Jenolan Caves are quite a drive away from Sydney proper (about three hours) but are worth the car or bus trip. The limestone caves are the oldest discovered open caves in the world and feature 40 kilometres (25 miles) of passageways across a multitude of levels. They can be accessed from over 300 entrances, so it stands to reason that Jenolan Caves are still be explored today.
Even though there is such an expanse of caves and tunnels, 11 caves are open to the public with a tour guide. Over the years I’ve visited the caves a few times – for a tour of the Lucas Cave most recently, and for “Adventure Caving” on the Plughole tour into the Elder Cave.
Estimated to be around 340 million years old, the cave complex contain fossils, bones of wombats and Tasmanian Devils, and spectacular crystal deposits and shawls.
Adventure Caving
The Elder Cave is great because you’re always working with gravity to get through tight spaces and there are enough open caves for breathing space. Although some of the squeezes mean going feet first and not being able to see where you’re going to land. Having said that, the two tour guides were great with explanations and guiding you through.
 See, it’s true! That’s one tight squeeze. |
Two hours well spent. And I didn’t cry or whimper once.
Important Details: You need to book an Adventure Cave tour online or by phone at least 48 hours before you visit Jenolan Caves. It costs $100 and lasts for 2 hours. Be sure to wear comfortable enclosed shoes with a non-slip sole.
Regular Cave Tour
My most recent visit to Jenolan Caves a few weeks ago was to see Lucas Cave, which is the most-toured cave in the complex. It’s easy to work out why: this cave has a bit of everything, including stairs.
We didn’t see any microbats on our tour, but I have seen them on previous tours so keep your eyes peeled for them.
There are, however, many crystal formations: from the broken column, to the emu, the bride with her cascading wedding gown, the mushroom and a bunch more sparkling examples of millions of years of water dripping.
Important Details: Check the tour times before you leave online here and consider booking ahead during busy periods. Don’t forget to wear comfortable clothes and shoes with a non-slip sole.
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Getting There
Jenolan Caves is accessible by car or bus at 4655 Jenolan Caves Road, Jenolan Caves, 2790.
Several bus companies run services to and from the caves, including Grayline, AAT Kings, and FJ Tours.
Tour Times: The first tour starts at 9am and the last daytime tour begins at 5pm. Night tours are available, see the website for more details.
Linking up with Wordless Wednesday on a Tuesday, Through My Lens, Travel Tuesday and Travel Photo Thursday.
It's not really Sydney at all, it's over the Blue Mountains but WELL Worth the drive. We've stayed up there or over in Mt Tomah and done a daytrip from there. I love the Caves. They're quite fascinating!
The caves look awesome. Thanks for the photos as I can be a bit claustrophobic too.
Geography… So difficult to work out. You're right though. The caves are great, so I'm glad you can overlook my geographical-crime 😉
Thanks for visiting Rhonda, the caves are gorgeous if you can put aside the claustrophobia.
Thank you for writing such a lovely article about our caves!
Incredible place! Love to visit there myself..Cheers from NYC 🙂
Any time, I love it there 🙂
Maybe it needs a spot on your bucket list? It is really beautiful.
I love exploring caves, it is a great adventure. The lights on the cave look cool!
I LOVE exploring caves, but I'm with you on the claustrophobia thing!! The real tight squeezes get me good! How long were you having to shimmy through that really tight one for?! I will always do it anyways, I just like to know what to be prepared for! This pictures have me want to go jump in one soon though!! Yay for exploring!
Yep, the lights were a great treat at the end!
Well this one wasn't bad at all Melanie. It was probably half a minute. If that. Not a tunnel really, that I can remember anyway. Have fun!
Good on you for confronting those fears to enjoy these caves. Thanks for sharing your photos and memories. You made me remember a primary school camping trip to the caves area just out of Perth where I grew up. It was a lot of fun. And later, I did visit the caves outside my mother's home town in Malaysia. Quite a different experience as the formations there were decorated with lots of religious statues and offerings.
SSG xxx
I've heard of the Jenolan Caves but never been here I'm afraid. In fact I've not done much travelling inland from the coastal sections of New South Wales, which hopefully I will remedy next year. I'm glad we turned up the heat for you during your recent visit! #TeamLovinLife
I'm both claustrophobic and not great with heights too but gee this looks like fun. I've heard of these caves but never been. I'll have to add that to my to do list because they look beautiful! #TeamLovinLife
I love Jenolan Caves too. Such an awesome place to visit 🙂 #TeamLovinLife
I've visited caves like that in Germany before but never heard about caves where you can go abseiling! Sounds pretty fun though!
There's nothing like a bit of adrenaline to keep you on your toes! Oh cool, you went camping in primary school? The closes we got was to Bathurst for some Gold Panning. And the Malaysian caves sound beautiful. I know they decorate caves like that in Malta as well.
Put it on your list for next year Kathy! You won't regret seeing at least one cave and maybe going for a bushwalk around the caves if you're that way inclined. Thanks for visiting 🙂
There are lots of different levels of difficulty etc so I'm sure they can help you choose one that isn't too enclosed.
My Dad would take all of his relo's there when they visited from Malta. It was great because we got to go a few times when we were kids!
Haha, in Oz we have to do things a little differently right? I've been to an old mine outside of Vienna that was used as a bomb shelter during the war. It was great but I whacked my head a few times 😉
Oh my gosh, I've been there! So often I read blog posts about 'places to visit' and I've never ever been there but… in 1992-1993 (sometime around then) I went with my folks, bro and SIL to visit her parents who were outside of Sydney at the time. We did the Blue Mountains and Jenolan Caves… and some wineries enroute if memory serves me.
Of course this was very much pre-mobile / smartphone so I don't even know if I have pics!
Yay! I love it when someone posts about a place that I've been. I get to relive it. Hopefully some of the pictures are familiar to you Deborah. I didn't think to include some winery visits on the way up! But that's a good tip for next time!
I've done Wombeyan Caves a few times and have taken the kids in their lifetime. I haven't done Jenolan since I was a kid though. I might need to rectify that.
#TeamLovinLife
I really like caves and this one is no exception. You photos remind me of the ones I have been to (and how covered in mud I ended up). Not sure if I would be able to crawl thru one now that one of my knees is not doing well but I would like to do a not so "extreme" tour. #TPThursday
I love Jenolan Caves. The hotel there reminds me of the one in Dirty Dancing. What was it called … Kellerman's or something?!
David and I have just been talking about a return trip to Jenolan. We haven't been there for years. It is funny how you travel the world and then sometimes forget about the most amazing places in your own backyard.
I've heard of Wombeyan Caves heaps of times but I've never actually been. Jenolan is a bit of a hike from where you are, but it might be worth a weekender!
The "not so extreme" tour does not involve any crawling or getting muddy Ruth. It'd be perfect for you 🙂
Oh my gosh, yes Janet! I totally see it now! Have you ever actually stayed there?
You're so right Lyn. I was tour guiding my American boyfriend, and we went to heaps of places that I'd never actually gone to before.
Great pics! I'm a bit scared of heights and small spaces too – so well done for doing it! I think you are braver than me… maybe I'm best to start on a regular cave tour first and work up to it 😉 Jenolan isn't too far from us… will have to get down there and check it out!! #throughmylens
Great write up of Jenolan Caves, and like others here, it has been a while since we visited.
Oh, my you are so much more adventurous than I have ever been! What fantastic scenes!
beautiful place! and well done! #wkdtravelinspiration
You're a braver woman than I! I've been to the caves many time and have visited almost all of them but I've never had the bottle to attempt the Plughole and don't think I ever will! That said, I enjoyed the virtual tour and exploring vicariously through you!
For someone who doesn't like tight spaces or heights, I'm amazed you gave the Plughole a go! But you must be thrilled that you did. I'm not sure I could do it. I once went on a geography field trip at school and shrieked when they turned the lights off for a minute in the limestone caves we were exploring. The idea was to show us what 'pitch black' looked like – yup, I got the idea!
#farawayfiles
OOOOhhhhh noooo. That is not for me. I'm so claustrophobic I'd either be screaming or passed out. Good on you that you can squeeze through and enjoy such tight spaces! Thanks for linking up with #wkendtravelinspiration! See you again next week!
Caves look pretty awesome! Will have to remember these! #wkendtravelinspiration
(www.caliglobetrotter.wordpress.com)
I've been to the Jenolan Caves twice (not the adventure tour though). Once as a kid and once with our own kids. They are definitely worth visiting but the traffic and road down to the township can be horrible.
What an amazing place to visit, and your photos are great – you really captured how stunning the surroundings are. #PhotoFriday
It's a great place to start out, there are heaps of caves to choose from!
Thanks for visiting Paula
Hahaha, I don't know about that, but it is beautiful over there.
Thanks Tanja.
I've only been through a couple of the caves so you've done more than I have. Plughole is pretty easy and you could do it if you wanted to, but I guess it's not for everyone.
Ugh, I have a thing with having to do things that scare me. And it was such an awesome feeling when it was done.
Oh Trish, you poor thing! They did the pitch black thing to us as well. I think it's much easier if you have someone's hand to hold onto.
Thanks for visiting Corinne! The claustrophobia can be such a nightmare.
Thanks Lori, they were great.
Maybe I was lucky since we were there on a Thursday, but we didn't hit any traffic. That's a good tip though, thanks Jan.
Thanks for visiting Ruth!
I have had the pleasure to visit Lucas cave aswell, but I never got any good photos of it. My partner was filming with a go pro, but as we didnt have a stabiliser then and it was quite dark at times, you can only imagine how usable the footage is haha! I would suggest not going during a school holiday though, as most of the tours were all booked out by 11 am..
Oh no! I was taking pictures on my phone and I've used some of those for this blog, but they're not as good as Mr M's fancy camera photos, which came out really well.
That's true, we did go on the first week back at school so it was quiet although there were still around 47 people on our tour.
SPARKLE Caves? Yes please! Looks amazing. Athough my inner claustrophobe feels a wee bit worried how I would manage those tight squeezes. Thanks for sharing this cool place with #FarawayFiles, Erin
The cave's interiors look interesting and even beautiful, but I'm with Corinne. you wouldn't catch me crawling through those tight spaces to get there. Glad you enjoyed it! #wkendtravelinspiration
Hahaha, who can say no to a little bling?
Each to their own I guess Eileen. Everyone's idea of fun is a little different 🙂
These caves are truly amazing! I am jealous that you get to explore them. I've only been caving once and I wanted to do it again. This seems like a great place to try caving again in!
GlobalGirlTravels.com
I'm glad that you liked them! You'll have to find some more caves to explore Abigail!
Great post. The cave look awesome.
Thanks for visiting!
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Well this is an awesome adventure! I would love to explore these caves. To Australia we go.
Australia has some great vegan restaurants as well!