Your guide to exploring South Australia's Limestone Coast these school holidays

Explore the caves

Naracoorte Caves National Park – South Australia's only World Heritage-listed site

Located approximately 3.5 hours drive from Adelaide, step underground into a world of ancient fossils, dramatic formations and living history at Naracoorte Caves. 

• Victoria Fossil Cave: A one-hour guided tour showcasing magnificent speleothem formations and a chamber rich with extinct megafauna fossils. Tour times: 10.15 am and 2.15 pm.
• Alexandra Cave: A 30-minute tour ideal for families, highlighting stunning limestone formations and cave geology. Tour times: 9.30 am and 1.30 pm.
• Bat Observation Centre and Blanche Cave: Learn about the endangered Southern Bent-wing Bats via infrared cameras, then explore Blanche Cave, rich in natural and European history. Tour times: 11.30 am and 3.30 pm.
• Stick-Tomato Cave: A self-guided, well-lit cave with two chambers, perfect for young children and short visits. Open 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.
• Wonambi Fossil Centre: Exhibitions showing how the caves acted as pitfall traps and dens for over 500,000 years.
• Roof Top Loop Walk: An accessible trail with viewing platforms offering glimpses into cave interiors and bat habitats.
• Novice caving tours: Stick-Tomato Cave is a great introduction to adventure caving - the tour requires some walking and crawling through an unlit cave and while there are some fun squeezes and challenges for those who wish to try, these are optional.
• Fossil Hunters Nature Playground: An award-winning play space where kids can learn and explore between tours.

Tantanoola Caves Conservation Park – a hidden gem

Located about 100kms from Naracoorte, Tantanoola Caves Conservation Park offers a completely different experience:

• One of Australia’s few wheelchair-accessible caves, set into a cliff face
• A spacious chamber filled with pink and white limestone formations
• A guided introduction followed by time to explore at your own pace
• A clifftop walking trail and picnic grounds with panoramic views.

Wildlife and nature

The region is alive with wildlife, especially in spring and summer.

• Spot Mallee Fowl, echidnas, kangaroos and Magpie Geese.
• Visit Bool Lagoon and Hacks Lagoon — wetlands teeming with waterfowl and other birdlife.
• Enjoy wildflowers, orchids and migratory birds across the hotter months.

Coastal and park adventures

If you love salty air and open spaces, you’re in the right place.

• Beachport Conservation Park: Rugged coastal scenery and walks along the Woakwine Range.
• Canunda National Park: Windswept cliffs, sand dunes and stunning ocean views.
• Coorong National Park: A lagoon system rich in birdlife and Aboriginal cultural heritage.
• Ewens Ponds Conservation Park: Snorkel in crystal-clear freshwater springs with unique underwater plant life.
• Little Dip Conservation Park: Scenic coastal walks and diverse flora and fauna.
• Telford Scrub Conservation Park: Peaceful forest trails and native wildlife. 

Family fun

The Limestone Coast is full of easy adventures for kids:

• The Fossil Hunters Nature Playground at Naracoorte Caves.
• Interactive exhibits and short tours for curious young explorers.
• Picnic areas and short walking trails throughout the region.

Suggested 3-day itinerary

Day 1: Naracoorte Caves

• Explore South Australia's only World Heritage-listed site.
• Join a fossil tour at the Victoria Fossil Cave.
• Visit the Bat Observation Centre and Blanche Cave.
• Let the kids loose at the Fossil Hunters Nature Playground.
• Walk the Roof Top Loop Trail for scenic views and bat watching.

Day 2: Coorong National Park

• Take a coastal walk along the lagoon system.
• Go birdwatching — look out for pelicans, swans and migratory species.
• Learn about the Aboriginal cultural heritage of the region.
• Enjoy peaceful kayaking or photography in the wetlands.

Day 3: Tantanoola Caves and surrounds

• Tour the stunning Tantanoola Cave.
• Walk the clifftop trail for panoramic views.
• Try bushwalking or mountain biking in nearby reserves.
• Relax with a picnic in the scenic grounds.

Lots to see and do

Here’s a quick list of activities to enjoy across the Limestone Coast:

• Cave tours (Naracoorte, Tantanoola, Alexandra, Stick-Tomato).
• Bat viewing via infrared cameras.
• Fossil exhibits and playgrounds.
• Birdwatching at Bool Lagoon and the Coorong.
• Nature walks and scenic lookouts.
• Mountain biking and bushwalking trails.
• Picnics in conservation parks.
• Wildlife spotting: kangaroos, echidnas, Mallee Fowl.
• Wildflower and orchid viewing in spring/summer.
• Kayaking and photography in wetlands.

Tips for your visit

• Book tours in advance at parks.sa.gov.au
• Check for park alerts and closures before heading out.
• Respect and learn about the Aboriginal connection to Country.

Whether you're planning a family trip, a nature escape or simply want to explore somewhere new, the Limestone Coast has lots to see and do this school holidays.

Pack your sense of adventure and get ready to explore.