Mount Gambier – Nelson – Port McDonnell – Lake Bonney

On New Year’s Eve 2018 I took Alan, Brian and Holly for a scenic flight in Bob Rowe’s 172 over Mount Gambier, down to Nelson on the coast then followed the coast up to Lake Bonney, cut across to Millicent then back to the Mount. Perfect conditions. It was Holly’s first flight in a light aircraft and she seemed to really enjoy it.

First we flew over the city of Mount Gambier and its famous crater lakes (Valley Lake and Blue Lake). No prizes for guessing which is which! In summer the colour contrast is spectacular while in winter the “Blue Lake” is actually grey.

We flew down to the Glenelg River and over Donovan’s Landing, shown in the background below.

Then along the coast past Eight Mile Creek.

Then on further and over Lake Bonney that has been the source of much debate about water pollution from the neighbouring paper mill for decades. The colour is perhaps evidence of something being not quite right.