Port MacDonnell

PORT MACDONNELL 150TH CELEBRATION  Easter Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th April 2010

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK ON THE EVENTS TAB ABOVE

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Port MacDonnell Rural Transaction Centre

While enjoying your stay, visit our Rural Transaction Centre, 5 Charles Street, Port MacDonnell.

Port MacDonnell Visitor Information

- Things to See
- A Short Drive Away

Experience the magnificent rugged coastline and natural vegetation of Port MacDonnell, the southernmost port in South Australia.  Located 467 km south east of Adelaide, this attractive town marks the start of the Great Ocean Road.

See the giant limestone "Bay Wave" at the entrance to Port MacDonnell which was brought to life by Ivo Tadic, a renowned sculptor from Mount Gambier.  Made of limestone, it weights around 50 tons and contains enough limestone to build an entire medium sized house.  The Bay Wave was a community project involving local businesses, contractors, tradesmen and even the local school children who sculptured the shells that make up part of the finished project.

Port MacDonnell is officially known as "The Southern Rock Lobster Capital of Australia".  Seafood factories sell cooked, fresh or frozen Southern Rock Lobster to the public in the fishing season from October 1 to May 31.

The Port MacDonnell Tourist Information Centre, located at 7 Charles Street, Port MacDonnell, welcomes visitors to the town and provides valuable information on accommodation, dining and places of interest.  Please contact the tourist office by telephone / fax on 08 8738 2576 or email portmacdonnelltouristassoc@hotmail.com.

 Things to See

Port MacDonnell is home to many historical sites such as:

• 1858 lighthouse monument (the first mainland lighthouse in South Australia) and 1882 lighthouse.
• 1862 Customs House that was once a courthouse, police station, post and telegraph office, and currently a private home.
• Dingley Dell, where Adam Lindsay Gordon, one of Australia's most famous 19^th century poets, lived from 1864 to 1867.
• Maritime Museum which holds an interesting collection and display of maritime artefacts. Walk along the boardwalk through native flora and natural regeneration at Germein Reserve, a popular wetland area.
• Cape Northumberland Heritage and Nature Park holds the historical lighthouse site and is one of the most spectacular locations to have an uninterrupted view of the sunrise and sunset of the Southern Ocean.
  

 A Short Drive Away

Mount Schank

Lieutenant Grant named this fascinating remnant volcano at the time he named Mount Gambier.  It was named after a friend, Captain Schank.  There is a track which leads to the top and it is possible to descend into the crater of the extinct volcano.  The walk from the carpark to the top and around the edges of the old volcano is estimated as being of moderate difficulty and should take about 2½ hours.

Piccaninnie Ponds

Located along the coast and reaching the Victorian border, this is a large reed swamp with subterranean springs which has a reputation as one of Australia's best cave diving destinations.  The caves are actually sinkholes and require considerable skill.  The main sinkhole, Piccaninnie Pond, can be dived but a permit is needed from the National Parks and Wildlife Service in Mount Gambier.

Ewen Ponds Conservation Park

Located 6 kms north east of Port MacDonnell this is an important and interesting wetland habitat characterised by dense stringybark, blackwood, Christmas bush and a range of interesting orchids.  It is also an area of sinkholes which are popular with divers.