The
Glenelg River flows through the 21,300 hectares of the Lower Glenelg National
Park which was created in
1968 to preserve the lower reaches, and the most spectacular part of the Glenelg
River, the limestone gorges.
The formation of the limestone gorges began 40
to 25 million years ago. The region was once submerged by a shallow sea, and
over millions of years, marine deposits and sediments settled on the bottom of
the ocean. This was slowly compressed to form limestone rock and combined with
the lowering of the sea level, this spectacular gorge area was born.
The Park is renowned for its diversity of flora and fauna. Fisherman may catch mullet, salmon, bream, perch and mulloway, while bushwalkers and campers can enjoy the part of the great south-west walk that runs alongside the last 40km of the river, but by far the best way to see this area is from the river.
For nature lovers, this haven features a magnitude of
differing flora. The diversity of vegetation encompasses the tall forests of
southeast Australia and drier areas to the west and north. Rare and
threatened species such as the Metallic-sun orchid, Melblom's spider orchid and
the veined spider orchid can be viewed in their natural habitat.
Experience the critters and creatures in this natural
paradise such as the red-necked wallaby, sugar
glider, echidna, koala, possum and wombat. Other creatures include; The
platypus, the rare bent-winged bat, long-necked tortoises, eastern tiger snake,
and the endangered bird life that is the Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo and the
powerful owl.
The river is also fundamentally responsible for
creating the Princess Margaret Rose Cave. This is a spectacular show cave that
runs guided tours displaying living examples of stalagmites, stalactites and
helictites.
Creation of the cave began some 800,000 years
ago, when the Glenelg River was 15m above it’s present level. The walls and
the floor of the cave were formed by water from the river flowing 300m over a
fault line. Combined with deposits that seep down the roof of the cave, which
dissolves the limestone and reforms as calcite crystals, this is the basis of
the amazing decoration that we are able to see today. 
Whilst you cruise the 50kms of limestone gorges and ever-changing habit of the Glenelg River, choose to stop at one of the 29 landings and use the campfire, BBQ and picnic facilities available, in one of the state’s best kept National Parks.