This is our first trip to Mount Gambier, a town in South Australia located near the border with Victoria.
The road from Melbourne to Mount Gambier stretched over six hours, a journey marked by changing landscapes that shifted from bustling urban views to the vast, open stretches of South Australia’s countryside. We took the long drive, passing through the historic city of Ballarat, where traces of the Gold Rush era lingered in its architecture and charm. As we continued, rolling hills and vast grass fields unfolded, accompanied by the rhythmic pattern of sprawling farms lining the roadside. Neatly arranged rows of crops stretched toward the horizon, while livestock grazed lazily in open paddocks. Scattered along the way were quiet country towns. These pastoral scenes, with weathered barns and rustic fences, painted a picture of a simpler, slower pace of life, contrasting with the dramatic volcanic landscapes that awaited us in Mount Gambier.
We looked at the scene of April in South Australia, a vibrant hue of autumn. Unlike the gentle crispness of spring or the searing warmth of summer, April brought a dramatic change—freezing drizzles swept across the land, casting a misty veil over the quiet charm of the town. The town, though expansive, exuded a calm atmosphere with slow-moving vehicles and an unhurried rhythm of life. The chill in the air was sharp, but it breathed life into the landscape, enhancing the earthy colours and adding a certain mystique to every view.
We could see the road led to the hill was actually a mouth of a volcano. Mount Gambier was built on a unique landscape formed by ancient eruptions. The region’s volcanic craters, including the striking Blue Lake and Valley Lake, were remnants of explosive interactions between magma and groundwater thousands of years ago. These geological features, along with rich volcanic soils, gave the area its distinct topography and lush vegetation.
On top of the hill, behind us lay the town of Mount Gambier, wrapped in tranquillity. Before us, Valley Lake stretched out, bathed in the vivid hues of autumn. It felt untouched by the rush of modern time, as if deliberately choosing to exist in a slower, more thoughtful rhythm. The photo I captured from this vantage point told a story of this stillness: the gentle curve of the lake’s shoreline, the muted reflections on its glassy surface, and the dense foliage kissed by autumn’s amber and gold.
Back to the stay place, we sat beside a crackling fireplace, a glass of South Australia’s renowned Shiraz in hand, lost in the pages of a favourite book. Outside, the usual noises of life faded into obscurity, muffled by the thick, cool air and the gentle patter of rain against windowpanes. The mesmerizing play of light and shadow on the lake, or the comforting thought of warmth waiting back in town, Mount Gambier left an impression that lingered long after the journey home.
— A travel dairy
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