Things to See and Do in Southeast South Australia from The Bellum Hotel in Mount Schank
Updated: Sep 20
Some places make a good base because they sit close to the sights. Others feel right because they put you among the people who know the region best. The Bellum Hotel in Mount Schank does both.
Set between Mount Gambier and the coast, The Bellum Hotel has free camping and is a handy spot for exploring Southeast South Australia without feeling like you are constantly packing up and moving on. One day can be all crater walks and sinkholes. The next can be beach air, seafood, caves, wineries, and a country pub meal at the end of it.
This is a part of South Australia that rewards slow travel. The roads roll through farmland, pine forest, limestone country, and coastal scrub. The locals still wave. People will ask where you are from, tell you where to go next, and mean it. In our opinion, this community is one of the best around, full of good country people who take pride in looking after visitors.
Start with Mount Schank and the volcanic country
The first stop is right on the doorstep. The Mount Schank Volcano is one of the most memorable natural features in the area, and it gives a clear sense of the volcanic story that shaped this part of the state.
The crater walk is a worthwhile leg-stretcher for travellers who enjoy a view. From the rim, the country opens out in every direction. On a clear day, the patchwork of farms, plantations, and distant coast reminds you just how much variety sits within a short drive.
Mount Schank is also a good way to settle into the pace of the region. There is no need to rush it. Bring comfortable shoes, take water, and give yourself time to stop and look. The walk can be exposed in windy or warm weather, so mornings are often a pleasant choice.
Afterwards, The Bellum Hotel is close enough to return for a meal, a cold drink, or a quiet afternoon before heading out again.
Spend a day exploring Mount Gambier’s blue water and limestone wonders
Mount Gambier is the region’s best-known centre, and for good reason. It is close to The Bellum Hotel, easy to explore by car, and filled with natural features that feel unlike anywhere else in South Australia.
The famous Blue Lake is the headline. Its colour changes through the seasons, with the brightest blue usually associated with the warmer months. Even outside that period, it is a striking place to circle, photograph, and admire.
Nearby, the city’s sinkholes show how deeply limestone shapes the region. Umpherston Sinkhole, also known as the Sunken Garden, is a favourite for its garden setting and the feeling of stepping down into another world. Cave Gardens, right in the centre of town, gives a quick and easy look at the same geology without leaving the city streets.
Travellers often group the Little Blue Lake, sinkholes, and Mount Gambier’s crater lakes into the same day. That works well if the weather is kind and the plan stays flexible. The best visits are rarely the ones rushed from car park to car park.
Good stops around Mount Gambier include:
Blue Lake
Best for a scenic drive, photos, and a classic Mount Gambier view.
Umpherston Sinkhole
Best for gardens, limestone walls, and an easy wander.
Cave Gardens
Best for a quick central stop while in town.
Engelbrecht Cave
Best for those interested in the underground side of the limestone coast.
Head south to Port MacDonnell and the rugged coast
From Mount Schank, the coast is close enough for a relaxed half-day or a full sea-air adventure. Port MacDonnell is known as a fishing town, and the drive takes you through open country before the landscape gives way to the Southern Ocean.
This is a good place to slow down. Walk by the water, watch the waves, and enjoy the straightforward charm of a coastal town that still feels connected to its working harbour. The ocean can be wild here, which is part of the appeal. It is not a polished resort coast. It is real, rugged, and refreshing.
Cape Northumberland and the surrounding coastal lookouts are worth adding if conditions suit. Expect wind, salt air, and big views. On a calm day, it can be beautiful. On a rough day, it can be dramatic. Either way, take care near cliffs and exposed coastal edges.
Back at The Bellum Hotel, that coastal day pairs well with a proper country meal and a seat where you can talk through the day’s discoveries.
Explore caves, ponds, and forests across the Limestone Coast
Southeast South Australia is full of places where water and limestone have shaped the land over time. Some are easy sightseeing stops. Others suit travellers who like guided tours, snorkelling, diving, or nature-based detours.
Tantanoola Caves is a manageable option for many visitors, with impressive formations and a setting that makes the geology easy to appreciate. It is a good choice for those who want a cave experience without committing to a long or difficult outing.
Further south and east, places such as Piccaninnie Ponds and Ewens Ponds are known for clear water and aquatic environments. Access, conditions, and permit requirements can vary depending on the activity, so it is best to check current local advice before planning a swim, snorkel, or dive.
The forests and back roads are part of the pleasure too. Drives through pine plantations, farmland, and small settlements give the region its character. This is not just a checklist destination. The space between the stops is part of the experience.
Take a food and wine detour through the wider region
A stay at The Bellum Hotel also puts you within reach of some of the region’s best food and wine country. Coonawarra is the obvious name for wine lovers, especially for those interested in classic red wines. The drive north makes a good day trip if cellar doors and quiet roads are part of the plan.
Closer to the coast, seafood becomes part of the story. Around Port MacDonnell, fresh local catch and harbour views are part of the appeal. Inland, the region leans into hearty country cooking, bakery stops, pub meals, and the kind of hospitality that comes without fuss.
That mix is what makes the Southeast work so well. You can have a volcano walk in the morning, a garden sinkhole before lunch, a windswept coast in the afternoon, and a local drink by evening.
Why The Bellum Hotel works as a central base
The Bellum Hotel sits in a sweet spot for free camping travellers who want to see more than one side of the region. It is close to Mount Schank, convenient for Mount Gambier, and well placed for coastal drives to Port MacDonnell and beyond.
Staying central keeps the days simple. Instead of changing your camping spot every night, you can leave your caravan / RV and choose each day’s route based on the weather, your energy, and what locals recommend over the bar.
That local knowledge matters. A map can show the roads, but it cannot always tell you which lookout is best on a windy day, where to go if you only have two hours, or which drive feels nicest after rain. Country communities are generous with that kind of advice.
At The Bellum Hotel, we see the region through the people who live here. Farmers, tradies, families, travellers, fishers, and regulars all cross paths. That is part of what makes the place special. The scenery brings people here, but the community often gives them the memory they take home.
A simple three-day plan from The Bellum Hotel
For a relaxed first visit, a three-day stay works well.
Day one
Arrive, settle in, and visit Mount Schank. Walk the crater if conditions suit, then off to The Little Blu for a swim! And then ease into the evening at The Bellum Hotel.
Day two
Spend the day in Mount Gambier. See the Blue Lake, Umpherston Sinkhole, Cave Gardens, and then the sinkholes in the forest, depending on your pace.
Day three
Head to the coast through Port MacDonnell, then add a lookout, harbour walk, or coastal drive. Return inland for a relaxed final night.
If there is extra time, add Coonawarra, Tantanoola Caves, or one of the region’s clear-water natural sites. The best plan leaves room for a local suggestion.
Come for the sights and stay for the country welcome
Southeast South Australia has plenty to recommend it: volcanic craters, blue lakes, limestone caves, sinkholes, rugged coast, wine country, and honest country towns. The Bellum Hotel in Mount Schank gives travellers a central, welcoming place to experience it all without overcomplicating the trip.
Come for the scenery, take your time on the roads, and have a yarn with the locals. Around here, the good country welcome is part of the journey.
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