren, shits me to tears. Trying to navigate with a pram a couple of years ago was hell, especially with go-go gadget arms that would knock and grab everything from the sides. Then there was that time Izzy piddled all the over the floor. Never forget it, I made a dash to the car, grabbed a towel and headed back in there and wiped it up, and continued perusing the aisles like it never happened. As far as anyone was concerned, it didn't happen. Except you, right now. 

Being the killer of joy, or rather that dumb ass voice in my head, I thought of how much I could not be bothered going to the caves. The introvert in me was overruled and my brain convinced me to go along. I called Kat in the morning and arranged a time and even a picnic at the Tantanoola playground afterwards. As always my brain wins. It was tres cool. Maybe oneday I will manage to be at the playground when the pub across the road is actually open. Tantanoola is a small town, and there's this piece of me that thinks it is totally acceptable to sit at a table out the front of the pub, with a drink, while the kids play across the road, or no? I'll let you know how that goes ;)

The Tantanoola caves was discovered about 80 years ago, when a boy chased his ferret down a hole. There he discovered the caves. His family, the Lanes, started charging people for tours and continued to do so until it was handed over to the state government in the seventies.

The caves are made up of limestone and dolomite, showing a difference of colour on the walls and ceiling. The paths have been concreted, making it wheelchair accessible. It is the perfect school holiday activity and is only a 15 minute drive out of town. There is a cliff top walking trail that is quite enjoyable as well. 

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