Road Trip....Day 4

Travelled to Mt.Gambier for a two night stay. First stop....Naracoorte Caves. These were fascinating underground caves with very high ceilings in some parts.The limestone ceilings were often pock marked with deep 'avens' or holes.These caves were dry caves so the usual stalactites and stalagmites associated with 'wet' limestone caves were not to be seen. I was amazed by the large peppercorn tree growing from virtually the rock face of the cave entrance! Stopped at Penola (St.Mary Mackillop association).A lovely little town with great galleries and eating places to enjoy! We drove past kilometres of wineries,each one alongside another and decided to stop and visit Wynn's. The founder of this winery region and a great deal more of Mt.Gambier was a gentleman named 'John Riddoch'.I thought my son Stephan would be quietly amused by this association..... After several wine purchases we drove on to Mt.Gambier. That late afternoon, we visited Umpherston Sinkhole. I was gobsmacked! This virtual deep hole in a city street was an amazing garden with overhanging curtains of ivy! Perhaps you can estimate the depth of this sinkhole garden from my photos. A lovely dinner followed by a trip to the cinema ended an astonishing day which also happened to be my birthday! (The huge sculpture is of a prehistoric wombat located in the grounds at Naracoorte Caves.It was so lifelike!)