Donovans

Donovans is a tiny town nestled amongst the banks of the Glenelg River in South Australia; approximately 32km from Mount Gambier.

It was initially given the name of Donovans Landing, named after Thomas John Donovan, who became famous for shooting a phantom cat known as the Tantanoola Tiger.

On the west side of the Glenelg River is a small settlement, while the area on the eastern side has been declared protected land; it’s now known as the Lower Glenelg River Conservation Park.

Most of the land in Donovans is used for agriculture. However, the settlement on the banks has been zoned for recreational use. Visitors flock to the area for the terrific fishing, river cruising, and water skiing nearby. Sheds and shacks can be found along the river, which are great places for relaxing.

Nearby, the 862-hectare Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park makes for a great day trip. This protected area is best known for its incredible cave diving and snorkelling, thanks to fantastic visibility. There are three main attractions underwater for cave divers: The First Pond, a 10-meter-deep open depression, features a highly vegetated fringe which serves as home to numerous types of marine life. The Chasm refers to a sinkhole that’s over 100 meters in depth, then there’s the Cathedral, which is an enclosed area made of limestone formations; 35 meters in depth.

Those who are interested in snorkelling or diving at Piccaninnie Ponds should obtain a permit first. Some of the marine life here includes native plants and seaweed, eels, shrimp, and freshwater fish.