A 'magical' weekend adventure: Inside the 'Alice in Wonderland' SINKHOLE Aussie travellers are flocking to between two major cities

  • Australians are likening a sunken garden to the entrance to Alice in Wonderland
  • Upmherston Sinkhole is in Mount Gambier, a five hour drive from Adelaide
  • The lush green landscape was once a cave before the chamber collapsed 
  • It now features viewing platforms, sculptures, benches and walking paths
  • Many say the beauty of the sinkhole 'needs to be seen to be believed'

By Louise Allingham For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Travellers are likening this incredible sunken garden to the 'entrance to Alice in Wonderland' with its lush greenery, hanging vines and colourful flowers.  

The spectacular garden is nestled in Umpherston sinkhole that was once a limestone cave in Mount Gambier, just under five hours' drive south-east of Adelaide, SA, or the same distance west of Melbourne, VIC. 

Adventurers are flocking to the 'magical cave garden' in droves to explore the unique landscape capture epic Instagram photos after a post to a popular travel group on Facebook went viral. 

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Australians are travelling to this 'spectacular' sunken garden some have likened to the 'entrance to Alice in Wonderland'

Australians are travelling to this 'spectacular' sunken garden some have likened to the 'entrance to Alice in Wonderland'

Umpherston Sinkhole was once a limestone cave and is filled with lush greenery, colourful flowers and hanging vines

Umpherston Sinkhole was once a limestone cave and is filled with lush greenery, colourful flowers and hanging vines

Adventurers are flocking to the 'magical cave garden' in droves to explore the unique landscape capture epic Instagram photos after a post on Facebook went viral
One commenter called the one-of-a-kind hidden gem their 'favourite place in South Australia' while another said she 'needs' to add it to their travel list

Adventurers are flocking to the 'magical cave garden' in droves to explore the unique landscape capture epic Instagram photos after a post on Facebook went viral

Umpherston Sinkhole in Mount Gambier is just under five hours' drive south of Adelaide, SA, or the same distance west of Melbourne, VIC

Umpherston Sinkhole in Mount Gambier is just under five hours' drive south of Adelaide, SA, or the same distance west of Melbourne, VIC

One commenter called the one-of-a-kind hidden gem their 'favourite place in South Australia' while another said she 'needs' to add it to their travel list. 

The sinkhole was created when the top of the cave's chamber collapsed, with gardens opened there by Scottish emigrant farmer, James Umpherston, in 1886.

The site now features viewing platforms, sculptures, benches and walking paths that wind around vibrant flower beds and terraces of native plants where hanging vines drape overhead.

The sinkhole was created when the top of the cave's chamber collapsed, with gardens opened there by Scottish emigrant farmer, James Umpherston, in 1886

The sinkhole was created when the top of the cave's chamber collapsed, with gardens opened there by Scottish emigrant farmer, James Umpherston, in 1886 

The site now features viewing platforms, sculptures, benches and walking paths that wind around vibrant flower beds and terraces of native plants where hanging vines drape overhead

The site now features viewing platforms, sculptures, benches and walking paths that wind around vibrant flower beds and terraces of native plants where hanging vines drape overhead 

Open from dawn until dusk, the Umpherston Sinkhole comes alive at sunset each evening when possums venture into the floodlit gardens to feed.

Best of all, entry is free.

Many say the beauty of the sinkhole 'needs to be seen to be believed'.

Photos and videos on social media offer a glimpse at what the gardens have to offer, with some comparing them to scenes from Jurassic Park. 

Open from dawn until dusk, the Umpherston Sinkhole comes alive at sunset each evening when possums venture into the floodlit gardens to feed

Open from dawn until dusk, the Umpherston Sinkhole comes alive at sunset each evening when possums venture into the floodlit gardens to feed 

Many say the beauty of the sinkhole 'needs to be seen to be believed'

Many say the beauty of the sinkhole 'needs to be seen to be believed'

'Such a great perspective of this awesome place. The possums waking up at dusk and crawling up the vines is so great,' one person wrote under drone footage of the sinkhole. 

'This is so beautiful,' said a second, while a third dubbed it 'spectacular'.

Others warned that the steps leading out of the sinkhole are 'really steep' and may not be suitable for the elderly, injured or anyone with physical disabilities.   

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