Piccaninnie Pond Conservation Park
Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park is located 32km south east of Mount Gambier or 482km south east of Adelaide. Access is via Piccaninnie Ponds Road. It is very well signposted.
What it is famous for is the underwater world which have been recognised as wetlands of importance. It has crystal clear waters which
“have been slowly filtering through the limestone and forming the Pond's features over thousands of years. The freshwater rising to the surface under pressure has eroded a weakness in the limestone to form The Chasm. This same process has formed the large underwater cavern known as The Cathedral creating its majestic white walls of sculptured and scalloped limestone.”
(source: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au)
Campsites
IMPORTANT NOTE: All camping at this location has ceased from mid 2014.
As mentioned the main reason most people come here is for the Ponds – to snorkel/dive in them. There is no swimming permitted and no watercraft. A permit is required to snorkel or dive in the ponds. Scheduled timeslots are available. Bookings are essential.
For full guidelines on utilising this pristine water, please check out
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/d3798c56-6ee1-4300-b434-9e4f00b48700/PARKS_PDFS_PICC_PONDS_BROCHURE.pdf
There is a small jetty where non-swimmers can see the water, but its not really a picturesque spot where you can gaze at the beauty – the true beauty lies under the water.