Naracoorte South Australia

 Naracoorte Big 4 Holiday Park

81 Park Terrace, Naracoorte SA

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$183.60, for 3 nights 
2 adults, 2 children 

When previous plans for the long weekend fell through and a deal for $100 petrol voucher when you book 3 nights in South Australia popped up we decided to book a weekend in a random place. After a 4 hour drive when we pulled in to the outskirts of Naracoorte I was a little concerned about where we had gone, it is a small town with not too much there but the Caravan park was beautiful and peaceful and not too busy as it wasn't a long weekend in South Australia, the weather was beautiful and it turned out to be a perfect weekend

We left home at 9:30am and travelled 2.5 hours to Hamilton and stopped at Nigretta Falls. The flow was quite light due to the time of year and I imagine after heavy rain there falls would be impressive.

 There is a viewing area right next to the large carpark where you can view the falls

a staircase of 145 steps leads you to the bottom of the falls

 and with the river pretty much non existent we were about to rock hop and view the falls from the others side as well 

There was also a 5 minute walk around the top where you could view the falls from right above 

There is a large picnic area, BBQ and toilets. We had a picnic lunch and let the kids have a run around 

Approx 10 minutes down the Road is Wannon Falls, again the flow was quite light but an impressive drop

Back in the car and a further 2 hour drive and we arrived in Naracoorte

On Saturday we headed to the Naracoorte Caves

 Naracoorte Caves

The Naracoorte Caves are part of the 800,000 year old Naracoorte East Range. They are World Heritage listed, and one of the world’s most important fossil sites.

For half a million years the caves acted as pitfall traps and predator dens. Animals would fall in through a hole in the ground and not be able to escape. Bones collected – layer upon layer, year after year – creating a rich fossil record of the ancient animals that roamed the area. The fossil record covers several ice ages and the arrival of humans in the area.

Palaeontologists have excavated and dated many of the fossils in Naracoorte Caves. They have reconstructed the skeletons of many of the megafauna that lived so many years ago.

Of the 28 known caves in the park, four are open to the public. Other caves are set aside for scientific research or to protect the caves and their contents. Many of the caves contain spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.

We decided to go on a tour of the Alexandra Cave, it was a short 30 minute tour and recommended for families and a good introduction to caves and the geological processes that form them.

This is a reflection of the roof in a pool of water 

This formation is called Wedding Cake

Ancient Bat Poo in the floor of the caves 

Outside the caves there is a Roof Top Loop walk which is wheelchair and pram accessible, there is lots of signage and information along the way and viewing platforms can provide glimpses into the caves

Michael & Mason went to the Wonambi Fossil Centre which shows you how the caves acted as pitfall traps, dens and roosts for more than 500,000 years, leading to a vast accumulation of skeletal remains of reptiles, birds and mammals. 

While Kayleigh Nash & I had an ice

cream and played in the Fossil Hunters Playground 

There is also a cafe, BBQ's & picnic tables. It really was a beautiful place and a great day out 

Alexandra Cave Tour 2 adults & 1 child $62 (children under 5 free)

Wonambi Fossil Centre 1 adult & 1 child $24

Lunch at the Cafe $52

After Nash had a sleep we played a couple of games that were at the park

Behind the park is the Naracoorte North Nature Park, it is a large area of native trees and has a walking track through it and forms part of the Naracoorte creek walk. We completed the smaller walk in this are known as the Naracoorte Nature Park Loop, it is about 1.6km long and takes about half an hour. We headed off close to dusk and by the time we got back it was dark. It was beautiful 

On Sunday after Bacon & Eggs we went for a stroll along the creek into town. There isn't much in the town, there are a few shops that were mostly closed being a Sunday & a supermarket and even the bakery was closed

When we got back it was time for the kids ride on the Tiny Train

Practically a Naracoorte Institution since the early 1980's the Tiny Train has found it's home at the Naracoorte Holiday Park since 2001.

Looping around the man made lake and over the bridge, kids get a fun time riding the train and looking at all the animal statues hidden around.

The cost was $5 per person and it went around the track twice

After that we had a go at frisbee golf

in the afternoon when Nash had a sleep Michael took the kids for a round of mini golf

Then is was time for a swim in the swimming lake

Naracoorte Swimming Lake

The huge man made lake with concrete floor and walls and chlorinated water ranges from 1m to 2m deep in the middle of the lake.

There are shallow sections for the littlies, deeper sections for lane swimming, a diving pontoon and an enclosed children's area.  The shaded ankle deep section is the perfect place for toddlers to splash around, and the sandy beach is perfect for kids to build sandcastles.

This free public swimming pool was amazing and so large in size, there is a play ground nearby, BBQ's and a kiosk. There is also toilets, showers and change rooms. It is only open from the end of November until 31st March 

Sunday evening we went on a shorter walk around the creek and finished up with a play in the playground near the swimming lake

We left at around 10:00am (south Australian time) on Monday and stopped again in Hamilton on the way home for lunch and got home around 4:00pm (Victorian time)

It was a really nice random weekend away but a long way to go for such a short time but also there isn't much more to do in Naracoorte itself so any longer and you would look at doing day trips to other towns