Things To Do on The Limestone Coast

Top things not to miss on the Limestone Coast

The Limestone Coast keeps its history right under your feet. Step underground where the cool air settles in almost instantly, guiding you into quiet caves lined with prehistoric fossils and freshwater systems filtered naturally through stone over thousands of years.

Back above ground, sinkholes open suddenly in the landscape — peer into a sunken fern garden, or float in a volcanic sinkhole with water as clear as glass. Along the coast, limestone softens into wide stretches of pale sand made for long drives, quick swims and hot fish and chips eaten off oil-stained paper. Inland, that same stone feeds the rich red soil of the Coonawarra, where cabernet is poured by the person who picked the grapes.

Everything here traces back to the same slow work of limestone, and this page brings together the best local spots to help you explore it for yourself.

Someone sits on a deck looking up at the climbing rockface at Kilsby Sinkhole — Kilsby Sinkhole

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Geological Formations

The Limestone Coast likes to keep a few things below the surface. Beneath vineyards, cattle farms and townships, the region opens into hidden caves and ancient sinkholes formed over millions of years. Pull over for a swim in the clear depths of Little Blue Lake, wander the fern-lined gardens of Umpherston Sinkhole / Balumbul or watch the Blue Lake / Warwar shift from steel grey to vivid blue with the seasons. Underground, the limestone caves of Naracoorte and Tantanoola reveal fossil chambers and geological formations shaped slowly, drip by drip.

Tour the Gems

Long Beach

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Turquoise Beaches

The same limestone that carved the region’s caves and sinkholes also shapes the shoreline. The result is pale sand, rugged limestone shelves and turquoise water that shifts with the light. In Robe, Long Beach runs for kilometres as the Cape Dombey Obelisk sits quietly above the surf. Further along, Bowman Scenic Drive traces the edge of Beachport, where cliff-top lookouts and pull-over bays make for the perfect picnic stop. Down near Southend, between Carpenter Rocks and Canunda National Park, the water lifts against the limestone shelf in soft blues and greens. From town to town, this is a coastline best taken slowly.

Flag Top Spots

Two people sit at a table at Bellwether wines drinking white wine and playing cards — Bellwether Wines

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Cellar Doors

In the Coonawarra, cellar doors don’t feel built on the land, but grown from it. Rising from a narrow strip of rich terra rossa soil, the region has quietly produced world-class wine – famously cabernet – for generations. You’re sipping history here, whether under the rafters of Bellwether’s 1860s shearing shed, their resident retriever napping at your feet, or over a long lunch at Ottelia. There's no pretence, Limestone Coast wineries offer brilliant wine - poured by the person who made it.

Taste the Coonawarra

Places to visit on the Limestone Coast

This region is far more than just turquoise shorelines. It’s a shifting landscape shaped by ancient geology. You might find yourself watching the swell crash against rugged cliffs in Robe or Port MacDonnell, before the road pulls you inland. From Mount Gambier’s ink-blue crater lake and the cool darkness of Naracoorte’s caves to tastings in the Coonawarra, there’s plenty of places to discover on the Limestone Coast.

Things to do in Mount Gambier

Things to do in Mount Gambier

In Mount Gambier town, the earth opens up in unexpected ways. Wander sunken gardens, peer into ancient caves and cool off in the clear waters of Little Blue Lake.
Things to do in Robe

Things to do in Robe

In Robe, the coastal days tend to stretch out. Drive onto Long Beach for a salty afternoon swim, wander up to the Cape Dombey Obelisk and end the day with something fresh from the sea.
Things to do in Naracoorte

Things to do in Naracoorte

In Naracoorte, the world beneath the surface steals the show. Wander ancient caves, spot megafauna fossils and uncover millions of years of Limestone Coast history.
Things to do in Coonawarra

Things to do in Coonawarra

A place where cellar doors rise straight from the red dirt. Spend the day hopping between Limestone Coast wineries, swirling a glass of cabernet and settling in for a long lunch.
Things to do in Penola

Things to do in Penola

In Penola, history lives on. Take the town’s heritage walking trail, leading past stone cottages, old pubs and weathered shopfronts, before spilling out into nearby Coonawarra wine country.
Things to do in Beachport

Things to do in Beachport

This is where limestone cliffs meet turquoise water. Float in the Pools of Siloam, dry off in the sea breeze and follow Bowman Scenic Drive past ocean lookouts.
Things to do in Port MacDonnell

Things to do in Port Macdonnell

Just south of Mount Gambier, Port MacDonnell is South Australia’s southernmost town. Settle in for seafood straight from the rod as fishing charters roll back into shore.

Blue water surrounds two people who relax on the pontoon at Little Blue Lake on the Limestone Coast

Explore the Limestone Coast, where beaches shine and sinkholes form

Sinkhole swims, coastal drives and long lunches with a glass of the region’s famed cabernet are all within easy reach here.

Just save the experiences that catch your eye, then create a free southaustralia.com account to build your getaway with the Trip Planner. The best part? You can take it all with you in your pocket.

The Explore South Australia app brings your saved favourites together in one place, with personalised recommendations to help you discover what’s nearby, what’s open and what fits the day you’re having.

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Limestone Coast attractions

From sunken gardens to wild beaches, this region’s best attractions are shaped by the elements. Start at the ocean, driving onto the sand at Robe’s Long Beach or tracking the swell at Southend. Inland, you're guided by water from the cobalt Blue Lake / Warwar to the crystal channels of Ewens Ponds. Tick off things to do in Cape Jaffa, like its historic lighthouse, before a quiet pub lunch by the wharf. The Limestone Coast’s attractions only require a full tank and an open schedule.

Tours & Experiences

The richest way to move through this region is alongside the locals who know it best. Head underground to tour the fossil- filled chambers of Naracoorte Caves, or descend the stairs into the hidden water-world of Engelbrecht Cave. Back above ground, things warm up instantly in the Coonawarra, as a local winemaker pours you a deep cabernet across the tasting bench. Take your pick of Limestone Coast tours and experiences that will stay with you.

Markets, shopping & galleries on the Limestone Coast

On the Limestone Coast, shopping often starts with a glass of Coonawarra cabernet and ends with the car boot a little fuller than planned. Main streets are lined with galleries, cellar doors and family-run stores where shelves hold locally made wines, wool, art and keepsakes shaped from the region itself. Around here, the best souvenirs tend to come with a local story attached.

Vehicle and equipment hires

On the Limestone Coast, the way you move through the region is part of the experience. Roll between vineyards on an e-bike, paddle quiet coastal waters by kayak or load up a caravan and take the long way between towns. However you explore, local vehicle and equipment hire makes it easy to follow the region wherever it leads.

More inspirations on the Limestone Coast

There’s a whole region waiting beyond this page. Whether you're looking for the best local tables, ready-to-go itineraries or the full list of regional tours and attractions, find everything you need below to map out your trip on your own time.

Things to do on the Limestone Coast