Climbing & Caving
Caving
Scratch the surface of the South Australian caves and you'll be richly rewarded. Discover ancient fossils in the Limestone Coast; cathedral-like caverns on Eyre Peninsula and Aboriginal rock art in the Flinders Ranges.
The World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves on the Limestone Coast, dating 350,000 years, are home to one of the richest fossil deposits in the world. Scientists have used bones found in the caves to reconstruct the giant koalas, wombats, diprotodons and native cats that once roamed the region.
The caving action doesn't stop on the Limestone Coast. You can also explore Kelly Hill Caves on Kangaroo Island - a spectacular cave formation formed more than 120,000 years ago. Today, deposits of calcite continue to painstakingly create an ornate array of red-brown and cream formations. A 20-minute walk from the cave entrance leads you through dense Mallee bushland dotted with sinkholes and caverns.
The enchanting Aboriginal hand prints of the Murrawijine Caves (they're just a short drive from the Nullarbor Road House) on the Nullarbor Plain are also a must see. The Nullarbor Plain on the Eyre Peninsula takes its name from the Latin 'nullis' and 'arbor' meaning no trees, and lives up to this title. Covering an area of 77,000 square miles, the plain was created about 25 million years ago when it emerged from the sea. In more recent times, massive cathedral-like caverns and underground lakes have been found beneath the surface.
Climbing
Whether you are testing your strength as you climb or testing your nerves as you descend, South Australia has a cliff to suit you.
The Flinders Ranges are home to some world-renowned rock climbing destinations so if you are a serious climber this is the destination for you. More information on sites around South Australia can be accessed from the Climbing Club of South Australia.
If you would like to take it down a notch than experiencing the challenge and thrill of rock climbing and abseiling in Morialta Conservation Park is for you. Just 25 minutes from the Adelaide city centre, you can be among a beautiful area of natural bush land and whether you are a beginner or have climbed before you will enjoy it.
