Julie Earl
The Naracoorte Caves is on a mission to promote South Australia’s only World Heritage site as offering so much more than its ever popular cave tours.
Manager Tom Shortt said the caves team were looking for different ways to engage with the community, by expanding activities that are accessible and inclusive.
“The Fossil Centre, Roof Top Walk, gardens, laboratory, bat centre and café are all easy access alternatives to cave tours,” he said.
Over the recent school holidays two innovative art workshops were offered on site.
Nature Studio, supported by Country Arts SA and Council, involved participants embedding themselves in the natural surroundings, crafting their own brushes and tools to create unique works of art.
As part of Council’s Caves Connection project, traditional First Nations basket weaving, run by Wurtati from Murray Bridge, was very popular attracting 19 enthusiastic participants.
Year round, volunteer members of “Friends of the Caves” are regularly seen on site, watering, weeding, planting and pruning the extensive gardens and surrounds.
The Friends group encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to join them in learning about growing native plants, making friends, and helping out with projects and events.
“Volunteers bring their skills and interests, and Caves management guide and assist them,” Mr Shortt said.
In November, the site will celebrate its 30th anniversary of World Heritage listing, with activities planned including the fifth Trail Run event for those who are more active, and food, music, entertainment and special tours for the whole community.
Last financial year, the Naracoorte Caves recorded its biggest visitation ever, with a record-breaking 98,000 tours booked by visitors primarily from SA and Victoria, despite international visitation still subdued since Covid.
To encourage locals to return time and again, and to bring visitors with them, free entry to all cave tours is offered when accompanied by paying guests.
Participating businesses wishing to promote the Caves to their customers can also offer visitors a 10 per cent cave tour discount code.
