Naracoorte - South Australia

Naracoorte (population 4,888) is a town in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia, approximately 336 kilometres south east of Adelaide and 100 kilometres north of Mount Gambier on the Riddoch Highway (A66).

History
Naracoorte was formed from the merger of two towns, Kincraig, founded in 1845 by Scottish explorer William Macintosh, and Narracoorte, established as a government settlement in 1847. The name has gone through a number of spellings, and is believed to be derived from the Aboriginal words for place of running water or large waterhole. It grew during the 1850s as a service town for people going to and from the Victorian gold rush. The Post Office opened on 22 March 1853 and was known as Mosquito Plains until 1861.[2]

Today
The town has historically relied largely on sheep, cattle and wheat farming. In recent decades, tourism has become a major industry with the promotion of the World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves National Park and the internationally-recognised wetland, Bool Lagoon. It also receives a substantial number of visitors due to its proximity to the Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, and Padthaway wine regions, plus many smaller local vineyards.

Naracoorte is in the Naracoorte Lucindale Council, the state electoral district of MacKillop and the federal Division of Barker. The postcode is 5271.

The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League.

Places Of Interest

 * The Visitor Information Centre &amp; Sheep's Back Museum - MacDonnell Street.
 * Lions Pioneer Park - MacDonnell Street.
 * Playground and Skate Park - MacDonnell Street.
 * Tiny Train Park &amp; Mini Golf - Park Terrace.
 * Naracoorte Art Gallery - Ormerod Street.
 * Mini Jumbuk Centre - 61 Smith Street.
 * Swimming Lake - Moore Street.
 * Jubilee Nature Park - Moore Street.
 * Russet Ridge Winery - Cnr Caves Road &amp; Riddoch Highway.
 * Struan House - Riddoch Highway.
 * Naracoorte Caves National Park - Caves Road

Naracoorte Caves
Not only will the beauty of Naracoorte Caves leave you speechless, their rich fossil history will have you intrigued. The fossils have earned Naracoorte Caves National Park a spot on the World Heritage List - South Australia's only listed attraction.

For more than 500,000 years giant animals roamed the Naracoorte area. Falling into well hidden pitfall caves, their fossilised skeletons were left behind, giving scientists a rare glimpse of long extinct animal life.

Giant marsupials such as the wombat-like Diprotodon, Thylacoleo the marsupial lion and giant kangaroos lived in the area. These animals, along with others, have been recreated into life-sized models at the renowned Wonambi Fossil Centre.

The park's tourist caves boast a glorious display of stalagmites and stalactites.

Adventure caving, allowing you to crawl, slide and squeeze through tight tunnels and chambers, is also available.