THE SOUTHERN PORTS
A tour of South Australia's Southern Ports can be a most rewarding experience for your next holiday. Alluring beaches punctuated by rugged rocky
cliff faces shaped by the relentless pounding of the Southern Ocean on the shore; extensive pine forests with inviting rest areas to while away
an hour or two amongst their cool shades and refreshing fragrance; amazing limestone formations. and sinkholes deep below the fertile surface,
still forming as the surface water drips slowly through the limestone - ever growing, ever-shaping; the living history in the tangible reminders
of yesterday, still standing much as the first settlers erected them only 150 or so years ago - the Southern Ports have something for everyone.
There are many places to visit and enjoy on your tour of the Southern Ports and each offers something different. Kingston
is the crossroads to the south east and offers a varied range of activities for the more active, or a relaxing atmosphere for those seeking solitude. Robe
is among the most popular resorts in South Australia and is rich in history and character. On the shore of Guichen Bay it is a crayfish port and
offers many fine restaurants and plenty of accommodation. Beachport
is another popular seaside resort which offers many facilities as a holiday destination. Port Macdonnell
is on the coast south of Mt Gambier. It operates as a fishing port and is a popular stopover for travellers between Nelson and Mt Gambier via the coast route. Southend
is a small coastal port just east of Beachport on the road to Millicent. Cape Jaffa
was the site of a lighthouse which is now on display in Kingston and was replaced by an electronic device which flashes regularly telling mariners
they have missed disaster.
THE SOUTH EAST Mount Gambier
Mount Gambier is South Australia's second largest city and the 'capital' of the South East.
Famed for its Blue Lake and caves it is a large regional city with many attractions to visit in and around the city. Millicent
While inland from the coast, has its own character and amenities for the tourist. It is a perfect location for touring the Southern Ports, and the
wineries of the Coonawarra and Penola. Penola
is an interesting and historic town and was the diocese in which Mother Mary McKillop, Australia's first Catholic saint, lived and worked. Coonawarra
is the large wine producing area near Penola famed for its rich red Terra Rosa soil and many wineries. Naracoorte is a large town between Keith and Mt Gambier most noted for the World Heritage listed
limestone caves just south of the town.
THE COORONG Meningie
is a pretty town nestled on the side of Lake Albert and a popular town for tired Adelaide residents to sneak away to for a week or a weekend. The Coorong
Is one of Australia's national treasures. Rich in flora and fauna and with its own unique appeal, it is a peaceful and remote area to spend a few days.
It was the location for the filming of 'Storm Boy' with 'Percival' the pelican. Under threat from drought.
THE TATIARA Keith
is the crossroads to the south east and at the centre of a large grain producing region. Bordertown
takes its name from its proximity to the Victorian border and is the largest of the towns in the Tatiara district. Padthaway
Is a major wine producing area between Keith and Naracoorte along the Riddoch Hwy. A small settlement, mainly servicing the vineyards and an historic homestead.
