Mount Gambier is a choice road trip destination in South Australia any time of the year. What, with its world-renowned sinkholes and nature opportunities. However, a convincing reason to visit the region in winter is the fact that you can walk through Ghost Mushroom Lane, located in a pine forest of glowing mushrooms.
During the cooler months of the year, usually May and June, Ghost Mushroom Lane becomes illuminated with hundreds of Omphalotus Nidiformis, its resident glowing mushroom.
For just $20 per car, you can check out this dazzling natural display for yourself. You can also jump on a guided tour hosted by Forestry SA which takes you down trails including Ghostly Gully, Fungi Hunters Alley, Fairy Tail Hollows, and Neon Forrest.
Booking well in advance is recommended for this limited-time-only experience in South Australia’s Mount Gambier.
So, how do the mushrooms glow so bright?
Just like the bioluminescence you might have seen where the ocean beams with blue, these ghost mushrooms emit a green bioluminescent light after dark. It’s the cause of a chemical reaction between the fungal enzymes in the mushroom meeting oxygen, resulting in the forest floor lit up with a luminous green glow.
To access Ghost Mushroom Lane, all you have to do is purchase a pass, whack on some warm clothes, and head south-east.
Driving time is around 4.5 hours from Adelaide, so we recommend staying somewhere overnight in Mount Gambier.
While you’re there, make sure to check out The Blue Lake and neighbouring Ewens Ponds in Port MacDonnell; both of which were named in Mitsubishi Australia’s Secret Road Trip Hotspots study, which analysed 38,000 attractions to reveal a final list of 141 nature-based spots in Australia.
You can book online passes and guided tours to see Ghost Mushroom Lane here to witness the natural phenomenon while it’s open to the public during late autumn in May and June.