Wed, 14th October, 2015 Berry Park, Bathurst (Jenolan Caves)

Up early to pack our lunch and head off in Leanne and Rick’s car to Jenolan Caves. Lovely drive through green rolling pastures for sheep and cattle. Saw a dead wombat on the side of the road. Through Oberon, which is a nice little town. Up through Edith (1080m) where a sign warns the road further on is unsuitable to caravans. We thought what are they on about as it was nice and wide to 1247m elevation. Nice view over the hills.

Then the last 5km got very narrow and windy as we headed down to Jenolan Caves (786m).

Looking down on the hotel.

Fred had said to keep driving to No. 1 carpark which we did, as No. 2 was a lot further up the steep road. We had to walk a distance down to the village from where we parked any case. More stairs though the scenery was nice.

A map and a beautiful hanging plant with a lovely scent.

Went into the booking office and decided to do the most popular tour into Lucas Cave. It is a 1.5hour tour (860m length) with 910 steps – oh joy!! It has the highest and largest chambers. There are lots to choose from but at $35+ each we will just do one. There are also caving adventures where you squeeze into tight spaces etc – not for me. With our ticket we also get to wander around Nettle Cave with an acoustiguide to tell us the history of the cave. Inside was a 3D model of the cave system.

Lots of maps showing the cave locations etc.

Our tour wasn’t till 11.30 so we climbed back up the steps to have a cuppa near the car. Steve found a friend as he started to eat his muffin. These are the parrots that just make the one note over and over again – ding ding ding.

He liked Leanne’s banana cake better.

Back down into the village. There are lots of walks you can do around here too. This 6 Foot Track leads back to Katoomba and is how the ladies and gents arrived here by horseback in 1884.

The hotel is spectacular. The Caves House hotel was built in 1896, as a wilderness retreat for the wealthy. Renovations and improvements have been made to it over the years till 1923.Today it offers its rooms to everybody.

Lovely staircase. The front desk was made from the walnut tree that grew in front this building for 80 years. It fell during a wind storm in 1982.

Some information about things to see in the area.

Will have to come back and check out Kanangra Walls another time.

Headed down the street to the Grand Arch to wait for our tour guide. Looking back up the village street to the hotel.

Resting up before we have to do the 910 stairs.

In the 1830 a colourful legend grew up that an escaped convict named McKeown hid out in the wild valleys of the district, robbing farmers and travellers. Settlers James and Charles Whalan tracked McKeown to this valley, finding not only him but the Grand Arch and Devils Coach House Cave. A developing interest in geology and natural science at the time was at least in part responsible for the increasing number of visitors to the caves in the 1800s. Charles Whalan and his sons continued exploring the area and between 1840 and 1860 they had not only discovered the Arch, Elder and Lucas Caves but had become unofficial guilds to the many tourists who wanted to visit what were then known as the ‘Fish River Caves’ – later as ‘Binda Caves’ and then Jenolan Caves. In those days they only had candles to see their way. The local aborigines didn’t go into the caves as they were very dark but they thought the waters to have healing powers.

The area was gazetted as a reserve in 1867 to help preserve the caves. A chap, Wilson, was the keeper of the caves for the first 30 years. He built the first guest accommodation, installed underground infrastructure and discovered the Mammoth, Imperial, Chifley and Jubilee Caves. Shortly after his hotel was destroyed by fire Wilson’s services were terminated and his brother was made the Caves Caretaker, a role he filled from 1897 to 1903. The next caretaker Wiburd looked after the caves till 1932. He and another chap Edwards were most renowned of Jenolan’s early explorers being credited with the discovery of some of the most beautiful caves, including the Temple of Baal, Orient and River. Since then more caves have continued to be discovered with over 300 caves being documented and still more added each year.

The Grand Arch is the only one that cars are allowed to drive through. It is a massive natural limestone bridge.

Then out the other side.

A plaque recognising some of the explorers.

Lights highlight the columns.

Looking back into the archway.

Our guide arrived and we started up the first set of stair though a narrow slit in the rock and then down stairs till we came out onto the ‘Balcony’ overlooking Blue Lake and a bridge which was built in 1896 with local cut limestone.

Looking into the Devils Coach House and Nettle cave area which we will do later.

At this point she wanted to see our tickets – if you didn’t have one you headed down the exit stairs!!

But we did so we followed her up the stairs, ducking our heads as we went.

Lights illuminated different sections as we went along.

Narrow areas were carved out in the 1900s to make walking through the caves easier.

Snapped away with my camera using the flash this time.

Stopped in a bigger chamber to hear about how they name formations. This is called ‘broccoli’ because of its appearance and they did this to help the explorers find their way back to areas.

A lot of the cave is dry but in heavy rain it drips a lot more. Found a couple of drips making their creation.

Tunnels lead off in every direction.

Into the big cavern called the Cathedral The original entrance to this area is up the stairs and to the left. Those stairs were cut in the early 1900s.

The lights went out and boy was it dark. Music started and then lights came on illuminating different sections. Can’t remember what she called this bit. There is a narrow ladder going up to it that she said was for the adventure seekers – apparently it is for the staff to change the light bulbs!!

Through a gap in two big rocks and we came onto a balcony. Apparently there used to be a cable that you went down through here on like a flying fox. It curved at the end and then stopped at Stop Dead Rock – aptly named!! (down toward the little light at the bottom left)

Down the bottom where the water once flowed through.

Leanne got a photo of us coming down, while I was taking one of Steve going down the stairs.

The unusual formations on the floor where the water has slowly dried up in the pools.

These fluted ones are lovely.

Looking back up where the flying fox would have come down from.

Stop Dead Rock at the bottom.

Another lovely formation looks like a curtain.

This one is called the ‘Unicorn’.

Great formations.

This tour’s famous part is the Broken Column – Steve reckons it broke when they installed the walkway etc!!

Another one looks like it has snapped.

My camera lens then malfunctioned and wouldn’t retract. So much for the new ones –this one is only 2 months old!! Leanne was taking heaps of photos so I got hers to put into the blog. Another great formation.

These are covered with the crystals so they glisten in the light.

The little chap on top of the mound is called the Bishop and behind him is the Three Sisters.

Must have been a wet spot here. The guide said they tell the children this is where the tooth fairy lives and put all the teeth she collects.

The last area was called ‘Bones’ as there is an entrance above us and the animals would fall down to their deaths in here. As people had souvenired the bones the guides have put in a wombat skeleton to give the area the Bones name again.

Back outside in the warm sunshine. It was a cool constant 15 degrees inside the caves.  Walked back up to the car to have our lunch. No birds to feed this time. Back down the steps again to the office to collect our audio devises to do the Nettle Cave self-guided tour – only has 476 steps!! Looking up at Carlotta Arch.

Then in through Devils Coach House – story goes that the sounds made by the owls living here sounded like the devil was coming after him on horseback or something like that. Looking back at the entrance.

We came out into a big cavern. Looking up to the hole at the top.

Listened to the commentary as we meandered up and down stairs around this big open cave. Then we climbed up into the Nettle Cave area.

The beginning of stalagmites – I always remember as tites - tights are falling down (hanging from the ceiling) and mites – they might climb back up (coming up from the floor).

A different coloured mound was because of the water dripping through the iron particles in the limestone.

Leanne got me coming up the stairs.

Another formation that looks like a lobster – they told us why but I can’t remember now.

Up the top looking down on the cavern.

Then down the other side where to the other paths.

Outside and now for just a few more steps downwards!!

Leanne said to reach for the arch and then Steve jumped in to reach for something else!!

Looking back to the exit of the Lucas Cave, camouflaged.

Across the road to check out the Blue Lake and its aboriginal meaning.

Two water sources feed into the lake – one from the caves which is the Jenolan River and the other starts 3km away and travels underground to this point. The lake came from when they put in a power station to provide power for the village and the caves.

Lots of cute lizards were out sunbaking.

The weir. The power station was on the other side and looked like the other buildings.

Turned around and headed back. Looking up at where we came out of Nettle Cave. On the left it looks like a screaming face – like you see in those Fright movies.

Certainly got our exercise today. After all the walking at Bathurst we should lose some weight!! I needed the toilet so Steve and Rick walked up the hill again to get the car – aren’t they good boys. They picked us up at the Grand Arch and we headed up the other way towards Lithgow. Another narrow windy road though lots of pine plantations.  Rick had just commented that he hasn’t seen an echidna since leaving Tassie and lo and behold there was one on the side of the road. Leanne couldn’t get a photo of it though.

Lovely drive though Steve had a nod off – different for him not to be driving. Turned off before Hampton to head back across to Oberon and then back up to Bathurst. About hour and half drive. Thanks to Leanne and Rick for a nice drive and great day out.

Still can’t get my camera lens to retract so will ring the company in Melbourne where we bought and find out how to get it replaced.

Back to camp for a drink around the fire and leftovers for tea. Started watching the Sunday telecast of the Great Race.