Cave Gardens, Garden and show cave in Mount Gambier, Australia.
Cave Gardens is a natural limestone sinkhole about 30 meters deep located within the town, surrounded by landscaped gardens with viewing platforms and walking paths. The entire site combines the underground natural feature with a carefully designed park area above ground.
The site was discovered by European settlers during a survey in 1845-46 and served as the main water source for the growing town until the 1850s. This early importance for water supply shaped Mount Gambier's development in its first decades.
The site was renamed in 2022 to Cave Garden / Thugi, with Thugi coming from the Bungandidj language meaning bullfrogs. This naming choice honors the connection between the place and its Indigenous peoples and their relationship with the natural world.
Entry is free and the pathways are accessible for visitors of different abilities to explore the grounds. Public restrooms and picnic areas are available throughout the site where you can spend time at your leisure.
During wetter seasons, water flows down the limestone walls of the sinkhole creating a natural waterfall in the middle of the town. This phenomenon shows how underground water systems become visible at the surface with changing seasons.
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