The area to the south east of Adelaide is often referred to as the Limestone Coast. Forged over 26 million years by the primal forces of the ocean and the movement of tectonic plates, the area's landscapes are diverse - from coastal lagoons in the north, to volcanic craters and mountain lakes, such as the Blue Lake at Mount Gambier in the south, to the terra rossa' soils of the Coonawarra inland, which have provided the ideal environment for producing world class wines.

The limestone after which the region is named not only visible in the jagged coastal seascape, but inland in the spectacular caving sites at Naracoorte.

The region has gained a reputation in recent years as a culinary delight which is complemented by a relaxed, friendly lifestyle enjoyed by the locals.

Over the years, the Limestone Coast has provided inspiration for a number of well-known writers. Among them is the man regarded by many as the nation's greatest lyric poet, John Shaw Neilson. Another famous poet who lived in the region is the balladeer Adam Lindsay Gordon, who is the only Australian to be installed in the Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey.