Caves, sinkholes and volcanoes - UNESCO Kanawinka Geopark

Caves, sinkholes and volcanoes: the beauty and problems of the UNESCO Kanawinka Geopark.

Image courtesy: Kanawinka Geopark: Coast and Caves - Visit Portland

The landscapes of the South East of South Australia and the South West of Victoria are distinguished by extensive limestone plains with their caves and sinkholes and the ‘Newer Volcanics’ extending westwards from the Ballarat area to Millicent, Mount Burr and Mount Gambier. The combined geology of these features formed the basis for the UNESCO Kanawinka Geopark from 2008 to 2012. 

The stories of the caves, sinkholes and volcanoes are fascinating and have links with First Nations memories of some volcanic eruptions. For several reasons, Australia is the only continent where UNESCO Geoparks have not been further established, leaving this nation behind a rapidly growing world movement. 

Ian is a Geomorphologist and Honorary Director of Kanawinka Geotrails (the replacement of the original Geopark) and in this lecture, will describe the landscapes and the passage of Kanawinka up to today