THE Naracoorte Caves will host an inaugural event this month aiming to encourage Limestone Coast community members to be active and experience the wonders of their own backyard.
The Naracoorte World Heritage Trail Run will showcase the heritage listed sights of the popular Naracoorte Caves, with three trail run lengths available.
Participants will be able to walk or run either 22km, 14km, 5km or 1km.
Gold coin donations are encouraged, which will support research into the critically endangered Southern Bent-wing Bat.
Ms Woods said the response from the community had been fantastic.
“Parents are wanting to take the 1km walk around the new roof top loop walk and we have even had some elderly residents show interest,” he said.
“We have also had interest from runners from across the border which is great because it brings more people to the caves and
to the South East.”
Ms Woods said registrations have been successful and with the event still two weeks away, the committee is hoping to receive more.
Alongside the run, the Naracoorte World Heritage Festival will be held at the tourist attraction with visitor palaeontologist Professor Flint conducting a musical adventure to celebrate the animals found within the cave.
Local vertebrate palaeontologist Dr Liz Reed will also run a special on with the Naracoorte Caves grounds.
Fossil displays and demonstrations at the fossil lab and fossil dig sandpit will also be showcased throughout the day.
The Naracoorte Caves Music Ensemble will unveil a new musical piece labelled Adventure to the Limestone Caves, which captures the spirit of exploration, adventure and discovery at the site.
“This music is a tale of exploration, an epic romp through the wilds and down into an uncharted cave system,” Ms Skawronski said.
“Like any great adventure, the piece is exciting, rich and a little exotic with something new around every corner.”
The Naracoorte Caves World Heritage Festival will start at 10am with the first trail run starting at 7.30am on November 24.
