Mount Gambier accommodation: An ultimate guide to the very best stays

Searching for the perfect Mount Gambier accommodation? From old gaols and boutique hotels to upscale homes, there’s something for every kind of traveller.

You’ve got the spectacular sinkholes noted and the lakes circled, but what to do about locking in that perfect Mount Gambier accommodation? With our pick of the bunch, you’ll be buckled in for the holiday of a lifetime.

Prefer a stay at a local caravan park? Don’t worry, we’ve got a separate list for that too.

1. Mount Gambier Hotel

Say hello to the accommodation option that has it: a central location in the middle of Mount Gambier, affordability, and an Art Deco aesthetic thanks to its extensive renovation.

Established in 1862, at Mount Gambier Hotel you’ll find a total of 16 tastefully decorated and incredibly spacious rooms – 15 of them upstairs including two pooch-friendly superior queen rooms, two family suites, while one two-bedroom suite can be found downstairs.

A decent onsite bistro serves some of the best – and most generous – breakfasts around, while the plentiful parking makes a stay super convenient.

Phone number: (08) 8726 7000

Address: 2 Commercial West Street, Mount Gambier

2. The Barn

There’s little doubt you’ll be heading to The Barn – located less than a 10-minute drive from the centre of Mount Gambier – for a steak (it’s the best in the region), but why not settle in and make a night of your visit?

Featuring generously proportioned suites set among five acres of artfully manicured English-style gardens, accommodation options  – mostly constructed from Mount Gambier Limestone  – are available in a wide variety of configurations to suit every kind of traveller keen on enjoying a quasi-farm experience.

We love The Farmhouse, a recently rebuilt four-bedroom house with rural views located just 350 metres from The Barn, which also features high-quality amenities including a tennis court, piano bar and 24-hour fitness centre.

Phone number: (08) 8726 9999

Address: 747 Glenelg River Road, OB Flat

3. Jens Hotel

Falling in love is easy when you’re faced with the romance of a pretty-as-a-picture 19th century facade paying homage to the early days of this, one of Mount Gambier’s oldest hotels.

Upon check-in, you’ll notice that olde-worlde charm is still there, represented by the central staircase (yes, it’s popular with the wedding and school formal set), and the opulent chandelier, but the good news here is that the 15-room Jens Hotel has all the mod-cons a stay in Mount Gambier requires, including a cafe-style dining area, newly established beer garden and a sports bar.

Halfway through a significant renovation (half the rooms have already been refurbished), there are accommodation options across every price point from premium to budget.

Phone number: (08) 8725 0188

Address: 40 Commercial Street East, Mount Gambier

4. The Park Hotel Mount Gambier 

What’s that? Another historic, centrally located hotel? The Park Hotel Mount Gambier, established in 1890, differs from its peers by offering a truly boutique experience, with just three hotel rooms of various sizes available for guests.

A favourite with corporate travellers who value the property for its convenience, the rooms – all featuring that all-important Nespresso machine are located on the second floor, but we love the Matthews Suite, a two-bedroom offering featuring an open gas fireplace and a luxurious spa. Downstairs, the friendly bistro below delivers classic pub meals and weekly specials seven days a week. It even has a drive-through bottle shop boasting the largest selection of Coonawarra wines in town.

Shared laundry facilities and a communal kitchen are also available on site, making this a convenient property for those longer stays.

Phone number: (08) 8726 7500

Address: 163 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier

5. Colhurst House

Sometimes one needs a manor to call one’s own, but if you’re fresh out of luck in the property (and dare we say, inheritance) stakes, you can rent that feeling for a night or two at Colhurst house.

An elegant property built in the 1800s surrounded by lush, manicured gardens, Colhurst House is all about romance. Whether you book the dramatic Black Room, the soothing White Room or the Tartan Room, a stay here is entry into a world of whirlpool bathtubs, original fireplaces, and high, ornate ceilings with the building still featuring many of its original touches.

What’s more, even though you’ll feel like you’re miles from anywhere, you’re only mere metres from Mount Gambier’s city centre.

Address: 3 Colhurst Place, Mount Gambier

Phone number: (08) 8723 1309

6. The Domes at Mountain Path Meadows

Fancy a night (or two) of staring at the stars from your very own bed? Unplug from technology and say yes to romance with a stay at The Domes at Mountain Path Meadows, two geodesic timber glamping domes set within a 12-acre estate.

Set at the base of dormant volcano crater Mount Schank just 15 minutes from Mount Gambier, each dome features its own unique aesthetic, with The Traveller Dome sleeping four in a king-size bed, as well as a queen-size sofa bed, and The Birdcage sleeping four in two queen-size sofa bed configurations.

No need to worry about sharing the space with strangers; the domes are hired as a pair.

Address: 12 Mountain Path Road, Mount Schank

Phone number: 0413 599 160

7. Mount Gambier Apartments MG Delux

For those who prefer something self-contained and featuring all the mod-cons of home, Mount Gambier Apartments offers a wide range of apartments across Mount Gambier specialising in corporate, long-term, short-term and last-minute bookings.

MG Delux is perfect for families – or groups of friends – travelling the Limestone Coast together, offering four bedrooms sleeping up to seven guests, two bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and laundry, and for those who are all about enjoying themselves under the sun, an outdoor entertainment area and barbeque.

A central location also means everything – including those all-important supermarkets – is right on your very doorstep.

Phone number: 0409 250 577

Address: Unit 4, 19 Davidson Street, Mount Gambier

8. Comfort Inn The Lakes, Mount Gambier

For those who prefer the rolling hills surrounding the Blue Lake and Valley Lake, the Comfort Inn The Lakes Mount Gambier is the place that has it all.

Situated on the edge of the Valley Lake Crater and serving up pretty-as-a-picture views across the city, the property offers a range of rooms for different configurations, including a Honeymoon Suite and a Family Room.

The kids will love the indoor heated pool and spa – not to mention the property’s proximity to the city centre  – while adults will appreciate the onsite guest laundry facilities (sad, but true).

Phone number: (08) 8725 5755

Address: 17 Lake Terrace West, Mount Gambier

9. Abode Accommodations

Introducing the perfect holiday home that has the lot: a gas wood fire and ducted heating (perfect for those cold winter days), a large pergola area with a Weber Q for those sunny days when you want to enjoy the warm Limestone Coast weather, and of course, all the mod cons indoors required for the ultimate getaway.

Located in central Mount Gambier just five minutes from local restaurants, supermarkets, pubs and shops, Abode Accommodations’ newly renovated property features TVs in each bedroom so every member of the family has an opportunity to switch off and relax within their own space.

Phone number: 0411 616 301

Address: 149 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier

10. Kilsby Sinkhole & Accommodation

For decades Kilsby Sinkhole has been celebrated as THE place to dive and snorkel, but those keen to stay in the serene Moorah area (a 15-minute drive from Mount Gambier) a little longer will be thrilled to learn that the folks behind the famous sinkhole have just thrown open the doors to their all-new accommodation offering.

Situated on private farmland just beside the sinkhole, their range of two-bedroom villas come equipped with every modern amenity possible, including beautifully appointed kitchens and feature a large barbeque area complete with a rustic fire pit in the common area.

Designed to cater for all groups, whether you’re travelling as a couple, a family or a larger group of up to six. For groups of up to 10, you can even book Flexi Villa 1 and Flexi Villa 2 and unlock the dividing common door to share the space under the same roof.

Address: 525 Sisters Road, Moorak

Phone number: 0408 826 355

11. Old Mount Gambier Gaol

If you’re looking for something quirky, this might be it. Built around 1866, most of the rooms at Old Mount Gambier Gaol were once cells, each space sitting at some six metres by four metres. Of course, now that they’re hotel rooms, this means they’re a little smaller than average, but then again, there’s also a sense of, ‘Boy, if these walls could talk’.

For those who aren’t so thrilled about staying in a former cell, another option presents itself in the form of a Family Dorm Room, four spaces which were once used as offices, medical rooms and the original kitchen of the gaol, or you can even book one of two onsite cottages.

It’s the ultimate opportunity to delve deep into Mount Gambier’s history.

Address: 25 Margaret Street, Mount Gambier

Phone number: (08) 8723 0032

12. A Place to Call Home Mount Gambier

It’s the name that grabs you first of all, sure, but once you see A Place to Call Home Mount Gambier, a four-bedroom holiday home nested in a quiet, tree-lined street, you’ll understand exactly why the property was given this title.

Featuring all the creature comforts you could ever need for your time in Mount Gambier (fully equipped kitchen, gas log heater and an enclosed alfresco area), the quaint property designed with a charming cottage aesthetic can comfortably sleep up to six guests.

Extra points for the gargantuan backyard which features a fire-pit area, undercover ‘beer garden’ and plenty of space for ball games, making this the perfect property to book with kids.

Phone number: 0408 854 662

Address: 33 Lindsay Street, Mount Gambier

Travelling in the area? Check out our list of awe-inspiring things to do in Mount Gambier.