Very lucky to have a place like this basically in our backyard! There were a few flags up preventing us from being able to walk all the way around. As we were visiting in winter all the beautiful hydrangeas were unfortunately not flowering. I can only imagine how beautiful it would look during summer! Was relatively quiet when we visited which made for a lovely experience.

Beautiful and well-kept spot, especially when the gardens are in full bloom. The sinkhole itself is impressive and easy to access, with plenty of photo opportunities and shaded areas to relax. Parking right at the site is limited, so it’s best to use the larger parking area shown on the map just a short walk away. Entry is free, and visiting in the late afternoon is extra special when the possums come out.

Umpherston Sinkhole is one of Mount Gambier’s most beautiful and peaceful attractions. The moment you walk down into the sunken garden, you’re surrounded by lush greenery, hanging vines, and perfectly landscaped terraces. It feels like stepping into a hidden world. The place is very well maintained, with clear pathways and plenty of spots to sit, relax, and take photos. In the evening, the resident possums come out, adding a bit of charm and excitement to the visit. Best of all, it’s free and easily accessible. A must-visit spot in Mount Gambier for nature lovers, families, and anyone looking for a unique and calming experience.

The sinkhole is easily accessible with free, nearby parking. Visitors will be impressed by its look, featuring carefully landscaped gardens, stairways, and paths for exploration. The surrounding park is also well-maintained. It's especially worth a visit in the evening to watch the possums emerge from the crevices.

The Umpherston Sink-hole in Mt. Gambier is certainly worth a visit. The garden is picturesque, with quite a variety of plants for such a small area. It's peaceful & relaxing. There are viewing platforms which allow for photo opportunities, & you can climb down via stairs if you'd like. Going down into the garden is not an option for those with mobility issues, but viewing the garden from the first platform is still worthwhile. Several visitors did just that while we were there. Entrance is free, & although there were visitors coming & going, it didn't feel crowded. Parking was free on street, with varying time limits. Children should be under adult supervision at all times.

During our stay in Mount Gambier, we made sure to visit Umpherston Sinkhole, also known as Balumbul, and it really lived up to the reputation of being one of the best free attractions in town. Located just off Jubilee Highway on the edge of Mount Gambier, it’s easy to access with plenty of parking available nearby. Entry is free, and while the gardens close at dusk, you can return in the evening to see the resident possums, which are friendly and often come down looking for food. Walking down the steps into the sinkhole, you’re greeted with a beautifully maintained sunken garden. The terraces are lined with flowers, hydrangeas, lush ferns, and trailing vines that make the entire place feel almost magical. The garden dates back to 1886, when James Umpherston first transformed the limestone cavity into a peaceful retreat. Today, it’s still well kept and offers plenty of great photo opportunities. Around the site you’ll also find toilets, a kiosk and picnic areas, making it a lovely place to spend a relaxing hour. Do note, there are a lot of bees in one corner of the sinkhole—harmless if left alone, but worth being mindful of if you’re allergic. An absolute must-visit when in Mount Gambier.

Visiting this sinkhole was like stepping into a secret garden carved by time itself. Surrounded by vibrant greenery and thriving plant life, the entire area radiates a peaceful, almost magical energy. The natural walls are draped in moss and vines, creating a living tapestry that changes with the light throughout the day. What makes this place truly special is the atmosphere — it's serene, untouched, and full of life. Birds chirp overhead, the air is fresh and earthy, and the gentle rustling of leaves adds to the calming vibe.

What a great info centre, We went there tuesday the 22nd. It really ties in the whole area from Englebracht caves and the diving under MT Gambier. All the caves systems, Fossils and so much more information. Free to enter, toilets available, Wheelchair accessible, Close to public transport. The two lady's that were on shift were great and easy to talk with. A very pleasant place to stop on a holiday

A must-stop for anyone visiting Mount Gambier! The staff here are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable they helped me plan my day perfectly and pointed out some hidden gems I would’ve missed otherwise. The centre is clean, well-organised, and has lots of brochures, maps, and local info. You can also discover all the best places to visit in Mount Gambier, from the Blue Lake to nearby caves and gardens. They even sell souvenirs like bags, accessories, and bottled Blue Lake water a great way to take home a little piece of Mount Gambier as a memory. There’s plenty of parking, clean toilets, and some interactive displays that make it fun for families. Definitely worth stopping here before exploring the area!

I wish I got the woman's name who was the first of all the centres we visited to actually greet us and ask if we needed anything, and actually got out a map then showed us where and what ....Friday last week 7/2/25 Thankyou.. , you were then at Engelbrecht Caves with Sanjit, who was equally as good as you,..t.his knowledge of the caves was amazing, for someone who has only being doing it for a year.... The other places you sent us to.... also awesome,...have added photos Of Umpherston Cave, Tantanoola Cave, Englebert, Little Blue Lake..Allandale sinkhole, confusing to find, yet right in your face, it's in the middle of the road, shame they don't clean it up so we can at least see where and how the divers enter...something the council could do....so all the info you have us was well worth it ...Thanks again...To both you and Sanjit

I went to the visitor centre at the sink-hole. There is a range of souvenirs, local drinks, photos, general information from around the area. The assistant behind the counter was friendly and helpful in with purchase. Make sure you call in, mount gambier is such a beautiful place, you won't be dissapointed.

Helpful staff and lots of info about the area. They’ve got maps, brochures, and a few displays if you’re into local history or geology. Good spot to stop if you’re new to town or want to plan a few things to see. Clean and easy to find with plenty of parking.

So much information and very welcoming and friendly staff. You can also buy the soft drink that is made locally in Mt Gambier. My daughter loved the blue lemonade as it turned her mouth blue! Good walk through for kids with a bit on history about the place.

Must visit. It got a little museum at the back, fun for everyone to have a look. Kids could get a $1 pack to do while adults read or enjoy the display.

This place is fantastic! Great vibe, super friendly staff, and a unique, delicious menu. I came in for lunch and enjoyed it so much that I came back the next morning for breakfast. Both meals were excellent. The ingredients are top quality and everything was full of flavour. The big breakfast could be a little larger, but the portion size didn’t take away from the overall quality. Definitely one of the best spots to eat in Mount Gambier. Highly recommend!

Everything just perfect. The Shashuka was spot on, Great flavor. Chili Crab scramble has kimchi in it. They made the kimchi smell less strong so the whole dish is very harmonized. Perfect place to eat.

Great salads here! Nourish bowl with pumpkin falafel was delicious, as was the selection of 3 daily salads. Staff were really helpful, friendly, welcoming and polite! Can't get better service from a cafe! Hot chocolate was excellent 😋 Highly recommend, especially if you're vegetarian or vegan, or just love salad! 👍

☕️Lovley, cute spot for good coffee and food. I ordered the breakfast burrito and a cappuccino as take away and it was great. While I was waiting inside I had a look around and it felt very comfy and warm. The staff was great, very friendly and efficient. Coffee definitely hit the spot. Would come again!

The best breakfast place we’ve ever been to! Everything was so fresh and delicious. Especially the Cocowhip (and best coffee)— it was like coconut ice cream for us, and we still can’t forget it. We haven’t found anything like it anywhere else! 🌴✨

Went to Presto for brunch with a friend. Great cafe. Clean bright and great atmosphere. Ordered scrambled eggs on sourdough and corn fritters. Both were delicious! Fresh and tasty. Coffee was really great too. I would recommend this place.

One of my all time favourite regional cafes in Australia! We made a detour on our way home to Adelaide from Halls Gap just to have lunch here. This place never disappoints. Food, coffee, juices, matcha all spot on. Real hot chocolate and tasty treats. Fresh takeaway salads as well. Don’t miss this place!

This Cave Garden is far less good compared with the Umpherston Sinkhole, which is a few minutes drive away. If you have visited the Umpherston Sinkhole and don't have enough time, I highly suggest you skipping this Cave Garden. It's pretty small, less nice gardening, with rubbishs inside the deep sink hole. I reckoned better maintenance might make this Cave Garden more beautiful and attractive (perhaps lack of fund from council?). As the Umpherston Sinkhole is so stunning and it is such a nice underground garden, and situated so close to this Cave Garden, otherwise this one might still be good for visiting.

Made a short visit to the sinkhole garden. Look beautiful on the outside but after you take a short walk down and look carefully into the hole, you will see plenty of junk inside. We spotted a shopping trolley, chairs and tyre rims! What is wrong with those people who threw it in?! Nevertheless it still look beautiful from the outside.

The Cave Garden is a unique natural feature situated right in the middle of the city's bustling center, offering remarkably easy access. ​Convenient street parking is available nearby, and an hour is more than enough time to explore. While undeniably accessible, it is significantly smaller and less aesthetically dramatic than the Umpherston Sinkhole. Unfortunately, the garden's natural beauty is somewhat diminished by scattered litter, likely brought in by the wind, which has a noticeably damping effect on the overall experience.

For such a naturally beautiful landmark, it was incredibly disappointing to find it filthy, unkempt and full of litter. We'd been so impressed by all the other beautiful sights in and around Mt Gambier. This was a huge let-down and was heart-breaking to see how this beautiful place is been mistreated and neglected.

Lovely place to visit, always well maintained close to all amenities, coffee and library great to go if raining, turns into a great water feature, also have the Party after The Parade held there following the Christmas Parade. 🏞️☔🎄

The Cave Garden is a well-known attraction in the heart of Mount Gambier, located directly behind City Hall. This large limestone sinkhole has historic significance, as it was once the original water source for many of the town’s early settlers. For me, it’s a place I’ve visited many times since childhood, and while it remains an iconic site, I feel it has seen far better days. The surrounding grounds are well maintained, with lawns, pathways, and signage in good condition. There are multiple viewing levels accessible by both stairs and ramped paths, making it easy for most visitors to get a close look. From the upper level, you can look down into the sinkhole, while the lower paths let you get nearer to the greenery and rock formations. Inside the sinkhole itself, however, the flora could use more attention. It feels a little overgrown and untidy compared to how it once looked, and during my visit, I noticed some unwanted rubbish on the cave floor, which was disappointing. A cleanup and refresh would really help restore its appeal. Entry is free, and it’s open daily, so it’s still worth stopping by if you’re in the city centre. With some extra care, the Cave Garden could easily return to being a standout attraction.

The Mt Gambier Council (Or whatever they are called ) need to spend less money on the "The Blue Bob" and clean the garden up. Wheel Covers and Trolley in the cave in addition to a messy garden...We had the joy of meeting a local homeless person hiding in the garden at 5pm trying to scare us by yelling "Boo" It need a cleaner a gardener and those cameras poiting at The Blue Bob so some kid doesn't stick eyes to it ( And improve it BTW) shold be moved into the Cave Garden

I was on a mission to find some new shoes, and grab a few items I left behind accidentally which actually included my shoe bag. Central shops had a great choice of shoes, Williams shoes were amazing, Kmart had everything the Drakes supermarket was missing, and there's a decent food court where I got some sushi.

Nice little shopping Centre & Plenty of parking. The outside and surroundings could do with some TLC. Plenty of shops and a good variation. Quite a few options in the food court.

New shop ( silly sollys ) opened making the atmosphere great and happy for all the other retailers doung a great trade because of it.

Visited the centre to go to kmart, parking is a bit of a nightmare with the car park accross the road closed off to the public. The centre is well set out and i hot what i needed.

It’s becoming run down and overpriced for renters, some brands that where in there did admittedly go into receivership, but it is very outdated, minimal food service, but it has just gotten Silly Sollys, which apart from Kmart you would probably just go to the market place

Had a great longer weekend with family,good accommodation at Big4 , ok food at local hotel, weather cold but ok

Another quite. out of the way shopping complex. Quick walk from the main shopping centre

Great views of the Blue lake. Very easy to get to. When we went there was easy parking in the street. Quite popular and a brief simple description of the lake and its current use. When in mount Gambier this is a must do!

Wow! The Blue Lake looked stunning in the hot summer sun. It was cobalt blue and glistening in the sun. Free entry and parking nearby. Well worth a diversion en route between Adelaide and Melbourne.

Before I came to this Blue Lake, I didn't know there were volcanoes ever existed in Australia. The information sign told me that the Blue Lake was in fact a volcano carter, but filled up with water now. The day during my visit was cloudy. The Lake was not in a deep blue colour that showed in other people's shared photos. It's one of the few stunning geotechical features in Mount Gambier so you must come to visit it if you are visiting or passing through this little lovely town.

Was cool sight to see doesn't cost anything and parking was easy.

Nice scenery and beautiful place to stop and enjoy mother nature ☺️.

Beautiful place! A wonderful place to look at the Blue Lake in Mount Gambier. Gives you amazing angles to click pictures of the mesmerizing Blue Lake that changes its color to different shades of blue depending on the color of the sky above! Good to visit with children, they will love this place that's full of nature!

I think the photos speak for themselves about how beautiful it is

In August, the lake is a calm, grey-blue, a quiet beauty often overlooked by those expecting its famous bright blue. I saw a stranger offer to take a photo for a disappointed couple, saying: "The light still loves you." It was a gentle reminder that the best of humanity shows up not when things are perfect, but when they’re imperfect. The grey-blue lake became a mirror for kindness, reflecting how we care for one another, not just the view.

Blue Lake is a amazing spot with stunning blue water and easy walking tracks. The views are beautiful, and there are lots of great places to take photos. I really liked the love locks — such a lovely idea that adds a romantic touch!

Really beautiful lake and with the time of the day can see different shades of blue from the lake. Have different view points surrounding the lake every one should visit.

The Blue Lake, located in Mount Gambier, South Australia, is one of the most fascinating natural wonders in the country. Nestled inside an extinct volcanic crater, the lake is famous for its stunning transformation of colour—from a deep steel grey in winter to a brilliant cobalt blue during summer. This unique phenomenon has made the Blue Lake a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of Mount Gambier’s natural beauty.

Visited the blue lake while it was raining, lots of platforms and nice drive around. Pretty on even the most miserable of days.

The beautiful Mount Gambier Blue Lake is an explosive volcanic crater, with a circumference of 5km and a depth reaching 70 meters.

Amazing and beautiful- would be nice to have more parking for people that have a disability. Some one parked over the entry point from the road so we needed to go up the gutter and onto the path which is difficult for someone with a walking cane. People need to be respectful of others.

We stopped in here for lunch as it's across the road from one of the sink holes. Very quiet, not many people in there. I used the QR code to order our food and drink, and it was pretty fast. We enjoyed the food.

Lovely seating options under a covered outdoor area with great gas heaters inside and out to keep you warm. Just lost a star for weak coffee, which is to many people's liking, but when a black coffee is brown, you already know it will just taste more like water, which it sadly did. The food was great though, with my extra crispy bacon on my eggs benedict cooked perfectly, and perfect hollandaise, and the chocolate sauce on the waffles was thick and decadent.

Disappointed to say the least. This was lamb. My friend and I both had the same thing, and even she said the meat in the focaccia was definitely lamb, not steak. It's even cut in strips like they use in their lamb wrap. I told the waitress it was lamb, and she went to the chef, came back, and said no, it's our beef, not lamb. I know what lamb looks like and tastes like. I don't appreciate being made to feel like an idiot and like I was the one in the wrong. They did offer to make another one, but why would I want another one. I was in the mood for a steak focaccia, not lamb. I didn't want another lamb one! After a few bites, combined with being made to feel like the customer was definitely wrong and stupid, I ended up losing my appetite altogether. Really disappointed. The meals Gere just keep getting worse everytime I go here. Sad, because I used to love it before it was sold by the previous owners!!!

A decent place for lunch and breakfast at Mt. Gambier. They have wide variety of options. One of very few cafes with all day menu at Mt. Gambier. Really loved the coffee. We've ordered big breakfast and french croissant. Would have been better with greens, beans and mushrooms than heaps of Bacon rashers and chorizo. Even croissant was served with lot of bacon rashers which is not my liking.

Went for desserts on our visit to Mt. Gambier. Must visit, lovely spot for savoury and sweet toothed alike. Place was clean and the staff were lovely. Four star, took them long before we received our order.

Update: Best eggs and service. Upgraded to 5 stars. Staff are attentive, atmosphere is calm and food is excellent.. a minor request was no problem for chef and results were top flight. : Family breakfast winner. Pancakes & milkshakes for kids were a winner and Eggs Benedict were just right. Highly recommend this venue for meals at reasonable prices, served by friendly staff in comfy surroundings.

Huge portions food Excellent taste Wait time - Average Ambience - Warm and cozy Service - Could be improved, but not complaining much because the hospitality industry is badly affected with shortage of staff and so they could be overworked.

Adventuring in Mount Gambier, my son and I had intended to dine at another restaurant which was closed, so we stumbled into Casa de Tequila. It seems quite new, paint smells like it’s still drying. We were seated immediately, which was lovely, though took a little while to be served (I’m still not sure whether it’s table or counter service). I ordered a trio of dips for entree, my son chose the chicken tacos and I thought I’d go for the quesadilla (normally I’d definitely go a burrito). Indeed the menu is replete with options, as is the drinks list, though it’s not overwhelmingly large. The staff are polite and food gets out pretty quickly. It was fine, maybe a little underwhelming to be honest, but tasted good. Might not go back there, but it was ok.

Really nice service, the steak was on the rare side which I mentioned to them, so they didn't get me to pay for it, which was really nice, but everything else was quite good.

We stopped here for dinner whilst in Mount Gambier. Finally we found decent jalapeno poppers. I had the pork ribs and my wife had the beef enchilada. Both meals were quite tasty and the serving sizes were more than adequate.

Food was decent, but amount if Guac for the chip was hilarious. It was like for a child and even using it sparingly, we ran out of guac half way through our chips. Also you guys need to get a better sauce for the churros because while the Crurros were nice they were let down terrible dipping sauce. I mean we are paying enough for it then please provide better and enough quality food.

As soon as you enter your nostrils are enticed by the subtle yet amazing aromas of what others are eating and what is being prepared in the kitchen. Friendly staff guide you to your table. You are given menus to ponder on. So many delicious choices. Got a couple of margaritas to enjoy. Ordered the Calamari À La Plancha and the Crunchy Jalapeño`S Poppers to start. As we sipped our margaritas we watched as food was served to other customers. Licking our lips at the sight and smells of the meals as they travelled past. For our mains we ordered the Burrito Bowl and Fajitas (Comes With 2 Tortillas) I opted for the chicken option. No words can praise the fajitas enough. I'm a big boy and it filled me up. To the point that I had no room for desert. Compliments to the chef and all the staff. Thank you for the experience

We had the ribs, tacos de Pollo, fajitas and a bowl with snapper. We're not expecting this kind of food when we first walked in as the ambiance was a bit touristy. BUT the food was phenomenal. Absolutely blown away!! Will come again if I'm ever in Mt. Gambier.

Ordered take away while visiting Mount Gambier. Beef 'Makke your own tacos' were good, meat was tender and tasty. Nachos were okay, not much taste in the gauc. Wings coating wad crunch, sauce was sweet and spicy. Corn was ok.

Ordered a big breakfast, was edible and filling. Poached eggs were over done. I read the menu wrong not realising the mushroom, tomato and spinach were sautéed with hoisin sauce. I assumed it was just the spinach, I personally didn't like it and didn't eat it. Juice was lovely. Staff were friendly and efficient.

Pretty good meal today, we had the Chicken Schnitzel burger with a side of wedges and serving of pancakes, which was excellent, thanks

This licensed Cafe is right in the middle of Mount Gambiers town centre so it makes it a great place to pop in for all day breakfasts, lunch and coffees. I dined in. They have indoor and outdoor seating. An extensive menu as well as many cakes and other sweet treats in their dessert cabinet. There is also the daily specials board. The staff were really friendly and helpful. The food was served quickly and was fresh and tasty and hot. Heaps of variety - including vegetarian and gf options. Licensed venue so you have have a cheeky glass of wine or other alcohol drink. Inexpensive, great atmosphere. Highly recommend visiting Collars and Cuffs for your next coffee, breakfast or lunch catch up!

Beautiful food friendly service i wanted to pack this place and bring home from holidays with me so I can go there all the time

Had chicken pumpkin penne pasta and iced coffee. It wasn't a long wait and the food was really yummy. Staff were friendly. The place appeared clean. Iced coffee was delicious. Will definitely go back again.

Yum meal, but a very small serving size for the price. $20 for the eggs benny with bacon on a single slice of bread.

Went in just for a simple breakfast and didn't expect to have an amazing super kickass one! The servings were huge! The staff was super Friendly. The food was delicious! Can't recommend this place enough!!!

Gets busy during peak times but they keep things moving. Food’s usually fresh and comes out quick enough. Staff do their job and the place is mostly clean. Good central spot if you're in town and need something easy. Nothing fancy, just your usual Macca’s with the basics covered.

Waited for 10 minutes 8n the drive through, along with a few other vehicles. Absolutely no contact was made during that time. We then finally ordered thick shakes, only to be told that they are not available. Fast food…….i don’t think so.

Toilets absolutely disgusting!! Food average at best. Spoke to someone to clean the toilet. She rolled her eyes at me and said there’s nothing I can do about it right now!!

The service was slow, like half an hour and i basically had no interaction with a human worker - order on the app, order filled sat on the counter and number called - noone handed it to me...if i hadn't heard my number it would have just sat there. There was noone available to take orders. An old couple had been waiting 20 minutes for their food. My children refused to use the toilets they were so dirty...no toilet paper available in female toilets. Food all over playground. Did not receive all our order. Would nearly say it's the worst Maccas I've been too.

Went there tonight, was siting in the 2nd lane waiting to order , ( NO Contact) I waited as a steady stream of cars passed through in lane 1 ordering . I gave up ordering and reversed out of the drive-through absolutely disgusting service, Went inside and spoke with manager ! “ McDonald’s you need to do better”

This is the second I ordered from you guys and you never get it right, there’s always something missing. Today you missed 10pieces of nuggets and 2burgers. I live 15mins away and i be bothered to drive back to get this missing orders. You asked me to wait for my food for 10-15mins and i did but this is frustrating when you trying to feed your kids and you didn’t end up put their food in.

Let me just start by saying, Wow. I can’t even begin to describe my experience as I walked through those doors. As I entered this haven of good times, I knew as soon as I entered I was in for a good luncheon. As I went to the counter I was served by the lovely service workers, and can I just say, the service I received was a 6 star service (just saying). I ordered my food and received it almost INSTANTLY. Beautiful work crew. Brings a tear to my eyes that service with such high standards still exists. Bravo McDonald’s, for the outstanding experience. P.S Nathan is a stand up guy, deserves a raise for all the hard work he’s put in.