Tantanoola Caves

The cave of Tantanoola was named after the Tantanoola town. Known for its scenic beauty, pink dolomite caverns and an array of unusual speleothems, the Tantanoola Caves is one of the renowned and most-visited destinations in South Australia. This cave is the only wheelchair accessed cave near Mount Gambier.

The Tantanoola Caves is somewhat like a huge chamber of 30m width and 8m overall height. However, it is one of the smallest caves in South Australia that has numerous stunning speleothems and several helictites.

The Tantanoola Caves is within Up and Down Rock, which is a prehistoric marine cliff near the highway. The formation of cliff was due to the adjacent sea shore during the Pleistocene epoch. It is believed that the Miocene bryozoan dolomite of the Tantanoola Caves was eminent along the Tartwaup fault-line in the past.

However, due to the effect of the sea water on the rocks the cliff was formed by repeated destruction of the rocks with the force of the waves. Gradually, this resulted in sea caves, cliffs and overhangs inside the Tantanoola Caves.

Now, the coast is far from the cave as the sea retreated due to the lowering of sea level or because of the uplifting of the land. Even today, you will see some pebbles, seal bones and shells that are left behind inside the cave.

Apart from the wheel chair access option, the cave has numerous other amenities for guests. Tourists can choose to take the guided tour by collecting the cavern maps from the visitor’s centre.

Tantanoola Caves also offers some beautiful picnic areas and play areas for the kids.