Limestone Coast with Kids: Family Holiday Guide

Limestone Coast family holidays start with a landscape that children can read at a glance: caves under the paddocks, volcanic craters, long sandhills and lagoons full of birds. The region sits in the south east of South Australia, right up against the Victorian border.

This page covers the caves, the wildlife, a 4WD beach tour, a holiday park in Naracoorte, the drive times and the weather. Check current prices and times with each operator before you book.

Why the Limestone Coast suits families

Much of the region is low-lying and was under the sea as recently as 2 million years ago, and earlier still, 15 to 20 million years ago. That history is easy to explain to children, because it left rows of low sandhills running parallel to the coast, marking where the shoreline once sat.

The region supports farming, viticulture, forestry and tourism. Towns include Bordertown, Keith, Millicent, Mount Gambier, Penola and Naracoorte, and the coastal resorts of Beachport, Kingston SE and Robe. For a wider picture, our Limestone Coast destination guide covers the region as a whole, and the Limestone Coast map helps with working out distances between towns.

Caves, fossils and bats at Naracoorte

This is the headline stop for curious kids. The limestone in Victoria Fossil Cave and the other Naracoorte Caves holds Australia's biggest source of fossils, and the caves are a World Heritage Site. Limestone formed from coral and other sealife, so a cave visit is also a lesson in how the land was made.

The caves are home to the common bent-wing bat, and an endemic cave cricket lives here too. Both are good talking points before you go underground.

Wildlife, lagoons and national parks

The coast is rich in wildlife, including possums, pygmy possums, gliding possums and other marsupials, many of which do not spread further west than this region. The striped legless lizard is among the endemic reptiles.

The lakes and lagoons are important for waterbirds such as black swan, grey teal and Pacific black duck. The critically endangered orange-bellied parrot winters here, along with red-necked stint, sharp-tailed sandpiper and curlew sandpiper. Bool Lagoon and the southern end of the Coorong are among the important wetlands that remain.

Most of the original habitat has been cleared for farming, so what is left matters. Coorong National Park and Canunda National Park are the largest remaining areas. Children can be reminded to stay on tracks and keep their distance from nesting and feeding birds. Our Limestone Coast attractions page lists more places to stop.

Blue Lake and the craters

Mount Gambier's Blue Lake is the best-known sight in the upland volcanic craters, and it is an easy one to include on a family itinerary.

A 4WD beach tour for older children

One tour is on this site: the Coffin Bay National Park Half-day 4WD Tour. It runs for 4 hours and is priced from AUD 159. You travel over sand dunes and limestone coastline to secluded beaches, on tracks that standard vehicles cannot use, and you can wade through turquoise shallows.

Groups are small, and guests look for emus along the shoreline and around town. Spring visits offer a chance to spot emu chicks. Other options are collected under Limestone Coast tours and Limestone Coast activities.

Where to stay

For a family base near the caves, BIG4 Echo Holiday Parks - Naracoorte is in Naracoorte, in the Naracoorte Lucindale Council area. Accommodation includes powered sites and cabins. Contact the park for current rates and availability before booking.

If you would rather compare other styles of stay, see Limestone Coast accommodation.

Getting there and weather

Allow for long days in the car. These are road distances to the Limestone Coast area:

The climate is cool and moist with wet winters. January and February reach highs near 30 °C with only 17 to 23 mm of rain, which suits beaches. July is the coolest and wettest month, at a high of 13.5 °C, a low of 5.3 °C and 73.7 mm over 14 rain days. Spring is milder: October averages a high of 20.1 °C and 7.4 rain days, and November 24.0 °C.

Winter days are short on warmth, so pack layers and wet-weather gear, and plan indoor stops such as the caves for the rainier months. For transport, see Limestone Coast transfers and rental. More background is on Wikipedia, and statewide ideas are at the South Australian Tourism Commission site.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best sight for kids on the Limestone Coast?

The Naracoorte Caves are a strong choice. Victoria Fossil Cave sits within Australia's biggest fossil source, a World Heritage Site, and bent-wing bats live in the caves.

Is there a family-friendly place to stay in Naracoorte?

BIG4 Echo Holiday Parks - Naracoorte offers powered sites and cabins. Ask the park for current rates and availability.

When is the warmest time to visit?

January and February are warmest, with highs near 30 °C. Winter is cool and wet, with July the coldest month.