AmyHuang
Visit Australia: Spend a night in jail
Mt Gambier, commercial town in South Australia on the border of Victoria and built on the slopes of the extinct volcano whose name the town takes. Usually not included in a major tour itinerary, it has a couple of good attractions to check out such as the Blue Lake, which in summer is always in a deep mesmerizing blue. The Umpherston Sinkhole and the Engelbrecht Cave, a popular cave diving spot for keen adventurers.
However all of these you can check out on the official Mt Gambier Tourism website.
I am here to tell you about my night spent in jail.
This is how it happened. I drove my car around, having arrived in Mt Gambier late at night and looking for the accommodation I booked for was difficult. With limited direction and street lights I managed to pull up to where I would spend the night - The historical Mt Gambier Gaol: The Jail Backpackers.
I had heard about this place randomly flipping through tourist brochures while driving from Melbourne heading towards Adelaide. This heritage listed jail building retains many of its original jail features and offers budget backpacker accommodation.
I had a choice. Did I want the full jail experience? Or did I want something a little bit more comfortable. Well, since I especially made it here to experience it - give me the full monty please.
So, I was told that I'll be staying in Cell 21 and given the keys. I collected my belongings and found my refuge for the night.
Cell 21. One of the old single containments with a very small toilet with no door. I opened the cold heavy cell door and was confronted with a modestly furnished room. A double bed was a welcome sight but the cold concrete walls with paint peeling weren't. However I was determined to put myself through this test, so I settled down, made myself a cup of tea from the kitchen (I bet the prisoners didn't get to do this) and read in bed.
It was a good night. The bed was comfortable enough and I wasn't extremely freaked out. Ok, so I did jump when sometime during the night a bunch of drunk pommy backpackers came back yelling and singing songs and I thought it might had been old ghosts visiting...
Other than that - adventures around Mt Gambier include bush walking, diving/snorkeling or simply just enjoy the old colonial vibe of the town. Not many tourists like to put it on their itineraries but it's definitely worth passing by.
Blue Lake - one of the three crater lakes on Mt Gambier
The cave gardens, the original water source for the town
However all of these you can check out on the official Mt Gambier Tourism website.
I am here to tell you about my night spent in jail.
This is how it happened. I drove my car around, having arrived in Mt Gambier late at night and looking for the accommodation I booked for was difficult. With limited direction and street lights I managed to pull up to where I would spend the night - The historical Mt Gambier Gaol: The Jail Backpackers.
The historical Mt Gambier Gaol, now The Jail Bakcpackers
I had heard about this place randomly flipping through tourist brochures while driving from Melbourne heading towards Adelaide. This heritage listed jail building retains many of its original jail features and offers budget backpacker accommodation.
I had a choice. Did I want the full jail experience? Or did I want something a little bit more comfortable. Well, since I especially made it here to experience it - give me the full monty please.
Looking for Cell 21.... All the cell doors are original and just as heavy and bolted!
So, I was told that I'll be staying in Cell 21 and given the keys. I collected my belongings and found my refuge for the night.
Cell 21. One of the old single containments with a very small toilet with no door. I opened the cold heavy cell door and was confronted with a modestly furnished room. A double bed was a welcome sight but the cold concrete walls with paint peeling weren't. However I was determined to put myself through this test, so I settled down, made myself a cup of tea from the kitchen (I bet the prisoners didn't get to do this) and read in bed.
Prisoner rules...
It was a good night. The bed was comfortable enough and I wasn't extremely freaked out. Ok, so I did jump when sometime during the night a bunch of drunk pommy backpackers came back yelling and singing songs and I thought it might had been old ghosts visiting...
Other than that - adventures around Mt Gambier include bush walking, diving/snorkeling or simply just enjoy the old colonial vibe of the town. Not many tourists like to put it on their itineraries but it's definitely worth passing by.
Town Centre - Mt Gambier
