When to see Ghost Mushrooms in Mount Gambier – Walking Tours.
UPDATE 2024: The Ghost Mushroom Lane event will not be opening this year, however you can book a guided tour. See below for more information.
Take your family on a walk into the forest at night and experience the glow of these intriguing fungi with a 30-45 minute guided tour adventure. You will learn some facts about the Ghost Mushroom and have time to let your eyes adjust to the dark so you can see the mushrooms glow in all their glory.
Local tour operator Walk the Limestone Coast is set to ensure visitors enjoy the best ghost mushroom hunting experience possible this season in May and June 2024. You will need to be spontaneous as due to the fragile nature of the fungi, tour date availability may be released only a few days prior.
Ghost Mushroom viewing experience is influenced by the phase of the moon. The appearance of the mushrooms glow is impacted by a full moon, hence tours are not available around a full moon to maximise viewing experience.
Tours have a minimum 6 people and maximum group booking of 16 people. Available Fridays and Saturdays.
Tour prices from $21 per person.
For more information or to book visit Walk the Limestone Coast or call Natasha Dawson on 0408 086 792.
What is a Ghost Mushroom?
The Ghost Mushroom (Omphalotus nidiformis) is a bioluminescent fungus that emits a soft green glow at night. The species is native to Australia and can often be found growing on decaying plant material, such as stumps left behind following pine tree harvest. The mushrooms emerge in late autumn following good rain and continue into winter, reaching a size of up to 20cm wide.
The soft green glow is a result of a chemical reaction between fungal enzymes and oxygen. The Ghost Mushroom glow can be bright enough to read the words on a page.
NOTE – These fungi glow WHITE to the naked eye.
The green glow (seen in photos/video footage) can only be picked up by the long exposure of a camera, not the naked eye.
You can plan your trip in advance using the moonrise, moonset and phase calendar.
Ghost Mushroom Lane (THIS EVENT IS NOT OPEN IN 2024)
A seasonal forest tourism experience, the Ghost Mushroom Lane visitor site is located within a known mushroom breeding ground, among commercial pine forest near Glencoe, just 16km from the town of Mount Gambier. It is generally open in May and June, during the annual Ghost Mushroom season.
Before visiting the site, you must obtain an ACCESS PASS. Passes can be booked and paid for online via Forestry SA.
Central Walking Trails:
A series of walking trails are established in pine forest just off the lane-way, within Ghost Mushroom Central during the season.
The Fairy Tale Hollow, Fungi Hunter Alley, Ghostly Gully and the Neon Forest trails have been marked out in known mushroom hot-spots, helping people find their way in the dark.
The location of these walks will change throughout the season as mushroom colonies die off and others emerge. Please observe the conditions of entry to the forest and take care while walking on uneven ground in the dark.
For more information and all enquiries please visit the Forestry SA website or to book a walking tour visit Walk the Limestone Coast website.
What: See Glow in the Dark Ghost Mushrooms – Walking Tour
When: May and June
Where: near Glencoe, Mt Gambier, South Australia – must book tours via Walk the Limestone Coast
Who: All Ages
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: Forestry SA
More to See & Do in Mt Gambier:
Glow in the Dark Ghost Mushrooms | Walking Tours | Mount Gambier
Blue Lake/Warwar | Mount Gambier
Metro Bakery & Cafe | Mount Gambier
Umpherston Sinkhole/Balambul | Mount Gambier
Valley Lake Playground | Mt Gambier
Old Mt Gambier Gaol | Family-friendly Accommodation | Review
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