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Limestone caves in New South Wales, Australia
Photo: Toby Hudson, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Jenolan Caves are in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia. The cave system has been dated to 340 million years, making them the oldest known caves on Earth. The tours and the caves have won numerous awards, and are considered Australia's most outstanding cave system.
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There are 10 'show' caves to choose from, each tour 1 to 2 hours. Each cave is breathtaking and some are more strenuous than others. The Lucas Cave has about 900 steps, but includes the breathtaking Cathedral, and many other great features. If you're feeling less physically inclined, the Orient, Temple of Baal, Imperial, and Chifley Caves are pretty amazing, and a bit less physical. You can just turn up and join the next tour, or if you want to tour a particular cave, you can book ahead. Last day tour starts at 5:30PM. (Night tours are at 8PM.) Schedule changes between weekdays and weekends. Cave descriptions, tour times and prices are all on their website.
The Plughole Adventure Tour runs once daily, it is an intro to Adventure Caving. Instead of a typical guided tour where you walk along lit pathways, an Adventure Tour is a challenge, requiring climbing, crawling, and squeezing through tight holes. Overalls, helmet, and a headlight are provided, for those tours through 'wild', undeveloped caves. The Plughole begins with a 10-metre abseil (rappel) and takes about 2 hours. There are other Adventure Tours that are longer, more demanding (physically and mentally) and run less frequently.
Completed in the Edwardian era, this huge, magnificent restaurant is the traditional grand dining room. Upstairs in Caves House, Chisolm's is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, serving modern Australian cuisine. For a small saving, you can purchase a cave tour/lunch package, and receive a bit of a discount in Chisolm's. At dinner, you can even order wine from the wine cellar which is hidden inside one of the caves. Atmospheric Chisolm's offers a wood fire in winter.
A cafe serving light meals, snacks and drinks. There is a warm fire in winter and a vine covered verandah in summer.
cosy area next to Chisolm's, where you can relax in the late afternoon and evening with a drink.
Gate House is backpacker-style accommodation with 4 or 6 person shared rooms and communal kitchens and bathrooms.
Caves House huge historic guesthouse, built in 1898 - one of few remaining guesthouses from the Victorian Era in Australia. It contains a wide range of accommodation, from small rooms with shared bathrooms to large suites with private rooms and spas. Atmospheric Caves House rooms are heritage-listed and feature period furnishings. There are three offerings; 'Traditional', 'Classic' and 'Grand Classic.' Most guests choose 'Classic' rooms which fall in between. These rooms intentionally do not have phones or TVs, and are favoured by guests who really want to get away or enjoy a romantic interlude.; "Low Season" rates apply if you book Sunday to Thursday night and the "High season" rates apply if you book Friday or Saturday night, New South Wales school holidays or any night of a long weekend.
8 fully equipped, self-contained, 2-bedroom cottages in huge nature reserve, 5 km from the caves, surrounded by many kangaroos and other native wildlife. For any cottage, there is a minimum 2-night stay, so you pay a bit more if you only want one night. No Mobile Coverage.
The Lodge has spacious, modern, motel-style units with phones, TVs and kitchenettes. Great for families.
This cottage fully equipped, self-contained bush hideaway cottage – double bedrooms and magnificent view over pristine wilderness.
Binoomea Cottage is a 2-storey cottage, with 2 extra large, serviced, modern apartments and each with a fully equipped kitchen. Each apartment sleeps up to 12!
This is a tourist friendly gift shop.
By car
By car it will take you about 3 hours from Canberra and 2 hours and 40 minutes from Sydney.
By bus
CDC Tours in Katoomba run a single coach from Katoomba to Jenolan. Departs Katoomba daily at 10:35AM, that gives you plenty of time to get the train up from Sydney if you like.
By tour
Tours run from Sydney by several operators, including Gray Line, A.A.T. Kings and F.J Tours. Some multi-day tours for the Blue Mountains will include a trip to Jenolan.
While the route into the reserve is quite steep into the valley, the reserve area is fairly flat. Most people will be able to get around to each of the cave tours.
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