Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park

Located in the picturesque gazetted locality of Wye, in the south-east of South Australia, the Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park is a protected area covering 862 hectares (2,130 acres), and is just 490 kilometres (300 mi) southeast of the state capital, Adelaide. Overlooking Discovery Bay and situated 30 kilometres (19 mi) southeast of the city of Mount Gambier, the conservation park is home to a unique wetland fed by freshwater springs in a karst landscape.

Close to the border with Victoria, the park is part of the Discovery Bay to Piccaninnie Ponds Important Bird Area, and conservation efforts ensure this area continues to be significant on a global level. The park boasts a walking track through coastal woodland to a viewing platform where wetlands can be observed.

Piccaninnie Ponds is a popular spot for snorkeling and cave diving, unparalleled in its beauty. A testament to this is the endorsement by underwater explorer Valerie Taylor, who described the ponds in 1964-65, prior to its classification as a national park, as "one of the most beautiful sights in Australia." Home to crystal clear waters that truly provide a feeling of unhindered flight. Three main features of interest to cave divers are the ‘First Pond’ which has an open depression that is around 10 metres (33 ft) deep with a silt floor and a vegetated fringe supporting a diverse range of aquatic life. The ‘Chasm,’ on the other hand, is an impressive sinkhole with a depth of over 100 metres (330 ft), and the ‘Cathedral’ is an enclosed area with limestone formations and an astonishing depth of about 35 metres (115 ft). With excellent underwater visibility, which