Can I do a Kilsby Sinkhole snorkelling tour near Mount Gambier?
It’s possible to do a Kilsby Sinkhole snorkelling tour near Mount Gambier on the Limestone Coast. But this South Australian cenote is on a private sheep farm, so bookings must be made in advance to gain access.
South Australia’s Limestone Coast offers up a fair few strange lakes and lots of caves, such as Little Blue Lake, the Umpherston Sinkhole and Tantanoola Caves. But the Kilsby Sinkhole is a bit special. In Mexico, this water-filled sinkhole would be known as a cenote.
Located on a sheep farm, 14km south of Mount Gambier, this South Australian cenote is now a playground for divers and snorkellers.
The Kilsby Sinkhole is limestone cavern where the roof has collapsed. This gives it a cave-like feel, and the pontoon inside is accessed via a series of ladders, steps and ramps.
The water is astonishingly clear, but fairly cold. It’s a fairly consistent 15°C. But, frankly, anyone choosing to swim in this South Australian cenote isn’t doing it for soothing relaxation purposes. It’s about snorkelling in clear waters, checking out rock layers left by millions of years of geological changes. The site is also prone to dramatic beams of light, seemingly piercing the water.
Cost of a Kilsby Sinkhole snorkelling tour
A Kilsby Sinkhole snorkelling tour costs $99. It starts off with being kitted out in a wetsuit and snorkelling gear, then continues with a safety briefing. The experience lasts about two hours in total.
As the Kilsby Sinkhole is on a working sheep farm, you can’t just rock up to take photos. Bookings for a Kilsby Sinkhole snorkelling tour must be made in advance – book via the website.
Mount Gambier is the second largest city in South Australia. It can be visited on a Melbourne to Adelaide road trip.
Top Mount Gambier accommodation choices
The best places to stay in Mount Gambier are:
- For something fun and unusual: Old Mount Gambier Gaol.
- For 19th century charm and grandeur: Colhurst House.
- For a good quality motel with low prices: Blue Lake Motel.
- For studio apartments with kitchenettes, washing machines & tumble dryers: Aloha Central Premium Studios.
Other unusual but spectacular places for a swim in Australia include Bogey Hole in Newcastle, New South Wales and Hamersley Gorge in the Karijini National Park, Western Australia.
More South Australia travel
Walk in the Red Banks Conservation Park near Burra.
Take an Adelaide chocolate tour.
Get on a flight from Adelaide to Alice Springs.
Do the Adelaide to Port Augusta drive.
Try one of the quirkiest tours and activities in South Australia.