Jenolan Caves
June 4th 2009 05:18
Here’s something to do in any weather: go underground.
The limestone cave system at Jenolan is one of the oldest in the world and contains pure underground rivers, marine fossils and stunning formations including spectacular stalagmites and flowstones that look like frozen waterfalls.
Though the main attractions are found in the amazing underworld, there is also much to explore above. There are other tours and scenic bushwalks to enjoy at Jenolan Caves as it is located in a nature reserve that forms part of the Blue Mountains World Heritage area.
Jenolan Caves is open every day including Christmas.
Caves House straight ahead, shelter shed on the left, and information and tickets office on the right. Below: Left, view of the road in from the Blue Lake; Centre, the Grand Arch
Standard Tours
There are several guided show cave/theme tours to choose from. They fall into 3 groups:
Wonders of the Underworld Tours
Caves: Lucas, Chifley or Imperial
1 - 1.5 hours per tour
Jewels of Jenolan Tours
Caves: Imperial-Diamond, Orient or Temple of Baal
1.5 hours per tour
Magic of Jenolan Tours
Caves: River, Ribbon, Pool of Cerberus or Jubilee
Or the Legends, Mysteries and Ghosts tour or other theme tours
1.5 - 2 hours per tour
When you purchase a ticket for one of these tours, you’ll receive a complimentary Nettle Cave/Devil’s Coach House self-guided tour with the help of an audio handset.
Special tours
If the standard tours are too sedate for your liking, try out one of the Adventure Tours where you can crawl and climb with only a head lamp to light the way.
There are also Concerts in the Caves and history tours at set dates, and children’s tours and other additional tours during NSW school holidays and long weekends.
Scenic Walks
There are six main bushwalks at the moment to go on – all for free. They vary in difficulty – the Blue Lake Loop takes 20-30minutes return, and the Six Foot Track is 45km from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves and takes 3 days to complete.
The map of the reserve on the Jenolan Caves site has a great summary of most of the walks. For information on the Six Foot Track, see here.
Remember to wear comfortable shoes, a hat and sunscreen, and bring drinking water.
Outdoor views
Getting there
Jenolan Caves is about a 2½ hours drive from Sydney. Please take care especially on the last stretch as the road gets quite narrow.
There is no public transport to the Caves, but you can get a train to Katoomba and get a coach to Jenolan. Coach tours run daily from Circular Quay and Katoomba.
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For the guided cave tour timetable, tour and accommodation costs, and a whole lot more, visit www.jenolancaves.org.au.
The Carlotta Arch and the Blue Lake beyond
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Comment by katyzzz
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Comment by Lilla
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Some wonderful memories for me from this place too. . truly one of the highlights of having lived in Sydney for the better part of 15 years.
Chilly in the winter though, but what better way to make the alpine experience complete. I can remember stopping on one trip to let some visiting boys from Perth out to play in the snow, because they had never seen it before! Coming from Europe I remember I was incredulous. .
I love the photo's and agree with you ont he road getting hairy on that last stretch.
Thanks for the memories . .
Lilla
Comment by The Rusty Can
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The image of a couple of boys having fun in the snow makes me smile. It reminds me of when I saw snow for the first time. I had just come out of an undercover arcade and was waiting at the lights. All this fluff started falling down. I remember looking everywhere like a complete git for the tree from which they surely must have come. I was so excited when I realised what it was…
Thankyou for the memories
Comment by Lilla
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I just read your response to Samaritan and it reminded me of what one guide said on remembering the orientation of stalegtites and stalegmites, which has stayed with me to this day . . long since passed on to my own children.
That is : The MITE goes UP the ladies leg, and the TITES come DOWN!
The man was a legend!!
Lilla . .
PPS My Ordinary Life Blog has been moved to its own domain : www.fromthehomefront.net, something went wrong as all my subscribers were meant to be notified and have not been. If you are not a subscriber, apologies, but if you are, forgive the hideous colours over thee, as it has not appeared yet on MY ORBLE for me to carry out *renovations!*. . .
Comment by The Rusty Can
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Your guide was a legend all right
I saw the note on your My Ordinary Life blog and I'm already subscribed to your new blog, but thanks for the heads up anyway