Family Holiday - Mount Gambier - Day 2

After a quick breakfast we all got ready and headed out the door. The kids wanted to walk around the Blue Lake and check it all out. We started at the same lookout that we had walked to the day before. The kids again tried to throw things over the edge trying to get them to land in the lake.

Haylie found this pine cone and wanted me to take this picture. I think she even managed to get us to bring it all the way home with us.

Amie started walking along this raised bit that went alongside the path and everyone had to follow.

We stopped at another viewing platform along the way. From this one we got a good view of the pumping station.

At another viewing platform. By now the kids were starting to get tired and asking how much further it was. At this point we were only halfway around but it is 3.6kms altogether so they did a pretty good job.

We decided to do the tour that went down the waters edge. Its the only way to get closer to the water. While we were waiting the kids wanted to get some pictures taken. They are such poser's!

The first part of the tour was a little bit boring to the kids but the liked getting into the little tiny elevator. It had a small window so you could see the tunnel that the lift went down in.

When the lift doors open you walk through this tunnel to another viewing platform.

I just loved how clear and blue the water was. It was beautiful.

Amie took this lovely picture!

After the tour we continued our walk around the Blue Lake. At one spot we found what Buzz called 'rapenzel's tower.

Heading up to the tower.

Inside the tower.

We then continued up the hill that was behind the tower to another viewing platform.

Haylie found another spot that she needed a photo taken.

Lachlan's thinking man pose.

You would think that after all that walking the kids would be really tired, but no. They wanted to head over to the jumping pillow at the caravan park. We had seen it the night before but hadn't let them on it because it was all wet and dirty. It had dried in the sun and there was no one else on it so we let them have at it for about an hour.

I only took one picture of them but I did take some video. I might add that in a seprate post.

After eating our leftovers for lunch we headed out for some more exploring. This time we got into the car and headed to the Umpherston Sinkhole. It's really just a big hole in the ground but they have put some gardens and walkways in this one. It is really beautiful.

Looking through the vines that hang from the top.

My handsome boy!

Cheesy girl!

Bees!

Looking up at the bees.

The kids got hold of the camera again.

Love those vines!

After the Umperston sink hole we stopped at a place called CupKates for some afternoon tea. I got a yummy lemon curd cupcake and all the kids and Buzz got milkshakes. After that we headed to another sinkhole. This one is right in the middle of town. It is called Cave Gardens.

These pictures were taken with my iPhone.

It's really hard to see in pictures but that hole was really deep. You can't go right down to the bottom of this one. This platform is about halfway down.

Haylie found another picture spot and the other girls followed.

After the Cave Gardens we drove around a bit checking out some viewing spots.

After some dinner we went to see the sound a light show that they out on at the Cave Gardens every night but we were very disappointed in it.

That is the end of Day 2.

Family Holiday - Mount Gambier - Day 1

It's been a long time since our family went on a holiday with just us. Usually we have Grandparents or something with us as well but this time it was just Buzz and I and our four kids.

We started the day by packing the car and then heading to McDonald's for Breakfast. We don't normally go to McDonald for breakfast but it just so happened that we were heading out on our family holiday on our 13th Wedding anniversary. On that day 13 year ago our families had all gone to breakfast at McDonald's before heading to the Temple to get married. So we thought we would go there to begin our family holiday.

The actual McDonald's that we went to 13 years ago had been knocked down and rebuilt. I'll have to try and find the photos of our wedding day to add here.

After breakfast we were on our way. The kids did really well in the car. It helps that they each had their own iPad to use, with headphones, so they could choose what movie to watch or game to play.

The roads were really busy. It was Easter Monday so lots of people were heading home from their long weekend away. Luckily there were lots of overtaking lanes though.

We got out to stretch our legs and go to the toilet at Keith. We found these posts to stand on and take some quick pictures as well!

After Keith we headed to Narracorte. The kids were pretty excited to see the Narracorte caves! I have only been there once before so I was pretty excited to visit them again as well.

When we got there we headed straight to the visitors centre to book a tour. It was fairly busy so we wanted to get one booked before having a look around or getting something to eat. It just so happened that the next tour was leaving in 5 minutes and they had room for us. I didn't have time to run back to the car and get the good camera so all the photos in the cave are taken with my iPhone.

Pictures really don't do this cave justice. The formations are really pretty.

Someone looks excited to get their picture taken!

The fairy castle! By looking in the water you could see the reflection of a group of stalagmites hanging from the ceiling of the cave.

These ones are called straws. They are long and thin and apparently hollow inside, just like straws.

After our cave tour we grabbed some lunch from the cafe and they had a bit of a walk around. 

We meet this guy while walking around, I can't remember what he was supposed to be but the kids thought he was pretty funny!

Lachlan getting attacked!

Oh No! Now he has Buzz!

And lastly Amie!

Haylie really wanted to get a picture of her sitting underneath it, so here it is!

At the entrance to the Narracorte caves site we found a good place to get some photos.

After climbing around for a little while we got back in the car for the final leg to Mount Gambier.

After checking in at the Caravan park to a little tiny cabin we headed over to the Blue Lake for a quick look before heading to the shops to get some supplies.

Again, I only had my iPhone on me so they aren't the best pictures. We were happy to see that the Blue Lake was actually still fairly blue. The best time to see it is over the summer months when it is a really unnatural looking blue, but it still looked pretty cool.  We went to one of the viewing platforms and the kids all tried to throw things over the side to see if they could get it to go into the water. Even though the sides of the lake are fairly steep we weren't out far enough for them to get anything to reach the water.

The kids found this statue and wanted some pictures. I can't remember what it was for but is was basically a block with a hole through it.

Haylie

Caitlyn

Amie

Lachlan

Haylie underneath it!

After doing some shopping we headed out to Fasta Pasta for dinner. Buzz ordered way too much food so we ended up taking half of it back to the cabin with us and had it for lunch the next day.

Shortly after we had arrived in town it had started to rain. Back at the cabin we watched some TV and headed to bed. The kids were pretty tired and excited to explore some more the next day. All night we could hear the rain and the wind. It sounded pretty crazy on the roof of our little cabin. We were certainly glad that we were in a cabin thought and not in a tent like some of our neighbours!

Well that's the end of Day 1 of our holiday! Come back to find out what else we got up to.